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Notre Dame keeps playoff hopes alive in 31-21 win at Northwestern

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Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly: SRN Broadcasting

The gold helmets that are the calling card of Notre Dame football were held high in triumph as the Fighting Irish trotted off Ryan Field in celebration of their 31-21 victory over the Northwestern Wildcats.

The classic gold matched up with Northwestern’s throwback numbered helmets was emblematic of the first-half: Tough, grind-away offense that resulted in low-scoring. Each team had a pair of missed field goals and their respective touchdown drives each lasted over five minutes. Starting on their own 21 and following a missed Wildcats field goal, Notre Dame chipped away at a physical Northwestern defense for 14-play, 79-yard drive that lasted five minutes and 33 seconds. Two possessions later, Northwestern went on their own grueling march in which they ran the ball on 12 of 18 plays for a 73-yard touchdown drive. Notre Dame entered the locker room in what had become the all-too-familiar territory of a sluggish start.

“We talked about it a lot,” quarterback Ian Book said of their recent first-half woes. “It’s really hard to win in college football in November and we know that. You know, two weeks in a row starting off on the wrong foot. It sucks a little bit. Takes a little momentum away. But like I said earlier this team just does such a good job of forgetting about what happened and having that next play mentality.”

Book settled in after completing seven of 15 passes in the first-half. He got into a rhythm coming out of the gates, leading an 80-yard drive on Notre Dame’s opening second-half possession, hitting his receivers in stride and eventually linking up with Miles Boykin for a 20-yard touchdown to go ahead 14-7.

Notre Dame’s next drive saw Book lead a drive of chunk plays to go 98 yards for a score, and just like that, Notre Dame was up 21-7. Book would finish his day with 343 passing yards and 62 yards rushing, including a 23-yard, game-sealing score.

Notre Dame quarterback Ian Book: SRN Broadcasting

“[It] probably would have taken a film-study to kind of make those adjustments,” coach Brian Kelly said of his quarterback’s growth to where he is now. “And they would probably go into action the following week. He can make them at halftime. We can sit down, go over them with him, draw them up, he can see them clearly. And then access those immediately in the third quarter.”

Northwestern’s stout run-defense neutralized Notre Dame’s ground attack, which meant Book had to respond. And respond he did. A big part of how he found success was his connection with receiver Chase Claypool, who finished with eight receptions for 130 yards and was there to move the chains when needed.

“Chase did awesome,” Book said. “It was really good to see just cause I know how hard he works at practice and he was due for a big night like tonight.”

“You know he’s going to put the ball where it needs to be,” Claypool said of Book. “On that slant-out, it’s right there for me. So, I mean I trust him, he trusts me.”

The Notre Dame defense did its job, allowing only 249 yards of total offense. They kept Clayton Thorson on his toes and kept him from getting comfortable in the pocket. They sacked him five times and constantly flushed him out of the pocket, preventing him from getting into any sort of rhythm, which is when he becomes most dangerous. Despite two second-half touchdowns from Northwestern, one of which was made possible by a blocked punt that gave them a short field, Notre Dame’s defense kept the Wildcats in check throughout most of the game.

“Our defense is something that’s like waking up a sleeping beast really when games are close,” cornerback Julian Love said. “When we were up by only three, everybody’s just pacing down the sideline, yelling at each other, screaming, motivating each other.”

Notre Dame now moves to 9-0 and their status as a Playoff contender remains intact. Being an independent team, going undefeated is one of the only ways they can make the Playoff. As it stands, they and Alabama are the only remaining unbeaten teams who have played entirely FBS opponents. Next week, they face a Florida State team that is in shambles and searching for an identity. If they take care of business the rest of the way, there is a strong likelihood the Fighting Irish will crash this year’s Playoff party.

Twitter: @crbevins11 @radiomogul

2018 Chicago Bears at Buffalo Bills preview

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The Chicago Bears will travel to Buffalo to play the Bills for the first time since 2010 this Sunday, and with them, they bring the hopes of extending their NFC North lead.

Taking care of business

The Bills’ offense has been abysmal this season. They sit squarely at the bottom of the NFL in passing offense and passing touchdowns and they are 30th in total offense. They have also posted the worst DVOA rating through eight games of any team since 1988. Rookie quarterback Josh Allen, the seventh overall pick, is hurt, as well as the recently added Derek Anderson, meaning Nathan Peterman is likely to trot out Sunday for the Bills.

“We just got to defend their offense, you know, regardless of who’s playing quarterback for them,” defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said. “I know that they like [Peterman] there. You know he did earn the starting job coming out of camp. They pulled him for the rookie [Allen] at some point. And I do know that they have a lot of confidence in him, and we got to be able to defend their offense. And he’s a capable player.”

