Trubisky or Foles? Bears must pick key puzzle piece
Tenth in a 13-part series on the opponents the Green Bay Packers are scheduled to face during the 2020 regular season.
GREEN BAY - Give the Chicago Bears credit for this: They know their quarterback situation is a problem.
Three years ago, Bears general manager Ryan Pace made what could amount to one of the biggest blunders in the franchise’s long history. Needing a quarterback, Pace didn’t sit back and wait. He traded up from third overall in the draft to second, targeting his future franchise starter.
But instead of drafting Patrick Mahomes or Deshaun Watson, a pair of quarterbacks who have become established stars, Pace drafted Mitch Trubisky.
The sting of that decision could last decades. Mahomes is already a regularseason and Super Bowl MVP. Watson is a two-time Pro Bowler. Trubisky has been a mediocre — at best — starter who now faces competition for his job.
Knowing the 83 passer rating and middling record Trubisky posted last season wasn’t enough, the Bears traded for Super Bowl LII MVP Nick Foles. There’s no guarantee Foles will be enough to push the Bears back to an
NFC North title, or that he’ll even supplant Trubisky. Foles wasn’t exactly magic in four games last season with the Jacksonville Jaguars, who were happy to release his $88 million contract. But with an otherwise title-contending roster failing to win specifically because of their quarterback play, the Bears did what they could to address the position.
Now the question is: Will it be
enough?
Nagy Effect
Matt Nagy was the toast of the NFC North, an NFL coach of the year candidate, in his first season. Behind the Bears’ 12-4 record in 2018 was the NFL’s best defense, yes, but also an offense that was sneaky effective. The Bears ranked ninth in scoring during Nagy’s first season, averaging 26.3 points per game. But they were only 21st in yards, a sign their output on the scoreboard was being helped on the scoreboard as much by their dominant defense as Nagy’s play-calling genius. The offense plummeted last season, averaging 8.8 points fewer per game. They were among five NFL teams to average fewer than 300 yards per game, their 296.8 average almost 50 fewer than 2018. They were in the conversation as the NFL’s worst offense, joining the New York Jets, Denver and Washington as the only teams to rank in the bottom five in points and yards. For an offensive guru such as Nagy, the dip was unacceptable. He’ll have pressure to get the offense clicking at a more proficient level in 2020, regardless of the
quarterback.
Monsters of the Midway
At least the Bears have that defense going for them. The Bears showed they could still be dominant without coordinator Vic Fangio calling plays, retaining their place among the NFL’s elite under new coordinator Chuck Pagano. In the past two seasons, only two defenses have ranked in the league’s top eight in fewest points and yards allowed: the Bears and perennially defensive-minded Baltimore Ravens. That’s some good company.
Prime time all the time
If there is one certainty when it comes to the Packers’ schedule, it seems to be that they will host the Bears in prime time at Lambeau Field. For the ninth time in 10 seasons, the Packers will get the Bears at night on their home field. That can’t make the Bears happy, continually drawing a prime-time Lambeau Field crowd year after year. Not that NBC, which usually draws that game, cares. The only time in the past decade the Packers haven’t hosted the Bears at night was last season, a rare early-afternoon game. That snapped a streak of nine straight home night games for the Packers against their rival. The Packers were 7-2 in
those games.
Packers schedule glimpse
Nov. 29 vs. Bears, 7:20 p.m., NBC; Jan. 3 at Chicago, noon, Fox
Week before first meeting: at Indianapolis, Nov. 22.
Week after: vs. Eagles, Dec. 6.
On the horizon: at Detroit, Dec. 13. Chicago Bears
Coach: Matt Nagy (second season, 20-12).
2019 record: 8-8, third in NFC
North.
Scoring offense: 17.5 points per game (29th in NFL).
Total offense: 296.8 yards per game (29th).
Scoring defense: 18.6 points per game (4th).
Total defense: 324.1 yards per game (8th).
Series: Packers lead 98-94-6.
Last meeting: The Packers jumped out to a 21-3 lead in the third quarter and held on to beat the Bears 21-13 at Lambeau Field on Dec. 15. There was just enough offense from Aaron Rodgers (16 of 33, 203 yards, touchdown) and Aaron Jones (51 rushing yards, two touchdowns) and just enough help from Mitch Trubisky (two interceptions, 64.5 rating) for the Packers to win, expanding their all-time lead in the NFL’s longest continued series.