The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Trubisky bullish after second tuneup
Trubisky, a Mentor graduate, bounced back from a dismal debut last week to show his stuff.
DENVER » Chicago quarterback Mitchell Trubisky and Denver QB Case Keenum feel better about their respective offenses after starting out faster and finally moving the chains late Aug. 18.
Trubisky, a Mentor graduate, bounced back from a dismal debut last week by connecting with Trey Burton for his first score of the summer.
“We can find answers in this offense,” said Trubisky, who’s learning first-year coach Matt Nagy’s philosophies. “The playmakers are going to get open. It’s my job to get them the ball.”
Keenum was an offseason pick-up for the Broncos, and fared better as well.
“Scoring points always feels better,” said Keenum, who led two scoring drives in three possessions one week after his dud of a Denver debut.
Keenum’s new backup Chad Kelly threw another touchdown pass after leapfrogging Paxton Lynch, but it was Bears backup Chase Daniel who had the best night of all.
He led Chicago’s fantastic finish by throwing for a pair of touchdowns in the final five minutes to spark Chicago’s come-from-behind 2423 win.
Trubisky threw for 90 yards and a touchdown on 9-of-14 passing. He also threw an interception and was tackled by first-round pick Bradley Chubb for a safety after the shotgun snap from the 1 went off his hands.
Trubisky said he’s feeling more and more comfortable in Chicago’s new offense.
“We’re still hiding a bunch of good stuff, too,” Trubisky said. “We’re not showing all of it.”
Kelly completed 7 of 9 passes for 90 yards and capped his first drive of the night with a 16-yard touchdown toss to rookie Courtland Sutton.
With the Broncos in control at 23-10, Lynch entered the game to a thunderclap of boos, which only increased through three drives that went nowhere.
“Well, I feel bad for Paxton, but our fans want to win,” Broncos coach Vance Joseph said. “That’s what it’s about, it’s about passion, I should say. But I feel bad for Paxton. But he has to ignore it and go play. It’s professional football. No one’s going to hold your hand, so he has to go out there and perform.”
Lynch played poorly again.
A week after his 24-yard performance led to his demotion, he threw for just 39 yards on 5-of-11 passing with a pair of sacks.
He nevertheless had the Broncos (0-2) in field goal range when he hit Isaiah McKenzie on a short slant route and the speedy receiver who fumbled six times as a rookie, coughed up the football on second effort at the Chicago 37 and linebacker Isaiah Irving recovered it with 58 seconds left.
The Broncos can only hope McKenzie doesn’t crumble from his latest fumble.
“He’s a good young player, he’s had a good camp and he played well last week, so hopefully it doesn’t set him back,” Joseph said.
Daniel threw a 2-yard TD pass to running back Taquan Mizzell with 4:38 left and then hit tight end Ben Braunecker with 1:53 remaining to tie it. Pat O’Donnell’s extra point gave Chicago (1-2) its first lead.
After a pair of three-andouts last week, Keenum rebounded from another three-and-out to lead two scoring drives on his final two possessions, finishing 8 for 13 for 78 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions.