Chicago Bears: 3 takeaways from first preseason game

You Gotta be Kickin’ Me

Oh, boy Bears fans. If you wanted the kicking competition to get interesting, well you got your wish. Obviously, the position was one of intense scrutiny coming into training camp. However, the seemingly solid play of both Eddy Pineiro and Elliott Fry in training camp had fans feeling much better about the situation.

That positivity may be short-lived though, as Pineiro proceeded to pull his 48-yard field goal wide left (though he did later connect on a 23-yard chip shot). You could tell by Nagy’s playcalling in that series that he was playing for a field goal attempt to test his kicker, and Pineiro failed the test.

Fry, on the other hand, made the most of his two opportunities. He connected on the extra point following Montgomery’s touchdown, and also nailed a 43-yarder in the final seconds of the first half. If you’re wondering, yes that is the exact same distance as Cody Parkey‘s double-doink. And yes, it was at the exact same end of the field (North end zone). So if you’re into symmetry, or maybe a little exorcising of the demons, Fry gave it to you.

As we have been saying, the kicking competition did not really begin until Thursday night. Kicking in training camp is one thing. Kicking in a game — even if just in the preseason — is a whole different beast. Based on their performance last night, Fry was up tot he challenge, while Pineiro was not. Let the games begin.