Despite the respect Fangio shows to him, Peterman’s statistics show low completion rates, minimal offensive production and a bevy of interceptions thrown. The Bears’ defense has eleven interceptions on the year, good enough for second in the NFL. This is an opportunistic bunch that has seen improved takeaway ability by players like Kyle Fuller and Eddie Jackson, and should add to that mark against a quarterback who has four interceptions in two games of extended play.

Regardless of whether or not Khalil Mack plays, the Bears’ defense is more than capable of taking it to the Bills, a team that has struggled to move the ball in any sense this season. If the Bears play their game, the Bills’ offense, like the Jets’, will struggle to get anything going. Sound tackling and forcing an inadequate quarterback to make throws he can’t make should stymie any offensive momentum.

Chicago Bears head coach Matt Nagy: SRN Broadcasting

A sneaky Bills’ defense

While the offense has struggled mightily this season, the Bills’ defense has played somewhat under the radar. They sit fourth in the league in defensive DVOA* and feature DE Jerry Hughes LB Lorenzo Alexander and CB Tre’Davious White.

“How hard they play is the first thing that stands out,” offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich said. “It doesn’t matter the score. You know, they had a couple tough ones earlier in the year and they were playing their tails off when they were down big. They were playing their tails off when they were up big.

“The edges, obviously with [Hughes] and probably now [Alexander]. They can put a lot of pressure on the quarterback. They’re very exotic but sound in how they rush the pressure and how they attack protections.”

Trubisky has struggled with exotic looks and pressures at times this season. Part of the growing process is learning how to handle misleading looks at the line of scrimmage.

“They’ve been very good for a long time at all their stops defensively so it’s a huge challenge and a unique challenge,” Helfrich said.

Make no mistake, the Bills have a solid defensive group that has been burdened by an incapable offense. A huge part of their gameplan will be to keep Trubisky off balance and prevent him from getting into a rhythm. The short game is how to beat a defense that can rush the passer, as has been seen with teams who find success against the Bears’ defense. Trubisky hitting quick completions early will force the Bills to put more men in coverage than in pass-rush. When that happens, Trubisky will have the time to find chunk plays and really get the ball rolling.

Depth will be tested

Bears offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich: SRN Broadcasting

The Bears look to be without Kyle Long for some time and neither Khalil Mack or Allen Robinson practiced on Thursday. Their defense did well without Mack last week and the same should continue against an opponent inferior to the Jets, but the loss of Long could be more impactful against a stout defensive front like the Bills.

“Harry’s a great teacher,” coach Matt Nagy said of offensive line coach Harry Hiestand. “He knows how to really dive into the details with each player on how their technique is or what he sees with a defensive player, specifically.”

Though Eric Kush is still on the injury report, Nagy said he believes he will be good to go Sunday. Opposite Kush will be rookie James Daniels, a player who has developed nicely since he came to Chicago.

“There’s just a little hesitancy with some of the things he’s done, but very excited about his future,” Helfrich said.

The interior blocking is crucial to the Bears’ inside zone run scheme. How Daniels and Kush step up in Long’s absence will be vital to the Bears’ run game this week, and for the foreseeable future.

*DVOA: An advanced metric created by Football Outsiders that rates a team’s efficiency by measuring the success on a given play compared to the league average.

Twitter: @crbevins11 @radiomogul

Hear audio from Matt Nagy, Vic Fangio and Mark Helfrich:

Chicago Bears Zach Miller – A Year After the Injury

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Zach Miller at Halas Hall. Photo by SRN Broadcasting.

It’s hard to believe that Zach Miller, former high school star quarterback from Nebraska, is a year removed from a horrific on field accident, that nearly cost him his leg, let alone his football career.

Based on his cheery disposition and his incredible positive attitude, it’s to believe Miller has endured multiple operations. At the same time the Chicago Bears franchise signed him to a contract, knowing he was unable to play, yet allowing him to rehab at Halas Hall, and feel like a part of the team. The experience of five years in the NFL, including 146 catches, over 1600 yards receiving, and fifteen touchdowns  could prove valuable to a team that includes a few younger pass catchers on the squad.

Miller could have lost hope and given up any chance of playing, let alone walking. Instead, he has an incredible drive to recover. “That’s the way I was brought up,” he says. “My father told me from a very young age his motto is we’re only here for fun. I’ve carried that with me for a long time. Then it’s a conscious effort of choosing to be that way. It doesn’t do me any good to dwell on bad things.”

I feel good where I am physically.  It changed me. I’ve always felt I’ve had perseverance, but this is on another level. Patience for sure.  Sitting there for six months and your foot won’t move and you’re trying to move it. I guess the will to keep on fighting.  Instead of the negative stuff. – Zach Miller

Bears coach Matt Nagy chimed in. “I remember the injury. It’s crazy to think that we’re here together. He’s somebody that we feel very fortunate to have as part of this family, this organization. He’s a happy go lucky guy. Good person. I knew what he was as a player, as a tight end, and the things that he could do. He just does things the right way. He’s a humble down-to-earth, happy person, and loves life. He’s a great teammate. We feed off of him. You want him to be a part of who you are and what you do.”

