Snap counts, stats and more: Chicago Bears starting to find their identity

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

It sure seems like a simple enough game-plan, regardless of who is lining up under center. You run the ball to set up play action and bootlegs, mix in some screens and some quick hitting slants, take a shot downfield every now and again, you play complimentary football to keep your undermanned defense off the field.

The Chicago Bears and offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains finally figured out how their O needs to be directed. Yeah it helped that they were playing a less that stellar Detroit Lions defense, but the Dallas Cowboy’s D wasn’t very good against the run last week either and they failed to get anything going on Sunday Night Football. Next Sunday the Bears will travel to Indianapolis to play a 1-3 Colts team that just lost to the Jaguars in London, England.

Regardless of whom lines up at quarterback for the Bears next Sunday, Brian Hoyer or Jay Cutler, this is how the offense needs to be called.

Chicago narrowly won the game 17-14, but the stats show a more dominant performance from their offense and defense. They outgained the Lions 408 yards to 263 (both season bests for the Bears) and they had more first downs, 23 to 16. Also for the first time all year the Bears won the time of possession battle, 33:14 to 26:46.

Detroit was penalized more than the Bears 10 for 76 yards to 8 for 55, and the Bears had a slight edge on 3rd down conversions, 5 for 13 (38%) to 4 for 12 (33%), although the Bears were shut down on their only 4th down try.

Now on to the snap counts and individual stats

All snap counts will be in the ‘Player - total offensive/defensive snaps (percentage) - total special teams snaps (percentage)’ format.

Quarterback

B Hoyer QB - 69 100%

Brian Hoyer had a fine day leading the Bears’ offense ending up with a 120.1 passer rating on 28 of 36 passing, with 302 yards and 2 touchdowns. He also has three kneel-downs in victory formation which gave his 3 rushes for -3 yards.

Oh and then there’s this.

Offensive Line

J Sitton LG - 69 (100%) - 4 (17%)

B Massie RT - 69 (100%) - 4 (17%)

K Long RG - 69 (100%) - 4 (17%)

C Leno LT - 69 (100%) - 4 (17%)

C Whitehair C - 69 (100%)

The running backs averaged 4.5 yards per carry, but the Lions were credited with 5 tackles for loss (TFL).

Chicago’s overall pass protection allowed 2 sacks on the day and 2 QB hits on Hoyer.

The Bears’ o-line had their best all around game of the season, but I’ll have more specifics on their play later this week when I give my grades. I will say this however, they are starting to gel together.

This stat kind of goes along with the tweet above, the Bears allowed a league worst 8 sacks and 18 QB hits in weeks 1 and 2, but in weeks 3 and 4 they only allowed 2 sacks and 6 QB hits.

Runningbacks

J Howard - 63 (91%)

J Bell - 6 (9%)

Jordan Howard is the best running back on the Bears’ roster. I still think there’s a place for the two injured RBs once they return, but Howard should be getting the most carries moving forward.

He ended his day with 23 rushes for 111 yards (4.8ypc), and he was caught 3 of the 4 passes thrown his way for 21 yards. Newly signed Joique Bell had 3 rushes for 6 yards.

Wide Receivers

A Jeffery - 56 (81%) - 1 (4%)

K White - 41 (59%)

E Royal - 36 (52%) - 5 (22%)

C Meredith - 26 (38%) - 1 (4%)

J Bellamy - 8 (12%) - 16 (70%)

D Thompson - 6 (9%) - 10 (43%)

Eddie Royal had his best day ever as a Bear, with 7 catches (on 7 targets) for 111 yards and a TD. He also had 3 punt returns for 17 yards.

Kevin White, who leads the Bears in receptions after 4 games, hauled in 6 of 9 passes for 55 yards before leaving with an ankle injury. Alshon Jeffery was eased into the gameplan with his knee/hammy issues, but he caught 3 of 5 passes for 46 yards.

Cameron Meredith caught 4 of the 5 balls thrown his direction for 28 yards. Deonte Thompson had one kick return for 29 yards.

Tight Ends

Z Miller - 54 (78%) - 1 (4%)

L Paulsen - 46 (67%) - 12 (52%)

B Braunecker - 3 (4%) - 17 (74%)

Zach Miller had another TD reception this week, which give shim a team leading three. He had 3 catches on 3 targets for 31 yards.

Logan Paulsen had 2 receptions for 10 yards on 3 targets and rookie Ben Braunecker had a special teams tackle in his career debut.

Special Teams

These players only appeared in the 3rd phase

D Houston-Carson - 16 (70%)

S McManis - 16 (70%)

P O'Donnell - 8 (35%)

R Mostert - 8 (35%)

C Barth - 8 (35%)

P Scales - 8 (35%)

T Larsen - 4 (17%)

M Adams - 4 (17%)

The Bears’ punt coverage allowed an inexcusable 85 yard punt return which brought punter Pat O’Donnell’s net average down to 14.0. He had 4 punts with a 49.0 average.

Conner Barth missed one of two field goals (a 50 yarder), but he made both extra points.

Sherrick McManis had a special teams tackle.

Cornerbacks

B Callahan - 62 (98%) - 1 (4%)

C LeBlanc - 48 (76%) - (5 22%)

T Porter - 40 (63%)

J Glenn - 16 (25%)

D Hall - 6 (10%) - 11 (48%)

In a surprise, it was Bryce Callahan receiving the start at corner opposite Tracy Porter, with rookie Cre'Von LeBlanc getting the nod at nickle again. Callahan had 5 tackles, Porter had a tackle and LeBlanc had 2.

Jacoby Glenn and Deiondre' Hall each picked up the 1st interceptions of their professional careers. Glenn had a tackle and a pass defended (PD) and Hall had just the PD stat too.

Safeties

A Amos - 63 (100%) - 7 (30%)

H Jones-Quartey - 63 (100%)

C Prosinski - 3 (5%) - 19 (83%)

Harold Jones-Quartey led the Bears in tackles with 7, he added a TFL. Adrian Amos had 6 tackles on D and a PD, he added a tackle on special teams. Chris Prosinski had a special teams tackle as well.

And is it just me, or are the Bears’ starting safeties starting to lay some big hits week after week?

Linebackers

J Freeman ILB - 63 (100%)

S Acho OLB - 52 (83%) - 10 (43%)

W Young OLB - 51 (81%)

N Kwiatkoski ILB - 44 (70%) - 9 (39%)

J Timu ILB - 19 (30%) - 12 (52%)

L Floyd OLB - 19 (30%)

C Jones LB - 4 (6%) - 13 (57%)

John Timu got the surprise start after being promoted last week and he had 2 tackles and a big key TFL down near the goal line. Jerrell Freeman had seven tackles and rookie Nick Kwiatkoski had 2.

Sam Acho was the only other linebacker to scratch the stat sheet and he had a tackle.

Defensive Line

A Hicks - 54 (86%) - 2 (9%)

M Unrein - 41 (65%) - 6 (26%)

W Sutton - 27 (43%) - 5 (22%)

C Washington - 18 (29%) - 2 (9%)

Jonathan Bullard was active, but held out of the game with his toe injury.

Akiem Hicks picked up the first sack of his Bears’ career, he had 3 tackles, a TFL and a QBH. Cornelius Washington had the other Bears sack, he added a tackle, a TFL and a QBH.

Mitch Unrein had 3 total tackles on D as did Will Sutton.

Chicago's defense held Lion QB Matthew Stafford to a 56.8 passer rating and only 213 yards. Detroit’s offense had been averaging 413 total yards per game, but the Bears held them to 263.

What are your thoughts on the numbers this week?