GRADING THE BEARS
QUARTERBACK
BAfter a slow start, Mitch Trubisky (22-for-31, 316 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT, 122.5) found a groove. He threw TD passes to Trey Burton (on a shovel pass), Allen Robinson and Anthony Miller. His big mistake was a bad one — an INT in the end zone on an ill-advised throw to Ben Braunecker with the Bears up 21-13 in the fourth.
RUNNING BACKS
CJordan Howard (14 carries, 69 yards, 4.9) was rediscovered in the 4Q/OT, when he gained 48 yards on 7 carries. Howard, though, had a crucial fumble at the goal line. Tarik Cohen (5-31) had a 21-yard rushing TD and 7 receptions for 90 yards. But he also had a key turnover with a fourth-quarter fumble.
RECEIVERS
B+Taylor Gabriel (5 receptions, 110 yards) had receptions of 47 and 54 yards — making a highlight-reel catch on the 47-yarder. Robinson (5-64) had a 12-yard TD. Miller had a 29-yard TD. Burton caught a 9-yard TD on a shovel pass but was called for an illegal pick that negated a 3-yard TD to Cohen.
OFFENSIVE LINE
BShowed overall improvement with a solid effort in protecting Trubisky, who was sacked twice. The Bears had rushes of 28, 21 and 19 yards. Charles Leno Jr. had a key block on Cohen’s 21-yard TD run. Bobby Massie and Kyle Long were beaten for sacks. James Daniels alternated with Eric Kush.
DEFENSIVE LINE
DDidn’t make a big impact for the most part, as the Dolphins rushed for 161 yards, with veteran Frank Gore (15-101) doing most of the damage. Akiem Hicks made two big plays in OT, keeping Gore out of the end zone, then forcing a Kenyan Drake fumble that Eddie Goldman recovered.
LINEBACKERS
D-Khalil Mack was neutralized for the first time since joining the Bears. He had two tackles, and that’s it. Roquan Smith led the Bears with 13 tackles but had no splash plays. Leonard Floyd had two penalties — unnecessary roughness and a questionable roughing the-QB. Danny Trevathan (8 tackles) missed a tackle on Gore’s 32-yard run in OT.
SECONDARY
D+Kyle Fuller had 2 INTs, returning one 35 yards to the 12 to set up a Trubisky TD pass to Robinson that gave the Bears a 14-7 lead. Bryce Callahan had a TFL and third-down QB pressure, but missed tackles were the story. Adrian Amos and Eddie Jackson had multiple misses, and Fuller had at least one. Prince Amukamara reinjured his hamstring.
SPECIAL TEAMS
CCody Parkey had a chance to win the game with a 53-yard FG, but his kick was wide right. Nothing doing in the return game. Cohen had one punt return for 5 yards. Benny Cunningham had one kickoff return for 16. Pat O’Donnell averaged 39.5 net on two punts.
COACHING
DMatt Nagy’s decision to play for a 53-yard FG attempt in OT was baffling — with 2:00 to play and the Dolphins getting the ball at their 43 if he missed. Nagy also let 15-20 seconds run off before calling a TO with 41 seconds left in regulation. The Bears, in general, were not sharp coming off the bye.