Miller adds, “the competitor in me drives me to accept the challenge.  As a competitor, you work towards it. You do anything to accept the challenge, and conquer the challenge.  That’s how I get through it.  How I approach every single day. Get through the monotony of things like foot exercises. It’s challenging.”

He’s gained new perspective on the game of football as well. “As I sit there on the sidelines, you don’t pay attention to how violent the game is.”

On his role on the team, Miller states, “any day you can be a part of something like this, it’s a good day for me. They’ve done a great job of keeping me involved.  In turn, I still get to do what I love.” Miller appreciates the chance to give his input around Halas Hall.

Is that the end of his football career? Not if Miller has his way.

“That’s what I’d like to,” he states emphatically.  “I haven’t been told no, and I haven’t been told yes. I know there will be a point where I’ll be able to decide that. I’m not there yet, so I continue to do what I’m doing.”

Miller is committed to spend time with his family “The number one goal is to enjoy everyday life. I run around in the back yard and throw the football with my kids. I’m already able to do that. It’s a win for me.  We play a lot of music around the house. My support system at home is unbelievable.”

That’s another reason why he’s so positive.  “Days that were no good, they tried to pick me up. They’ve made sacrifices you cannot believe. They back me up.” Indeed, people from all over the world have offered Miller encouragement all along.

Hear an excerpt from his press conference on October 29, 2018.

Looking back at the video below, the whole event is surreal.  After the second look, you can see that Miller’s leg plants on the end zone turf, and his  knee buckles under as he comes down. The defender doesn’t even land on him.

His attitude is hopeful, encouraging, and amazing.  Here’s to hoping he succeeds somehow.

Monday Mulling: 2018 Chicago Bears Ground New York Jets

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The Chicago Bears ended their two-game skid by defeating the New York Jets Sunday. Following an up-and-down offensive first half, the Bears pulled away in the second half to defeat the Jets 24-10. It wasn’t always pretty, but this still-developing team did its job in defeating an inferior opponent.

No Mack, no problem

Football is a weird sport and Sunday was no exception. The Bears had struggled to stop offenses the previous two weeks, even with Khalil Mack. Conventional wisdom indicated that those problems could be exacerbated without their superstar pass-rusher. Despite that, the defense looked the best it’s been since Arizona.

“We were disappointed in ourselves for getting ran on after starting off the season kicking people’s butt,” linebacker Aaron Lynch said post game. “Our whole vibe this week was we were just going to come out and be aggressive, hit people and if you hit-and-miss, you hit-and-miss but we were going to hit you.”

Chicago Bears head coach Matt Nagy: SRN Broadcasting

The Bears’ defense made a rookie quarterback look like a rookie. Jets quarterback Sam Darnold never seemed fully in control and was unable to establish a rhythm, completing only 14 of 29 passes for 153 yards and a single touchdown.

A rookie quarterback’s best friend can be the run game and the Bears took that away from the Jets away in a hurry. Isaiah Crowell, who ran for 219 yards against the Broncos in Week Five, never had anywhere to go and finished with 13 carries for a mere 25 yards. Akiem Hicks played like his normal self up the middle, and the defense clamped down on all phases. It was a much-needed performance for a defense that had been reeling in the previous weeks, and a fully healthy Mack will only elevate their play.

Second-half rhythm

The first half against the Jets felt eerily familiar, in that things never quite seemed to fully click for Mitch Trubisky and the Bears’ offense. Save for a screen pass to Tarik Cohen that went for a 70-yard touchdown, the Jets’ pressure prevented Trubisky from getting into a groove. Things came together in the second half, as Trubisky’s footwork settled down, and he began hitting his receivers in stride and with anticipation. What threw him off in the first-half became exploitable in the second, and two second-half touchdowns and a field goal were the results.

Chicago Bears QB Mitch Trubisky: SRN Broadcasting

“You know, I think for all of us, you know, the mentality of just coming back out, we felt like we were just off a tick in the first half,” coach Matt Nagy said. “The guys were focused and again I’m going to go back to if there’s one key drive in that game, it was scoring a touchdown after they had their touchdown for the offense.”

As has been the case recently, Trubisky used his legs to his advantage. He evaded and escaped pressure for positive gains and used his speed to move the chains. Nagy has emphasized that he is to be a quarterback first, but the threat of his legs open things up for the offense.

“He understands he’s a passer first. He’s not looking to run but if he needs to run, he can. I thought his balance was good. I thought he did a good job.”

Teams have to respect his legs, and that respect opens things up in the run game because of the read-option possibility and in coverage when they have a linebacker spy him. The past few weeks have shown how virtuous Trubisky’s mobility can be for this offense.

Trubisky’s success may have to continue without starting guard Kyle Long, who went down late in the game with a foot injury.

