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NFL Chicago Bears

Chicago Bears’ Week 13 Report Card

By @ClydeASpeller

Chicago Bears' Week 13 Report Card

Chicago Bears-Jon Bostic vs Lions
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The Chicago Bears didn’t have much time to prepare for their game on Thanksgiving Day, and the 34-17 whooping handed to them by the Detroit Lions proved it. This loss doesn’t officially knock the Bears out of playoff contention, but their playing and coaching shows that they wouldn’t be relevant either way. Here are Chicago’s grades from their holiday massacre.

Quarterback

Chicago Bears-Jay Cutler vs Lions
Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

Quarterback

Chicago Bears-Jay Cutler vs Lions
Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

Most of Jay Cutler’s pass attempts were screens and dump-offs across the middle. At times, he threw while unbalanced, resulting in crucial incompletions and a drive-killing interception in the second half. His two first-quarter touchdown passes got the offense going early, but Cutler couldn’t keep that rhythm in the Motown.

Grade: C-

Running Backs

Chicago Bears-Matt Forte vs Lions
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Running Backs

Chicago Bears-Matt Forte vs Lions
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Matt Forte had a miniscule five carries for six yards throughout the entire game thanks to the excessive use of screen passes as an extension of the running game. Forte did the best he could as a receiver out of the backfield (six catches for 52 yards). Unfortunately, the grade for the Bears’ running backs will have to take a hit due to the coaching staff’s play-calling.

Grade: D

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

Chicago Bears-Alshon Jeffery vs Lions
Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

Chicago Bears-Alshon Jeffery vs Lions
Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

Tight end Martellus Bennett finished with a team-high 109 receiving yards, and wide receiver Alshon Jeffery scored the team’s only two touchdowns. After a much-needed big game last week, wide receiver Brandon Marshall responded with another subpar performance (six catches for 42 yards).

Grade: C

Offensive Line

Chicago Bears-O-line vs Lions
Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

Offensive Line

Chicago Bears-O-line vs Lions
Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

Chicago’s offensive line kept Cutler upright for the entirety of the first half, but allowed Detroit’s front four to get three sacks in the second half. Veteran center Roberto Garza had a couple of penalties that slowed down the offense. I would say something about their run blocking, but that’s hard to do when an offense doesn’t run the ball.

Grade: C-

Defensive Line

Detroit Lions-Joique Bell vs. Bears
Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

Defensive Line

Detroit Lions-Joique Bell vs. Bears
Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

Defensive end Jared Allen finished the contest with two sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Aside from the defensive line’s lone bright spot, Chicago eventually lost control of the line of scrimmage throughout the game, allowing the Lions to run the ball at will. Willie Young could have had a sack of his own, but had it nullified by a personal foul.

Grade: D+

Linebackers

Chicago Bears-Shea McClellin vs Lions
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Linebackers

Chicago Bears-Shea McClellin vs Lions
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Lions’ running back Joique Bell was a one-man battering ram in the running game (91 yards and two touchdowns), and Chicago’s linebacking corps had a difficult time sustaining Detroit’s 30th-ranked rushing attack.

Grade: D

Defensive Backs

Chicago Bears-Ryan Mundy vs Lions
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Defensive Backs

Chicago Bears-Ryan Mundy vs Lions
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You can only hope that any secondary can contain Lion’s wide receiver Calvin Johnson. The Bears’ defensive backs didn’t accomplish that. The Bears’ DBs allowed Johnson to haul in 11 catches for 146 yards and two touchdowns. Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford added salt to the wound by completing 76 percent of his passes for nearly 400 yards.

Grade: F

Special Teams

Chicago Bears-Robbie Gould2
Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

Special Teams

Chicago Bears-Robbie Gould2
Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

Kicker Robbie Gould connected on a field goal for the first time since Week 6. Rookie punter Pat O’Donnell nailed three of his six punts inside the 20-yard line with a long of 61 yards. Most importantly, the special teams unit committed no penalties.

Grade: A

Coaching

Chicago Bears-Marc Trestman3
Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

Coaching

Chicago Bears-Marc Trestman3
Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

If there was one thing that held back the offense, it was the play-calling by the coaching staff. Head coach Marc Trestman continues to keep the ball out of the hands of their best offensive weapon, Matt Forte. Defensively, the coaching staff constantly allows their defensive backs to let opposing pass catchers run free off the line of scrimmage, making it easier for them to roam freely. There is a lot that needs to be fixed.

Grade: F

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