Report Card: Bears Position Rankings after loss to Packers |
The Bears began this season with heightened expectations after they finished with a league-worst 3-14 and traded the No. 1 overall pick in a deal to acquire DJ Moore and draft capital. The Bears added exponentially to the offensive line and the defense and were widely anticipating a big improvement in 2023. However, it got off to an extremely rough start last week against Green Bay. There was no Aaron Rodgers on the opposing sideline, but the Bears still fell to the Packers 38-20 at Soldier Field on Sunday.
It’s time for us to hand out some grades after the loss. QUARTERBACK C Justin Fields was the Bears QB on Sunday and was the team's leading passer (obviously) and rusher against Green Bay. Fields was 24-37 for 216 yards with an interception, a fumble and 59 rushing yards on nine Carries. Once again, he was under heavy pressure, getting sacked 4 times. Fields was not special, but he was far from terrible. If the Bears want to get where they want to go, he needs to be better though. RUNNING BACKS B Khalil Herbert led the way in a backfield that added former Panther D’onte Foreman and rookie Roschon Johnson. Herbert led the way in terms of touches, with nine carries and three catches for a total of 64 yards. Foreman had seven touches that accumulated 24 yards, and the rookie was the only of the three to find the end zone. Johnson had five carries and six catches for 55 total yards and a score. The Bears were the league’s top rushing offense a year ago, expect them to continually get this unit involved. RECEIVERS D This unit was one that was supposed to take one of the largest steps from last season to this one, and it was a glaring dud on the stat sheet. Chase Claypool was just getting cardio out there, DJ Moore had only two catches for 25 yards on two targets. Darnell Mooney was the start of the group, with four grabs for 53 yards and a touchdown. Tyler Scott also had two catches. This group needs to be better in the coming weeks. TIGHT ENDS C Highlighted by the newly paid Cole Kmet, this group was average. Kmet had five grabs for 44 yards and was neither dynamic nor detrimental in the loss. OFFENSIVE LINE F Similarly to last season’s debauchery, the offensive line was horrid in week one. Justin Fields was under heavy pressure, which resulted in four sacks. The line also struggled to open up holes in the run game. A good Bears season is dependent on this group improving. DEFENSIVE LINE D The defensive line was poor in both stopping the run and generating pressure in the passing game. Newcomer Yannick Ngakoue got the Bears' lone sack in this unit’s disappointing debut. LINEBACKERS B No Roquan Smith headlining this group, but they are still the defense’s strengths. New additions T. J. Edwards and Tremaine Edmunds combined for 22 tackles and 2 tackles for loss. They will remain the base of this Bears defense. SECONDARY D Jordan Love looked like Rodgers in his first start against the Bears, and a lot of that can be attributed to the Bears' poor performance out of the secondary. Kyler Gordon suffered an injury, Eddie Jackson looked lazy, and Jaylon Johnson was not very effective. Jaquan Brisker was solid, but it was not enough to save this unit’s grade. SPECIAL TEAMS B Nothing special here. Cairo Santos was 2/2 on field goals, Trenton Gill got one of his four punts inside the 20, and Tyler Scott gathered 84 yards on four returns. PLAY CALLING F The first game of the second season of the Matt Eberflus era was embarrassing from the play-calling department. Either the organization has no trust in Justin Fields, or they have no idea what he can do — and both are an issue. We’ll see if it turns in the coming weeks. The Bears travel to Tampa Bay to take on the 1-0 Buccaneers as they look for their first win.