“You always feel for the person,” Nagy said Monday. “But as a coach, you got to keep rolling no matter what happens. And that’s why I think Ryan (Pace) and our guys do such a good job.”

Long not only provides excellent play, but he is a leader in the locker room. One veteran, Zach Miller, stood at the podium Monday to discuss the one-year mark since his leg injury in New Orleans.

A running game to lean on

While the Bears didn’t have a 100-yard rusher on Sunday, they totaled over 179 yards on the ground between Trubisky, Jordan Howard, Tarik Cohen, and Anthony Miller. Most notable of that group is Howard, who hasn’t been as productive this season as his previous two. He had 81 yards and a touchdown on 22 attempts and was exactly what the Bears needed him to be.

“So what I liked was he had a bunch of runs there where he kept chewing up a couple yards here or there, you weren’t really feeling it. And then, boom, he popped it in four-minute-type mode, that 24-yard run,” stated Nagy.

Though much of the rushing yards came from Trubisky’s scrambles, Howard reminded everyone how valuable he can be when given the chance. Having a running back that can salt a game away and demoralize a defense with his power is a luxury many teams look for. The ground-and-pound identity so often associated with Chicago Bears football shifted to a pass-heavy, nuanced offense with the arrival of Nagy. In such a process, old-school backs like Howard can get lost in the shuffle while the shiny new toys of golden-armed quarterbacks and do-it-all running backs take their place; there will always be a role for Howard, and Sunday showed the importance of that role.

Follow on Twitter: @crbevins11 @radiomogul

Hear audio from Matt Nagy:

2018 Chicago Bears vs New York Jets preview

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The Chicago Bears will face the New York Jets this Sunday, as they try to right the ship of their previous two losses. Their rookie quarterback and exploitable matchups make the Jets  a beatable team.

Reviving the pass rush

The Bears’ lack of pass rush was noticeable last Sunday, but it was largely by design. Khalil Mack dropped into coverage eighteen times and rushed Tom Brady sixteen times. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio cited Brady’s ability to get the ball out quickly as a reason for heavy coverage from his star pass-rusher. Leonard Floyd also spent a lot of time in coverage, so the Bears often had to rely on three-man pressure.

The Bears will not face Tom Brady this week. Instead, rookie Sam Darnold will be under center in Soldier Field, bringing with him a lot of hype and excitement, and a significant lack of NFL experience.

“It’s an opportunity, but, you know, this game is football,” linebacker Danny Trevathan said. “Anybody can win any given Sunday, but we know we’re not going to take this stuff lightly. We want to win this game. So, we’re going to approach it like it’s our Super Bowl.”

Darnold is a lot like regular rookie quarterbacks in that, while he’ll dazzle on one play, he’ll make a head-scratching decision on the next. He can “make all the throws,” but the question is if can he make the right ones.

Coach Matt Nagy offered praise for Darnold.

“For him to be a rookie, and thrown into the mix right away, he’s making plays. And he’s learning on the run. I think they’re doing a good job offensively with what they’re giving him. The types of plays they’re giving him is benefiting him as a rookie.”

Beating rookie quarterbacks typically starts with the pass-rush. If a defense can get in a rookie quarterback’s face and force him to make ill-timed decisions, mistakes will happen. Although he has ten touchdowns on the season, Darnold also has ten interceptions as well. The Bears have been opportunistic with turnovers all year, forcing eleven interceptions and six fumbles. They even managed five takeaways even in their last two games, both loses. Maintaining their run of takeaway-success will be key to stopping the Jets’ offense, and they can maximize those opportunities with a strong pass rush.

Player health

The caveat to the Bears’ pass-rush is their health, particularly that of Khalil Mack.

Mack got off to a historically great start to his Bears career, but an ankle injury in Miami has stymied his domination. He has been held without a sack in his last two games and his injury appears to be a big reason why. He did not participate in practice on Wednesday or Thursday.

Chicago Bears head coach Matt Nagy: SRN Broadcasting

“We know when he’s out there he’s going to give us everything,” Trevathan said of Mack. “Our defense, we got his back no matter what. We know when he’s ready he’s going to be ready. So, we’re just got to make more plays.”

The Bears’ defense was a top-ten unit without Mack last year, so, logically speaking, they should manage without him. If he is unable to play Sunday, Aaron Lynch and Leonard Floyd will have to up their game significantly. Akiem Hicks will patrol the middle, but they will need more than just an interior rush to really rattle Darnold.

Allen Robinson and Eric Kush also did not practice due to injury. Robinson has nursed a groin injury the past couple weeks and while he has played through it, it has kept him from unlocking his full capabilities. The Bears are in good hands if Kush is unable to play, as James Daniels is very capable of taking over full-time if need be. Nonetheless, the injury to Robinson is something to keep an eye on. He is a top-ten receiver when at his best, and having him at full-strength would mean a lot for this offense.

