Ice Cold Takes: A Look At Chicago’s Drubbing Of Detroit

We’ve all seen the “Hot Takes” from the last weekend’s games all over the net.

In this series, I’m letting some time pass, and after reviewing the game tape a couple of times, I’m going to share some “Cold Takes.” about the Bears drubbing NFC North rival Detroit. Since it’s been so long since game day, these are Ice Cold Takes. I’ll also sprinkle in a few thoughts about our division rivals. These are just a series of my thoughts and observations about the game as well as the Bears in general up until this point, presented in no particular order.

• My game ball goes to Eddie Jackson for the game winning pick 6. My runner ups are going to Kyle Fuller (or was it Kurt Fuller, I forget) and of course Chase Daniel.
• I had a bunch of people ask me before last Thursday what made me think that Chase Daniel can actually play. I should have answered “what makes you think you should be challenging your Denmaster on this question?” But that would be rude. I would never intentionally be rude.
• Jon Gruden is a blithering idiot.
• OK, truth in advertising... I would, it turns out, indeed be rude at times.
• ANYWAY, back to the Bears / Lions Chase Daniel played very, very well considering the circumstances (not even a single actual practice with the 1’s).
• Was Daniel perfect? No. Was he good enough? More than good enough. That third and 13 throw to Allen Robinson down the sideline in the second quarter when Chicago was scoreless and struggling to move the ball was SWEET. Dropped it right in the groove. Outstanding catch too against tight coverage by Darius Slay.
• You know who had a good game? James Daniels. Charles Leno, Jr. next to him didn’t have his best showing of the year, though.
• The ground game... I wonder if there’s any way to post a “pile of poop” emoji in the middle of a cold take?
• Let’s talk about my man Taquan Mizzell, ladies and gents. Mizzell did a thing. In fact, he did more than one thing. He didn’t really do much of a thing on returns, though... so there’s that. As long as he keeps scoring TD’s, I’m happy. In fact, even his biggest critics have to tip their caps to him on that two-minute drive before the half to give Chicago the lead.
• Mizzell is cutting into the playing time of Benny Cunningham... with Mizell’s age, I think this is probably going to be it for Bennie after the year, which is a shame, Cunningham can play!
• Trey Burton got peanut punched. It was a classic, just like you teach it... unfortunately the good guys lost the ball, but credit where it was due, it was a good punch.
• I suppose there will be some Chicago fans complaining about Ryan Pace having traded away our second round draft pick for 2019 when the draft rolls around... but these fans will be some of those that know JACK about football. Anthony Miller was an AMAZINGLY good pick, and he’s paying huge dividends this year.
• Aaron Lynch showed his worth even though he wasn’t even active... when Khalil Mack needed rests, Lynch was not there to spell him, and two huge run plays happened. I wasn’t much of a Lynch fan when the season started, but he’s been a very valuable rotational guy for Chicago, especially in the run game.
• Roquan Smith is going to be a perennial Pro Bowler for a decade. Probably not this year, but he’s already close.
• Speaking of Smith, we all know he was slowed in his development by his long holdout, but as it turns out what he held out about... vague language allowing guaranteed money to possibly be stripped from a player who earns a suspension... has just happened to Jacksonville star running back Leonard Fournette. Fournette was suspended a game for an on-field scuffle, and due to the language in his contract Jacksonville can actually move to have their guarantees removed from his contract. In the case of Fournette, that action would be daft because he’s not a bust... but if he had not been playing well, it might be a thing.
• I also suppose there are Chicago fans who are down on Allen Robinson II for not having 1,000 receiving yards yet... isn’t that what a #1 wideout is supposed to do? These are probably the same “don’t know JACK” folks as previously mentioned.
• Deon Bush played one snap on defense, and got a sack. Be sure to check out Andrew’s outstanding Bears Rush Report, he breaks down what a great call this play was by Vic Fangio.
• Prince Amukamara had 6 tackles and a TFL, while Kyle Fuller had the huge interception to seal the game plus two passe defended. Another huge game for him. Amukamara’s fantastic one-on-one open field tackle (and possible forced fumble) with about three minutes to go in the second quarter of Bruce Ellington was an absolute thing of beauty. I would have loved to see Matt Nagy challenge that one... it was CLOSE.
• The Green Bay Packers tried to sign Kyle Fuller & Vic Fangio and Allen Robinson in the offseason... and to trade for Khalil Mack. Ryan Pace got the job done. Can you imagine the difference this year if Green Bay had Fangio, Fuller, Robinson & Mack and we didn’t?
• Everybody who was complaining about Matt Nagy sitting his starters against the Chiefs in the pre-season, well that’s a move that paid huge dividends when Chase Daniel has to start. It’s not that he needed the work so much, it’s that his teammates knows they can be confident in him at QB.
• Matthew Stafford... man, if I were Stafford I would be annoyed about how his team got rid of his best weapons, especially the Golden Tate move. Yes, they got a pick for Tate but that was just surrendering the season.
• Not that Tate has been able to do ANYTHING of use in Philadelphia... turns out the Andy Reid style offense takes a while to learn, and Tate wasn’t just an instant success.
• Elsewhere, around the division, this is really, really hard... I had to root for the Vikings to win last Sunday night, but now those people from Minnesota are forcing me to root for the Patriots. Eww... That’s just... eww...
• Upset of the week, I’m calling it right here, right now. Arizona beats Green Bay this weekend.
• Then there’s Detroit. They get us, then us 11 days later, then they get the Rams. Couldn’t happen to a nicer bunch of guys.
• Speaking of the Rams... those yellow uniforms? Just no.

As I often do, I asked my fellow contributors at Windy City Gridiron to share some of their own Cold Takes, so here you go!

Eric C. Duerrwaechter

• Despite missing their starting QB and having zero ground game, the Bears’ offense had their way with the Lions for most of the afternoon. It’s also good having a backup QB who already had a broad understanding of the playbook heading into the season. And, well, that defense is something special.
• More or less, these past 5 games have proven these Chicago Bears are legitimate playoff contenders this season. Not next season. Not 3 years from today. Now. The energy, passion, and fun this young crew has been having has trickled into the fan base itself. We’ve waited a long 7 years for these days to happen. Barring anything catastrophic, the drought is ending this year. And boy does it feel good to say that.

Robert Zeglinski

• When all said and done in terms of draft position, value, and caliber of player: Eddie Jackson will be seen as the best draft pick of Ryan Pace’s career.
• It’s not often you get above average starters in the fourth round, and here’s Jackson, an All-Pro safety ideally suited for the modern pass-happy NFL. He has an incredibly bright future that harkens reminders of Ed Reed’s play style at this pace, and it should only continue. The Bears should feel very fortunate to have him stalking and leading their back end.
• Kudos to Pace for not being scared away by a broken leg to get arguably the most talented safety the Bears have ever had.

Superfans

• Da BEARS!

OK, Chicago Bears fans, there you have it. What do you think? Spill the beans!