Chicago Bears: 10 Things We Learned in the Loss Against the Redskins
The Chicago Bears went into their game against the Washington Redskins this Sunday at Soldier Field hoping to get a much needed win before their bye week this coming Sunday. What ended up happening was that the Bears couldn’t seal the deal on offense and win the game, and they ended up losing 17-13. This game was full of mistakes for both teams and featured some ineptitude on behalf of the Bears and the Redskins in what ended up being a pretty sloppy game.
So what did the Bears do right in this game, if anything? What did they do wrong? What did we notice in this game? Let’s take a look at 10 things that we learned about the Bears against the Redskins this Sunday.
The Bears Can Run the Football
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Albeit they didn’t run it enough in this game, they still proved they can indeed run the football. After things settled down for them in the second half, the Bears were able to use both Matt Forte and Chester Taylor effectively on the ground. Had they used the run more in the first half, they may have been able to score again before halftime and could have really put the Redskins down going into the half. That might have made a difference in the game.
Cutler Is Reverting Back to His 2009 Form
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Four interceptions? Those four interceptions killed the Bears especially the one he threw that was intercepted by cornerback DeAngelo Hall and returned for a touchdown. Granted, some of these picks weren’t his fault as his wide receivers had some difficulty completing their routes and being in the right place at the right time, but these were very costly turnovers. Hopefully Cutler isn’t going back to his “old days” where he would try to force plays, throwing the ball and having it intercepted. That would destroy whatever chances the Bears have of getting things put back together and winning games.
The Offensive Line Is Getting Better
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Yes, things started out a little rough for the offensive line, especially in the first half, but as the second half progressed, they tightened things up and allowed the running game to get going and kept the passing game going as well. It’s so important that the line is kept together and changes aren’t made as often as they have been made. Hopefully the coaching staff has learned this. However, with guard Roberto Garza coming back from knee surgery after the bye week, will we see another line change?
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D.J. Moore Is Worth It at Nickel
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We saw what cornerback D.J. Moore could do in the Bear’s game against the Cowboys, and in this game, Moore came through again with a near sack and an interception return for a touchdown. The Bears used him as a pass rusher on that play and it worked very well. Look for Chicago to use him much more often in the future because of his solid ability as a playmaker.
Julius Peppers Is Quiet but Effective
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Sure, we didn’t see a lot of Peppers in the standings in this game, but his presence was definitely a help. We saw him get double teamed on several occasions, and he helped provide some solid run support, as usual, in this game. However, he didn’t have the sacks that you would like to see out of him (and for the money that they are paying him). Peppers did appear as if he was hurt towards the end of the game, and he might be suffering from some wear and tear due to his intense play. Hopefully he gets well during the bye week and comes back ready to play.
Chester Taylor Needs to Play More
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Almost every time that Taylor touched the ball in this game he did something with it. The Bears paid a lot of money to bring him to Chicago, and they started getting their money’s worth out of him in this game. Not only can Taylor run effectively as well as catch the ball and create after the catch, but he can also block, and we saw this happen a few times during this game. The Bears definitely need to use him more often.
Special Teams Continue To Be Special
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Yes, the Bears didn’t have any return touchdowns in this game, but overall, you can see just what effect the threat of that actually happening has on opposing teams. The Redskins punter did not punt to Devin Hester one time in this game. Instead, they opted to punt the ball to the sideline, giving up valuable field position. It didn’t really matter in the end, but perhaps if the Bears had won this game, it would have made a bigger difference.
Briggs Makes a Difference
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Linebacker Lance Briggs started the game but ended up having to leave after he reinjured his ankle. You can easily see that having Briggs in the lineup makes a difference, and without him in the lineup, the Bears have problems both defending against the run pass. With a couple weeks of rest, Briggs should be back and ready to go by the time the Bears meet the Buffalo Bills in Toronto.
The Bears Need Rest
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You can tell by the way that some players looked as well as the injury reports have been looking lately that the Bears players need some rest. Luckily the bye week is coming at a good time for some especially for guys like Briggs, Peppers, Cutler and safety Chris Harris. This bye week is going to be very much welcome by these and other Bears players.
Running the Ball, Short Drops and Quick Passes Help
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The Bears tightened things up on offense in the second half of this game and did some of the things that could help make their offense better. They used the running game to help move the ball on the ground and they had some success doing it. They also used quick three step drops and quick routes to help move the ball down the field and this worked out well. Cutler stayed protected and completed a lot of passes doing this. Chicago has to continue to do this in order to have success on offense.
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