Chicago Bears: There’s nothing wrong with winning ugly
By David Mamola
The Chicago Bears might be winning ugly, but if it’s working, then why change the formula?
The Chicago Bears defeated the Carolina Panthers in Week 7, 17-3, despite rookie quarterback Mitchell Trubisky attempting only seven passes (completing four of them). Rookie safety Eddie Jackson scored both touchdowns, and the offense ran only 37 plays. Neither team scored in the second half.
Some fans will classify this win as “ugly”, but there are no ugly wins in the NFL. Teams—especially the Bears—should never apologize for winning in this league, regardless if they win by 30 points or in the fashion the Bears did on Sunday. The Bears will take a win any way they can get it, so if that means they have to play a “boring” style of football to do it, then so be it.
Now, would it be more fun to watch Trubisky pass for 300 yards and three touchdowns? Yeah, probably. But those games will come in the future. Right now, the Bears have found a recipe that is working, and will stick to it until it doesn’t work anymore.
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The only way the Bears would have lost the game against Carolina is if they committed an untimely turnover on offense. With the way the defense was playing, all the offense had to do was not screw it up. So why would the Bears expose a young quarterback and risk a turnover that could turn the tide of the game? John Fox is bringing back “old school” football, and in the past two weeks, it’s worked.
The offense will have to carry its fair share of the load soon, probably as early as this upcoming game against the New Orleans Saints. While the “old school” approach has worked recently, it’s probably not sustainable in the modern-day NFL.
Five first downs, like the Bears accumulated against Carolina, probably won’t cut it in a potential shootout down in the Superdome. But it all depends on the game script—if the Bears defense again plays lights out and the running game is working, the Bears’ recent style of play might work for one more week.
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The Bears have climbed back to a 3-4 record thanks to their defense and run game. Those are the team’s two biggest strengths right now, so it makes sense for the Bears to lean on them right now. It might not be aesthetically pleasing, but it’s kept the Bears in five of their seven games so far this year. So if “ugly” football is what it takes, then the Bears should keep going back to the well until it runs dry.