The Chicago Bears beat Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20-19 on Thursday, this after Cairos Santos drilled a 38-yard field goal with just over a minute remaining.
Nick Foles finished 30-of-42 for 243 yards, one touchdown and one interception in his first start for the Bears (4-1), who have won four games by a combined 13 points.
“To be 4-1 when you really haven’t played a complete game on either side of the ball is pretty miraculous, remarkable – whatever adjective you want to use for them,” The Athletic Bears writer Kevin Fishbain said on After Hours with Amy Lawrence. “The offense did not look good, especially in the first quarter. It looked like the same old Bears. But for them to come out of this with a win when they didn’t get to 35 rushing yards – coaches always say it’s much easier to correct things after you win, and I think everybody being in a good mood for the next nine days just makes things easier for them.”
The Bears, perhaps more than any other organization in football, are known for all-time great rushing attacks. Well, Thursday was the first time in the last 80 years that the Bears won a game without rushing for more than 35 yards.
The Bears rushed 14 times for 35 yards (2.5 yards per carry) against Tampa Bay, this after rushing 16 times for 28 yards (1.8 yards) against the Colts in Week 4.
“It’s weird,” Fishbain said. “The thing about Matt Nagy, we know he wants to pass the ball. He tried tonight. The Bucs are a great run defense. Last week, the Colts, they’re a great run defense. I’m curious to see what this thing looks like when they play [lesser defenses]. But you still should never [be limited to] 35 yards regardless of the defense, so it’s something they’re going to have to work on.”
David Montgomery has rushed 20 times for 56 yards (2.8 yards per carry) over the last two weeks.
“David Montgomery individually has been playing really well, and there’s just nowhere to go,” Fishbain said. “It gives them something to work on over the next few weeks. You’re not going to win many games like this.”
The Bears play three of their next four games on the road, starting with Carolina in Week 6. Kickoff on Oct. 18 is slated for 1 p.m. ET.