Chicago Bears vs. Baltimore Ravens: Offensive grades

(Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
(Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 5
Next
Chicago Bears Mitch Trubisky
(Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) /

Quarterback: A

Don’t talk to me about the stats (8/16, 113 yards). Aside from the one touchdown he put up, they really don’t matter. Plus, it’s not his fault that Fox and Loggains seem terrified to open the game plan up for him.

In the end, the Chicago Bears can point to this win and say they won because of their quarterback. They won because he made plays that, honestly, very few quarterbacks in this league can make. And he did it on the road against a tenacious Ravens defense.

He not only improved on his debut performance last week but made a few absolutely defining plays. And THAT’S why the Bears are playing Trubisky.

He had to shrug off a few sacks and plays where he arguably should’ve gotten the ball out of his hands, that’s true. But on the whole, I saw very little wrong with how he played at first glance. That includes him holstering a few throws rather than forcing them into tight windows, a clear sign of growth from last week.

And then, Trubisky made a few simply brilliant plays that just cannot be praised enough.

First off, the one that won’t go on the stat sheet: scooping up an errant snap from Whitehair in the end zone, avoiding a sack and throwing the ball away.

All the “Mike-Glennon-couldn’t-have-done-that” comments aside, that’s just a tremendous display of athleticism and savvy from a rookie quarterback.

His touchdown throw to Dion Sims? Quintessential Trubisky: escape a rush and throw a perfect ball about 40 yards downfield on a line while falling away. Are you kidding me?

But it’s the throw to Wright that takes the cake.

3rd-and-11 from the Ravens’ 41-yard line in overtime, barely out of Connor Barth’s range. On the road in his second NFL start against a top-ten pass defense. The Ravens send five, with Suggs spying. And what did our second-overall pick do?

He stepped up in the pocket, never lowered his eyes and fired a dart where only his receiver could go up and get it. First down. Barth hits the game-winning field goal three plays later.

Next: Bears vs. Ravens defensive grades

I can put it no simpler than this: that’s what it looks like when a real NFL quarterback just goes out and makes a play. Revel in it, Chicago Bears fans. You have your quarterback.

Now, if they can get him a coaching staff and a few receivers, and we’ll be good to go.