After focusing this week on plugging leaks in the run game, the Bears’ defense quickly sprung another one Sunday.
On the Panthers’ eighth play from scrimmage, running back Chuba Hubbard broke free for a 38-yard touchdown. It was already the third touchdown run of 25 yards or more against the Bears this season.
“That was a make-or-break moment,” defensive tackle Andrew Billings said. “We could have folded. Or we could have persevered, and that’s what we did. It’s all about gap control — being where you’re supposed to be. We got that [right] in the end.”
There was no grumbling on the sideline after that gaffe, but there was definitely some stern talk, with linebacker Tremaine Edmunds among those speaking up.
“You got ‘Maine reminding everybody, ‘Stay in your gap. Stay in your gap,’” Billings said. “He let us know where we needed to be.”
With welcome help from the offense, the defense snapped back into form as the Bears coasted to a 36-10 victory at Soldier Field. The Bears held the Panthers to one field goal on their next eight possessions, just 4.2 yards per play. And by the time Hubbard broke free again — a 14-yard run on the final play of the third quarter — the Bears had a commanding 30-10 lead.
The response typified the theme of this defense — virtually every player had a hand in it. With the Bears leading 14-7 in the second quarter, defensive tackle Gervon Dexter and cornerback Kyler Gordon sacked Andy Dalton. On the next play, safety Jaquan Brisker forced a fumble with a big — and scary — hit on tight end Tommy Tremble, with Dexter recovering at the Panthers’ 44.
Safety Kevin Byard had a tackle for loss and an interception. Billings had a sack for a 10-yard loss. Dexter added four quarterback hits, including one on fourth-and-three that forced an incompletion for a turnover. And Edmunds forced a fumble that Gordon recovered early in the fourth quarter.
In fact, Montez Sweat, the biggest star on the defense, did not make the stat sheet — no tackles, sacks, quarterback hits or other impact plays — and still affected the game. That’s been another theme of a defense that has started this season strong but still seems like it has a lot to give — containing Sweat comes at a cost.
“I like it,” Sweat said. “I love it when the whole room is happy. Everybody’s eating. Everybody’s getting stats. And we’re winning. So I’m loving it.”
Brisker’s hit that forced Tremble’s fumble was the key play. It was a helmet-to-helmet collision — with each player lowering his head before contact. Both players were woozy after that one. Tremble was on the ground for several minutes and left the game with a concussion.
Brisker called it maybe the biggest hit of his career — “definitely in the top three.” But the third-year safety, who missed two games with a concussion last season, paid a price as well.
“I was definitely feeling it, I’m not gonna lie,” said Brisker, who said he was fine. “I felt that one for sure. It felt like the one last year. Just had to get back to myself. But it was a big-time hit.”
But this time it wasn’t a case of the defense saving the day. The offense scored four touchdowns in five drives following Hubbard’s touchdown run.
The defense made its mark in this one by reverting to form quickly without any drama. Asked what impressed him most about the defense’s performance, cornerback Tyrique Stevenson didn’t point to a play or a player.
“How we snapped [back] after that touchdown,” Stevenson said. “We could have come back to the sideline and pointed fingers or we could have come back and hoo-rah, hoo-rah. But we came back and reminded us who we are, and locked in.”