Taking advantage of a flawed defense

The Jets have some impressive names on their defense, starting with defensive tackle Leonard Williams, and budding-star safety Jamal Adams. They are a team, however, prone to giving up a lot of offense.

“They’re a very solid defense. Obviously, another defense that has taken away the football so that’s going to be an emphasis this week, especially myself. Just continuing to take care of the football,”  -Mitch Trubisky

The Jets allow a lot of points. They have allowed 30 points or more in three of their last four games and have allowed 400 yards three times in that time frame. Despite being third in the NFL in takeaways, they have averaged 371.7 yards allowed per game, 19th in the NFL.

“I think it’s just going to come down to how great a week of practice we have. And just executing our gameplan and going out there and doing it on Sunday and everyone just trusting and believing in their jobs,” Trubisky added.

The Bears have been able to move the ball and score points; they have had over 450 yards of total offense and have scored 28 points or more in each of their last three games.

“I’ve always been impressed with Mitch,” tight end Trey Burton said. “Some of the play calls can get really long. And he does a really good job of, you know, spitting them out and not making a lot of mistakes.”

They can find success against the Jets, but once more, it will come down to execution. There is enough skill-talent on the offense that all Mitch Trubisky has to do is run it the way it is intended to. Hitting his throws and making the right reads could lead to another big day for the Bears’ offense.

Twitter: @crbevins11 @radiomogul

Hear audio from Matt Nagy, Mitch Trubisky and Danny Trevathan:

The Sports Report – 10/25/18

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with Packer Dave, Steve Leventhal, and John Poulter

On this edition of the Sports Report, John discusses Games One and Two of the 2018 World Series, and gives his thoughts on the start of the 2018 NHL season.  Our special guest, J.J. Stankevitz of CSNChicago.com talks Chicago Bears football, as does our long time friend of the show, Les Grobstein of WSCR radio 670. We preview the Bears – Jets, and Packers – Rams games this weekend.

Hear audio from Aaron Rogers, Clay Matthews, Jr., Matt Nagy, Mitch Trubisky, TE Trey Burton, and Vikes QB Kirk Cousins.  Also don’t miss cameos from Dan Patrick and Mr. Baseball, Bob Uecker.

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Monday Mulling: 2018 Bears fall just short vs Patriots

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The Chicago Bears squared off with Tom Brady and the New England Patriots on Sunday. They fell 38-31 to perhaps the greatest quarterback to ever grace the NFL, and, as a young team, stand to gain a lot from what prevented victory.

How New England’s offense attacked the Bears’ defense

The Patriots neutralized the Bears’ pass-rush by taking a page out of the Dolphins’ playbook: Get the ball out quick. Brady lived by the short game on Sunday, throwing only five of his 25 completions for 10 yards are more. He averaged 2.56 seconds to throw per attempt, which was the seventh-quickest time in the league for Week 7.

The Patriots took advantage of primarily zone-coverage from the Bears, exploiting the soft spots that naturally come with zone. This allowed them to stay in rhythm and methodically move the ball downfield. It also forced the Bears to tackle in space, something they struggled with in Green Bay and Miami.

New England lives off mismatches, and they found one with James White and the Bears’ outside linebackers. White, per status quo, was dangerous in the passing game, catching eight passes for 57 yards and two touchdowns. The chemistry between him and Brady is apparent, and his shiftiness makes him difficult for big-bodied linebackers to cover. New England knew this and attacked Leonard Floyd and Khalil Mack when they were tasked with covering White.

The Patriots’ defensive gameplan

Earlier in the week, Patriots’ coach Bill Belichick gave praise to Taylor Gabriel and the budding chemistry between him and Mitch Trubisky. So, it should not have been much of a surprise that a big part of their gameplan was to take Gabriel away. They did this by bracketing him and often shading a safety over to his side to neutralize the deep threat he brings, and it worked; Gabriel was limited to just three receptions for 26 yards.

“He did everything that we asked him to,” coach Matt Nagy said of Gabriel.

 

Bears coach Matt Nagy. Photo: SRN Broadcasting

It’s not unusual for the Patriots to take away one key aspect of an offense, but, as Trey Burton’s big day will tell us, it tends to open things up for other players. For a team with so many weapons, like the Bears, it was important to nip the offense in the bud by disrupting its catalyst, Trubisky. If they didn’t let him get comfortable, it wouldn’t matter how many weapons he has.

 

The Patriots approached Trubisky similarly to how they approached Patrick Mahomes. A young quarterback who hasn’t seen a lot and doesn’t know what he doesn’t know is vulnerable to a well-schemed defense with exotic looks. Knowing this, the Patriots ran a lot of tight man coverage with various assignments from their linebackers. They used Dont’a Hightower all over the field, whether it be dropping him into coverage from the A-gap or rushing him off the edge. Their approach was designed to keep a young quarterback uncomfortable.

