GRADING THE BEARS C-
QUARTERBACK
CMitch Trubisky didn’t get much help but looked like a rookie QB on the road. He was 31- for- 46 for 314 yards, 1 TD and 3 INTs. He threw an INT in the end zone but showed some spunk in driving the Bears 92 yards for a late TD on a 9- yard pass to Benny Cunningham.
RUNNING BACKS
CThe game plan and the early deficit took Jordan Howard out of the game. Howard ( 10 carries, 37 yards) was a non- factor — a disappointment after he rushed for 125 yards on 15 carries vs. the Lions in Week 11.
RECEIVERS
C-A pretty unproductive day until the Bears fell behind 20- 3. Kendall Wright ( 7- 81) had 1 catch for 12 yards in the first half. Cunningham ( 4- 33) had a 9- yard TD reception. Markus Wheaton caught not one but two passes for 22 and 20 yards. Jordan Howard ( 4- 26) had four catches without a drop.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Not much to speak of as the Bears ran just seven plays in the first quarter and 22 total in the first half and averaged 2.9 ypc for the game. Josh Sitton and Tom Compton left with injuries in the second half. Charles Leno was called for holding to help stunt a promising drive late in the second quarter.
DEFENSIVE LINE
CAkiem Hicks continued his Pro Bowl bid with a pressure that led to a sack, then a sack of his own in the second half. Eddie Goldman returned from an injury but had an unnecessaryroughness penalty on the first play from scrimmage.
LINEBACKERS
B-Pernell McPhee had a deflection on third down that forced a FG attempt and a 6- yard TFL but left with another shoulder injury. Lamarr Houston had 2 sacks. Sam Acho had a sack and a forced fumble. Howard Jones made an impact.
SECONDARY
DEddie Jackson ( 8 tackles, fumble recovery) was burned by Marvin Jones for a 58- yard completion on thirdand- 18 on a desperation heave by Matt Stafford. Prince Amukamara was called for holding on a third- and- 8 incompletion that kept a second- quarter drive alive. Not Kyle Fuller’s best day.
SPECIAL TEAMS
DTarik Cohen had a 90- yard kickoff return in the second quarter nullified by a holding call on DeAndre Houston- Carson. Mike Nugent kicked a 41- yard field goal.
COACHING
C-John Fox’s refusal to take a risk on fourth- and- one at the Bears’ 45 in the second quarter with the team down 6- 0 was more mystifying than prudent. The defense had been on the field for most of the game. And it’s a play they’re going to have to convert eventually — might as well give it a try.