Chicago Bears vs Arizona Cardinals: A look inside the numbers

All statistics and snap counts are taken directly from the NFL's Game Statistic and Information System.

First off, the only stat that really matters, the Chicago Bears lose 48-23 to drop their record to 0-2.

Now a couple of really brutal stats that hurt Chicago's chances to make this a competitive game. The Bears tied a regular season record with 170 penalty yards while being flagged 14 times. The two biggest penalties, the DPIs on Chicago's starting cornerbacks, accounted for 80 of the 170 yards. The Arizona Cardinals were hit with 8 penalties for 58 yards.

The other crippling team stat was third down conversions. Last week the Bears were 11-17 (65%) on 3rd downs against Green Bay, but yesterday they were 2-12 (17%) against the Cardinals. What makes the stat even worse is the break down per Chicago quarterback. The Bears' O stalled with back-up Jimmy Clausen at the helm, going 0-9 on 3rd downs. Arizona was 5 for 9 on 3rd down conversions.

Chicago actually outgained their 2nd consecutive team, 355 to 300, but it's hard to play competitive football with so many penalties and the inability to convert on 3rd down.

Clausen played 44 of the Bears 72 offensive snaps, going 14 of 23 for 121 yards. He threw one interception and his passer rating was 56.6. He was also credited with 2 rushing attempts for -5 yards.

Starter Jay Cutler played 28 snaps before leaving with a hamstring injury (more on that here) and he completed 8 of 9 passes for 120 yards, with 1 touchdown and 1 interception that was returned for a TD. He ended the day with a 116.2 passer rating and he had 24 yards on 3 rushing rushing attempts.

Chicago's five starting offensive lineman played every offensive snap of the game as did tight end Martellus Bennett. Bennett hauled in 4 of the 6 passes thrown his way for 48 yards. Back up TE Zach Miller caught 2 of 2 passes for 14 yards. He played 14 snaps on O and another 8 on special teams. Rookie TE Khari Lee had just 2 offensive plays, but 13 on special teams. Charles Leno Jr. played the jumbo TE role twice, plus he had 13 snaps in the 3rd phase.

With starting wide out Alshon Jeffery inactive, that meant an increase in snaps for Eddie Royal, who only sat out 2 plays, Marquess Wilson, only sidelined for 3, and Josh Bellamy, who saw action on 48 snaps. Royal caught 7 of the 8 balls thrown in his direction for 41 yards. Wilson had 1 catch for 10 yards on 5 targets, and Bellamy had the first catch of his dreams when he raced 48 yards for a TD. It was his only grab on 2 targets.

Rounding out the WRs, rookie Cameron Meredith had 3 receptions for 36 yards on 4 targets, while playing 18 snaps.

The running back position was more of a revolving door this week as workhorse starter Matt Forte played just 67% of the snaps (48/72). He had 15 carries for 61 yards, and he caught 4 of 5 targets for 44 yards. Rookie RB Jeremy Langford scored the first TD of his career, while picking up 21 yards on 6 carries. He played 13 snaps on O and another 22 on ST making 1 tackle. Jacquizz Rodgers chipped in with 11 offensive plays (2 rushes, 8 yards) and 17 plays on ST recovering that fumbled punt.

Staying with the special teams, punter Pat O'Donnell had 5 punts with a 45.8 average.

Kicker Robbie Gould was 3 for 3 on field goals, including a 51 yarder.

Marc Mariani had 1 punt return for 20 yards and 3 kickoff returns for 86 yards.

Chicago allowed a 108 yard kickoff return for a TD on the opening kick by David Johnson, but they were fairly good in punt coverage, holding the always dangerous Patrick Peterson to just 6 yards on 1 return.

A few of the special teams playing time leaders were Brock Vereeen with 24 snaps, Lamin Barrow with 22 and John Timu with 22.

Moving over to the defensive side of the ball, three Bear defenders played all 59 snaps. Inside linebacker Shea McClellin, who led the team in tackles again with 9, rookie safety Adrian Amos (5 tackles) and veteran safety Antrel Rolle (4 tackles). McClellin and Amos also played 12 snaps apiece on special teams.

ILB Christian Jones (4 tackles) played 55 snaps on D and 7 on ST.

Among the outside linebackers, Pernell McPhee played the most with 39 snaps. He had 3 total tackles and 3 quarterback hits. Jared Allen had 1 tackle, 2 QB hits, an interception and a pass defense while playing 53% of the snaps (31/59). Sam Acho played 14 snaps at OLB and a team high 29 snaps on special teams making a ST tackle. Willie Young and Lamarr Houston each played 18 snaps on D while each recording a tackle, with Houston chipping in with 7 more snaps in the 3rd phase.

Both starting corner backs for the Bears spent some time on the pine. Kyle Fuller (1 tackle) spent 9 plays on the bench and Alan Ball (4 tackles, 1 PD) sat out 6. Nickleback Sherrick McManis played 66% of the defensive snaps making 2 tackles. McManis also played 11 ST snaps, with Fuller playing 7 and Ball playing 5.

Corner Terrance Mitchell (1 tackle, 1 PD) played 15 snaps on D and another 10 on ST. Bryce Callahan was in for 12 special team plays and 6 on defense.

Finishing up on the defensive line, the starting threesome of Will Sutton (2 tackles), Jarvis Jenkins (2 tackles, 1 QBH) and Eddie Goldman (1 tackle) played 42, 38 and 33 snaps respectively. Newly promoted Brandon Dunn picked up 2 tackles in 20 plays, and the newly signed Lavar Edwards chipped in with 2 plays.

An overall lack of a pass rush hurt the Bears against this week, with Arizona QB Carson Palmer throwing for 4 TDs, while compiling a passer rating of 115.5. So far through two games, the Bears are allowing opposing QBs to complete 74.5% of their passes with a 128.0 passer rating.

What are your thoughts on the numbers this week?