Chicago Bears: Takeaways from loss to the Giants

Defense wins championships

Well, this defense did not look like a championship roster tonight. Letting up 32 points is unacceptable. Clearly, the team was playing their backups and the backups’ backups all game. Some players stood out and others really struggled.

As a whole, the team forced multiple fumbles. They recovered two of the three and also had a diving interception by Clifton Duck. The one fumble they did not recover was forced by Sherrick McManis. Rookie nickel corner Duke Shelley saw paydirt in front of him, but could not hold onto the football as he tried scooping it up. Had he been able to hold onto it, he had a clear path for a defensive touchdown.

One player who stood out to me in a negative way was John Franklin. Franklin started out with a few strong plays, but then went on a spiral that cost the Bears big. After two bad plays in coverage that led to a Giants touchdown, Franklin was called for a holding penalty that negated a Kerrith Whyte punt return touchdown. A hold that really was not needed for the speedy returner to score.

Some positive notes plays though centered around the play of ILBs Josh Woods and Joel Iyiegbuniwe (Iggy). Both finished with five solo tackles. Woods also had three assists to Iggy’s two assists. The two seemed to be all over the field tonight. Nick Kwiatkoski had the same stats as Woods but in a much more unimpressive manner.

Clifton Duck made a fantastic diving interception to stop the Giants from scoring within the five yard-line. He then got up and ran for 62 yards before being tackled from behind. Duck proved something to me tonight. He was making his presence known not only on defense but also on special teams, which is important for depth guys. He might have given himself an opportunity to see more snaps with the second-string defense. He is likely a bubble guy at the moment.

Quick hits on others who performed well are James Vaughters who had a strip-sack and fumble recovery. He also brought the pressure that led to the Duck interception. Jonathan Bullard fell on a botched snap fumble but did not show enough beyond that. Isaiah Irving also added to the stat sheet with the Bears second sack. He also had two assists. Duke Shelley still looks good to me and I think pushes Buster Skrine for some playing time during the season.

Beyond these names, no one else stood out to me positively or negatively.