“He played as I thought,” Nagy said. “He played a game better than most people think he played. And so, there were some throws, now, that he missed in the later part of the game. See, early in the game, there’s some throws that looked like he missed them, but he missed them because the guy wasn’t open. And it’s more of a throwaway.”

“Mitchell also understands that he gets all the blame in those type of situations. Now, he’ll also be the first to tell you, and so will I, that there was a few that he wishes he had back. And he’s got to hit those. He knows that. We know that.”

Though the Patriots’ strategy was mostly successful against Mahomes and Trubisky, the two fared well in the stat book, each compiling over 300 yards and multiple touchdowns.

Run, Mith, Run!

New England brought a lot of pressure which threw Trubisky out of rhythm in the first half. The disguise blitzes and disguise coverages were executed well by the Patriots and kept Trubisky on edge in the pocket.

His mobility allowed him to escape and be effective with his feet, though. The Patriots’ man-heavy coverage took their defensive backs with the Bears’ receivers and away from the line of scrimmage, giving Trubisky ample room to scramble and make plays with his feet.

“That’s a weapon right now for us, him using his legs, because there’s coverages that defenses cannot run now because he’s running the ball.”

We’ve seen his athleticism slowly come on display over his young career, and Trubisky effectively used it when things weren’t going great through the air. Development is not a linear process, and, in many ways, Sunday can be seen as a hiccup in that process. Having the means to still be effective when things aren’t going right is a valuable tool to have. It bailed him out of stressful situations and is just one more trick Nagy can keep up his sleeve.

2018 Chicago Bears vs New England Patriots preview

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The New England Patriots roll into the Windy City this Sunday for a showdown against the Chicago Bears. The Bears, coming off a heart-breaking loss to the Miami Dolphins, will look to avoid losing their second straight in what could be Tom Brady’s final game in Chicago.

Rushing BradyImage result for new england patriots logo

The Patriots present the same daunting task as always: Tom Brady. Perhaps the greatest quarterback of all time, Brady has never lost to the Bears, compiling a perfect 4-0 record against them.

There’s a mystique about Brady that, on its own, can make coaches outthink themselves. We saw this happen to the Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC Championship when they went against their gameplan and stumbled to a second-half collapse.

“That’s that whole chasing the cat’s tail thing,” coach Matt Nagy said. “And all of a sudden you start outthinking yourself. You know, ‘What the heck?’ That’s the mystique and that’s what they do.”

“When you don’t go too crazy with that and you balance it and you control what you control, then, in the end, win lose or draw, no matter what, you at least feel good that you approached it the right way.”

The Bears could take a page out of the Broncos’ book. On their way to Super Bowl 50, the Denver Broncos and their vaunted defense knocked the Patriots out of the AFC Championship. Von Miller wrote about it in the Players’ Tribune, saying, “I’m coming from one side, (DeMarcus) Ware from the other, and the defensive tackle gets enough of a push that when (DeMarcus) Ware and I meet in the backfield, Tom has nowhere to go.” There is no doubt Khalil Mack can get pressure from the edge and Akiem Hicks can pressure up the middle. Opposite Mack, Leonard Floyd will have to make an impact to create pressure all around Brady and prevent him from navigating within the pocket.

It should be noted that Khalil Mack did not practice on Wednesday and is listed as day-to-day. It can’t be overstated how crucial his presence is to the Bears’ pass-rush, and by virtue, the Bears’ chances of winning.

Chicago Bears QB Mitch Trubisky: SRN Broadcasting

Tackling in the open field

The Bears struggled to make plays in the open-field against Miami, and those struggles resulted in 274 yards allowed after the catch. The Miami receivers, specifically Albert Wilson, beat them more than Brock Osweiler did.

Bubble screens and the short passing game killed the Bears, as well as their struggles to bring down Frank Gore, uncharacteristic for a defense ranked first in DVOA.

“It wasn’t who we’ve been here in the past, even throughout this stay. It was disappointing and something that’s got to be corrected,” Vic Fangio said.

“Teams have bad days in a lot of ways and that was one of ours.”

The Patriots have an array of weapons that hurt teams in various ways. Julian Edelman is dynamic out of the slot, Josh Gordon is an explosive deep threat and Rob Gronkowski is nearly impossible to cover. They get the ball to their playmakers, further stressing the importance of making fundamental tackles in space.

“We didn’t play as well last game but we’re still confident and we know what we are capable as a team,” linebacker Danny Trevathan said.

The Bears struggled to contain Frank Gore in Miami, so Sony Michel stands to receive plenty of carries. He has overcome a subpar start to become the running back New England envisioned him to be when they drafted him in the first round.  The Bears have one of the best run defenses in the league and containing Michel, yet another weapon in the Patriots’ arsenal, is another step to victory.

