NOSTOPPING ’ EM
After another tough night, it’s clear injuries taking toll on defense
ARLINGTON, Texas— The Bears’ defense was ready. Or thought it was. “Everything we expected them to do, they did. We just didn’t stop it,” Bears safety Adrian Amos said after the defense allowed 447 yards and 25 first downs in a 31- 17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night at AT& T Stadium. “They did the things we practiced [ against]. Little things, man. I know when we watch the film, we’re going to be disappointed in ourselves in how we came out in the first half and see things that we practiced that we just didn’t execute.”
A short- handed Bears defense seemed to be feeling the effects of playing without five starters— linebacker Danny Trevathan, nose tackle Eddie Goldman, cornerback Kyle Fuller, outside linebacker Pernell McPhee and nickel back Bryce Callahan. Ezekiel Elliott gained 21 yards on a simple first- and- 10 run on the Cowboys’ first play from scrimmage, setting a tone for a problematic first half for the Bears.
“We’re just not executing like we need to,” linebacker Jerrell Freeman said. “We knew their scheme. We knew what they were going to do. They just out- executed us.”
The Cowboys scored on all four first- half drives— three touchdowns and a field goal to put the Bears in a 24- 3 hole. The Cowboys gained 274 yards and had 19 first downs. Rookie quarterback Dak Prescott was 12- of- 15 for 139 yards and a 105.3 passer rating.
“What it really comes down to is playing assignment football,” defensive end Akiem Hicks said. “Staying in our gaps, playing your technique. Making sure that we’re putting ourselves in position to execute our plans. In some areas we were lacking and that’s where they took advantage of it.” The injuries are not an excuse. “Can’t dwell on that,” Freeman said. “It’s the NFL. You’re going to have guys get hurt. You’ve got to have guys step up and fill those roles.”
But as much as the Bears want to believe in the “next- man- up” philosophy, it’s obvious the injuries are taking a toll. Will Sutton is a try- hard player who makes plays. But the Bears miss Goldman in the middle.
“Tremendously,” Hicks said. “You definitely miss a stout player such as Eddie Goldman. But I will say this: Will Sutton definitely brought his hard hat and came to work today and did the best job he could.”
The Bears had little pass rush on Prescott and extended a streak of 172 snaps without a takeaway in the first half.
The Bears finally ended the drought two plays into the second half, when Jacoby Glenn forced wide receiver Terrance-Williams to fumble— after a 47- yard gain to the Bears’ 22- yard line— and Amos recovered. The big play sparked the Bears’ offense, which drove 63 yards on 11 plays for a touchdown on Brian Hoyer’s twoyard touchdown pass to tight end Zach Miller on fourth- and- goal.
That’s how it’s supposed to work. It’s probably not a coincidence that the Bears’ best offensive possession of the game occurred after a defensive takeaway. But with young players and injuries, the defense will be challenged to consistently provide that kind of impetus for an offense that needs a lot of help.
“I don’t think we’re shaken,” Tracy Porter said. “We’re frustrated. We know we’re a lot better defensively than what we showed today and what we’ve shown the last two weeks. We know the talent we have on this defense. But talent alone doesn’t win. We have to execute and play together.”
Follow me on Twitter @ MarkPotash.