GRADING THE BEARS
QUARTERBACK
D
Mitch Trubisky (16-for30, 110 yards, 1 TD, 3 INTs, 33.3 rating) showed plenty of rust and never got into a groove. The good news? He rushed six times for 23 yards without incident — including gains of nine and 13 yards on the Bears’ first possession. He threw a two-yard TD pass to offensive lineman Bradley Sowell. RUNNING BACKS
B
With Trubisky struggling, Jordan Howard (19 carries, 101 yards, 5.3 average) gave the Bears’ offense a lift, including a 21-yard run in the fourth quarter that helped ice it. Tarik Cohen (9-69) had the two longest plays from scrimmage — a 32-yard run that led to a field goal and a 23-yard run on third-and-two.
RECEIVERS
C+
Allen Robinson (five receptions, 42 yards) made some key catches on the Bears’ touchdown drive — 12, 14 and eight yards to set up a second-and-goal at the 2 — before Sowell’s TD. TE Trey Burton had a 17-yard catch. Josh Bellamy (0-0) had a chop-block penalty. Taylor Gabriel had three catches for 22 yards.
OFFENSIVE LINE
B+
Rookie James Daniels, center Cody Whitehair and right guard Bryan Witzmann helped contain Aaron Donald without allowing others to make big plays. Dante Fowler beat Bobby Massie for the only sack of Trubisky. Whitehair and Witzmann had key blocks on Cohen’s 32-yard run. Sowell had the two-yard TD catch.
DEFENSIVE LINE
A+
Eddie Goldman’s sack of Jared Goff for a safety was the highlight play, but the Bears had good balance up front as they held Todd Gurley to 28 yards on 11 carries. Jonathan Bullard pushed Andrew Whitworth into Goff, leading to a pick. Akiem Hicks sacked Goff to apply the finishing touch.
LINEBACKERS
A+
Khalil Mack (three tackles, one sack) helped set the tone with a pressure on Goff that forced a punt on the Rams’ first series. Roquan Smith (six tackles, one pass breakup) had an INT that set up a field goal. Leonard Floyd was effective throughout, with a TFL and a QB hit. Danny Trevathan (two tackles) was solid.
SECONDARY
A+
Kyle Fuller’s pick one play after a Trubisky interception was one of several key plays by the secondary. Eddie Jackson (three pass breakups) had an interception on a Hail Mary at the end of the first half. Sherrick McManis (seven tackles) had a TFL and QB hit in place of injured Bryce Callahan, who had a TFL. Prince Amukamara (three pass breakups) had the clinching interception.
SPECIAL TEAMS
B
Got off to a rough start when Rams punter Johnny Hekker threw an eight-yard pass to Gerald Everett on a fake in the first half. Cody Parkey kicked FGs of 39 and 31 yards and made his only PAT. His miss from 38 with 2:45 left didn’t affect the outcome.
COACHING
A+
Coming off a loss to the Giants, Matt Nagy had his team ready for a big game, though Vic Fangio’s defense was the star of the show. With Trubisky and the offense struggling, Nagy found a way to score with a fake to Hicks on the goal line and pass to Sowell.