Revenge of the spurned
Trubisky shines in return to Soldier Field, leading Bills to six scoring drives
Even if it was a preseason game, Buffalo quarterback Mitchell Trubisky gained possibly a small measure of satisfaction at Soldier Field on Saturday.
Trubisky led the Bills on four touchdown drives in their first four possessions against his former team in a 41-15 preseason victory over the Bears.
Greeted by Chicago fans with a mix of both boos and cheers, Trubisky finished 20 of 28 for 221 yards with a touchdown and played the entire first half. He led six scoring drives in all and the Bills (2-0) went into the locker room leading 34-6.
Trubisky’s TD pass in the first half was a 4-yarder rolling right to Jake Kumerow. The Bills also had a 14-yard TD run by Devin Singletary and two 1-yard TD runs by fullback Reggie Gilliam in the first half and tacked on a 79-yard punt return for a TD by Marquez Stevenson in the third quarter.
Chicago GM Ryan Pace made Trubisky the second pick of the 2017 draft and he guided their offense during two playoff games in the past three years.
However, the Bears (1-1) decided not to pick up Trubisky’s fifth-year contract option and let him leave in free agency after the 2020 season.
Chicago moved on to sign quarterback Andy Dalton in free agency and selected Justin Fields 11th overall in the draft.
On Saturday, Dalton threw a 73-yard TD pass to Rodney Adams, but also threw an interception to Nick McCloud just before halftime to give the Bills a chance at Tyler Bass’ 41-yard field goal. Bass also added a 33-yarder.
Dalton finished 11 of 17 for 146 yards with a TD and interception.
He played the entire first half.
Fields was 9 of 19 for 80 yards and ran for 46 yards.
Trubisky met up with some old friends from the Bears prior to the game on the field, then came out and directed TD drives of 72, 64, 53 and 34 yards on the first four Bills possessions. Buffalo had 19 firsthalf first downs to just four by the Bears.
Wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie was a valuable option for Trubisky, as he hauled in seven receptions for 72 yards in the first half.
Buffalo went to Jake Fromm at quarterback in the third quarter.
There’s no doubt who Bears fans want as the starting quarterback. They were clamoring for Fields to play by the start of the second quarter as their team fell behind.
The first four drives Dalton led this preseason failed to gain a first down.
Dalton and the first-team offense were serenaded with boos when they came onto the field early in the second quarter and Fields’ entrance on the first Bears drive of the third quarter was greeted with wild applause.
Buffalo defensive lineman Justin Zimmer left the field with assistance in the third quarter. The Bills held out wide receiver Stefon Diggs because of knee soreness.
Bears linebacker Roquan Smith did not play after returning to practice last week following two weeks away with a groin injury.
Chicago’s final preseason game is at Tennessee on Aug. 28.