Keep the ball rolling on offense

Chicago Bears coach Matt Nagy: SRN Broadcasting

While the Miami loss left a sour taste in fans’ mouths, the game can’t be discussed without bringing up the offense’s success. One of the biggest questions entering Week Six was whether or not Trubisky would build on his Week Four shredding of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. A rough first half drew baited-breaths from watchers but Trubisky settled in once the second half began. Though there were a couple head-scratching throws, Trubisky adjusted to Miami’s exotic looks that had thrown him off in the first half. He threw with anticipation and connected on a couple deep shots to Taylor Gabriel.

“He throws a good deep ball,” Gabriel said. “He throws a real good deep ball. Lot of touch on it. And I feel like we’re only growing from what we already did and what we already kind of put together as in deep balls.”

Trubisky’s next task is to face the defense of the great Bill Belichick. New England’s defense has struggled this season, and their last game against the Kansas City Chiefs was no exception, surrendering 446 yards of offense.

Mahomes filled out the stat sheet, but New England kept him off balance and he didn’t look like the dominant slinger he had been in weeks prior. Quarterbacks generally don’t fare well in their first start against New England, and Belichick is why. He knows how to keep young quarterbacks uncomfortable, and will have something up his sleeve to do so against Trubisky. It is a daunting challenge, but Trubisky has shown to be capable of producing. Sunday will show how ready both he and Nagy are for one of the best minds in the NFL.

Twitter: @crbevins @radiomogul

Hear audio from Matt Nagy, Vic Fangio and Danny Trevathan:

Missed chances sting 2018 Bears in loss vs Dolphins

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Despite jumping out to an 11-point third quarter lead, the Chicago Bears fell to the Miami Dolphins in overtime. A game marked by weirdness and Brock Osweiler throwing 380 yards leaves much to discuss. So, let’s.

Missed chances

The Bears had their share of chances to put the game on ice, and their first missed opportunity can be traced back to the second quarter when Jordan Howard fumbled at the goal line on a potentially game-tying touchdown. To blame the loss on that play would be foolish though.

Chicago Bears QB Mitch Trubisky: SRN Broadcasting

Trey Burton was called for a controversial pass interference call that nullified a touchdown that would have put the Bears up 28-14. The next play, Mitch Trubisky threw an interception right into double coverage and the Dolphins scored on the ensuing drive. A Tarik Cohen fumble late in the fourth quarter ended what looked like a promising Bears drive, but the defense clamped down to force a punt that would send the game to overtime.

The Bears’ response to the Green Bay loss showed how Matt Nagy and his coaching staff can use a negative to create a positive. Players took to social media to support one another and assure fans that they will be back ready to play. Everybody has a bad day at work at times. It’s how you respond. If the last three games are any indicators, the Bears should respond to this adversity, ready to take on Tom Brady and the New England Patriots next week.

Trubisky’s trajectory

Trubisky got off to a sluggish start against Miami, but he came alive in the second half, throwing three touchdowns in the final two quarters.

The difference between the first and second half was noticeable. The offensive line struggled to start the game, and Trubisky was clearly rattled. Once they settled in, however, Trubisky’s full capabilities could be put on display.

Trubisky’s biggest deficiency this season has been his deep-ball ability, but he seems to be putting that together. He missed Anthony Miller on the third play from scrimmage, but he twice found Taylor Gabriel, hitting him for 54 and 47 yards. He delivered a perfect back shoulder throw to Allen Robinson to set them up at the Miami three.

Chicago Bears head coach Matt Nagy: SRN Broadcasting

On his third touchdown, Miami sent their nickel corner on a blitz, which left Anthony Miller, who was lined up in the slot, wide open. Trubisky hung in, waited for Miller to clear the linebacker, and hit him in stride for a walk-in touchdown. Sunday proved to be a game where the offense had to pick up the defense, and they did for the most part. Most games where the offense scores 28 points are wins; Sunday just wasn’t their day.

There were two bad plays he will want back: An overthrow to a wide-open Anthony Miller and the interception in the end zone. He’ll have to clean those up, but there was more good than bad. He completed 22 of 31 passes for three touchdowns and 316 yards. He now has nine touchdowns in his last three games and has put together consecutive games of a passer rating above 120.  The arrow is up for Trubisky, and that should not be overlooked.

Fuller’s big day

While the defense struggled to get a pass-rush and proved unable to tackle in open space, Kyle Fuller played his part, recording two interceptions that prevented the Dolphins’ momentum from growing to insurmountable heights. The first came late in the second quarter on a deep shot from Osweiler that Fuller nabbed at the Bears’ four. The ball was underthrown, but Fuller stayed in

Devante Parker’s hip pocket the whole, putting him in position to make an easy pick. The second interception came early in the third quarter following the Bears’ opening touchdown. Osweiler attempted a pass towards a curl route on his right, and Fuller jumped the route to take the ball to the Dolphins’ four. One play later, Trubisky hit Allen Robinson to take a 14-7 lead, swinging the momentum straight towards the Bears.

The Dolphins had the formula to beat the Bears’ defense: Quick throws and easy screens to get the ball to their playmakers in space and let the Bears try to tackle in the open field. They couldn’t, and it’s a big reason why they lost. However, when Miami tried to deviate from that gameplan, they had no luck. The Bears’ defense has aggressive, physical players in their back end that typically make the tackles they need to. The offense played well enough to win, and if those two units can play harmoniously as they did against Tampa Bay, the Bears will continue to be a force.

Twitter: @crbevins11 @radiomogul

Cats refuse to go away, defeat Nebraska on homecoming

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The Northwestern Wildcats seemed down and out Saturday against the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Faced with the daunting task of a 99-yard touchdown drive with two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, it seemed the Wildcats were going to fall short yet again at home.

Against all odds, quarterback Clayton Thorson led his team on that march. He kept his offense on schedule and remained calm in one of the most improbable drives of his career. He found J.J. Jefferson for the touchdown and the extra point tied it up.

“That’s just absolutely spectacular,” coach Pat Fitzgerald said. “You know, 99-and-a-half yard drive with no timeouts to get us into overtime, you know, I think that was a huge huge huge huge confidence builder for our offense.”

But to those who thought the story of this game couldn’t get better, Drew Luckenbaugh stepped in.

Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald: SRN Broadcasting

The Wildcats’ defense did its part in overtime and the offense moved the ball into field goal range. The sophomore kicker from Spring Grove, Pennsylvania had a chance to leave his name in the Northwestern history books. One swing of the leg sent the ball sailing 37 yards in the air and through the uprights to secure the Cats’ third Big Ten victory of the season.

It was also his first collegiate start at placekicker.

“It still hasn’t really hit,” he said afterward.

Charlie Kuhbander, NU’s regular placekicker, was ruled out for this week’s homecoming game, meaning it was Luckenbaugh’s time to step up. Despite missing a field goal in the third quarter, he delivered when it mattered most.

“I was just, yeah, a little bit excited to go out there for the first one. But, you know, as I was growing up we had a saying, ‘Fix it and forget it.’ So, you know, I realized what I did and then just moved on and fixed it for the next one.”

Nebraska jumped out to a touchdown lead on their opening possession of the game, but the scoring came to a halt as the two teams sized each other up. Northwestern broke through with 7:41 left in the second quarter as Thorson found Flynn Nagel in the end zone to knot it at seven apiece. The Cats later scored on a strip sack of Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez to take the lead. The half ended with a Nebraska touchdown but a missed extra point kept the momentum with the Wildcats.

We’ve seen that story, however, and it has ended with Northwestern snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. Such seemed to be the case on Saturday, as the Cornhuskers went ahead by 14 to start the fourth quarter. This time, however, the script had changed.

“We realized that was the issue the first few weeks,” Thorson said of their early second-half woes. “And so we just addressed that, and address that in practice and move on. But the guys are playing real resilient right now.”

Thorson, looking for the end zone, threw a pick at the Nebraska three to start the half, and a 97-yard touchdown drive from the

Northwestern kicker Drew Luckenbaugh: SRN Broadcasting

Huskers ensued. NU got an interception on Nebraska’s next drive but missed the field goal. The Huskers responded with a touchdown and suddenly they had a 28-14 lead to begin the fourth. That “Here we go again” feeling began to creep in.

 

But as Thorson said, the Cats remained resilient. Thorson, under pressure, found Nagel, who made a contested catch and broke free for a 61-yard touchdown to make it a one-possession game with 12:31 left in the fourth. A Nebraska field goal with 5:41 remaining, however, put Nebraska back up by 10.

Of course, it wasn’t enough, as the cats scored 10 unanswered and won in overtime.

“Great team win. We found a way to get it done. Obviously, we put ourselves, I think, in a hole to start it,” Fitzgerald said. “To have the guys be resilient and find a way to make some just huge plays down the stretch in all three phases.”

The story could not have been written without the efforts of Thorson and Nagel, though. Thorson threw for 455 yards and three touchdowns, while Nagel had 12 receptions for 220 yards and two touchdowns. The duo linked up three times for 52 yards on the final drive.

“He was playing out of his mind,” Thorson said of Nagel. “On that last drive there, when he ran kind of a little wheel route, he turned to me and said, ‘Throw me the ball. This is why I’m here.'”

“They came up with a saying, Justin Jackson the Ball Carrier, around here. Right now it’s Clayton Thorson the thrower,” Fitzgerald said.

The Wildcats travel to New Jersey to face the lowly Rutgers Scarlett Knights next week before a showdown with the Wisconsin Badgers at Ryan Field on October 27th.

“The [students] that, you know, are thinking about coming out in a couple weeks, we’re going to need them. And I hope they come out and I hope they enjoy it.”

Twitter: @crbevins11 @radiomogul

Hear audio from Pat Fitzgerald, Clayton Thorson and Drew Luckenbaugh: