Bears trainer Matt Nagy didn’t simply self-scout throughout the bye week. He additionally watched the Packers-Colts recreation, with much more pastime than numerous Bears lovers expecting Sunday evening’s recreation at Lambeau Field.
“You saw a team [the Packers] that came out throwing a bunch of haymakers early in that first half,” Nagy stated, regarding the Packers scoring 3 consecutive second-quarter touchdowns to take a 28-14 halftime lead. “And I thought Indianapolis did a really good job of weathering the storm and they never panicked. They came out and did a very good job of limiting them in the third quarter, then got the ball and were effective scoring touchdowns — and then before you know it, it’s a tie game.”
The Colts’ second-half comeback for a 34-31 additional time victory at Lucas Oil Stadium used to be a double-tiered lesson for Nagy — no longer most effective the best way to assault the Packers’ protection, however the best way to parlay halftime changes into a large 0.33 quarter. The Bears no longer most effective have scored the fewest third-quarter issues within the NFL this season (14), however have the largest third-quarter scoring differential (minus-48).
Nagy indisputably spotted that in spite of being down two touchdowns at halftime, the Colts ignited their rally with an efficient run recreation. After being held to a few.Three yards in line with lift within the first half of (13 carries, 43 yards), the Colts’ first 8 performs of the second one half of had been runs — for 55 yards (6.nine avg.).
That ended in a box function but additionally gave the look of a frame blow that threw the Packers for a loop. Aaron Rodgers and the Packers had back-to-back three-and-outs to start out the 0.33 quarter — most effective the 0.33 time the Packers have had consecutive three-and-outs in a recreation this season. And they fumbled a kickoff that the Colts recovered. The Colts outscored the Packers 20-Three in the second one half of.
So whilst the Bears have a quarterback factor to type out with Nick Foles and Mitch Trubisky convalescing from damage and third-stringer Tyler Bray additionally a chance — Nagy’s post-bye assessment targeted at the Bears’ beleaguered 32nd-ranked working recreation.
“I feel like we have a good pulse on knowing that big picture, the struggle to run the football is where a lot of stuff starts,” Nagy stated. “Different causes for that. Is that scheme? Is that execution? Is it slightly of each?
“And then knowing , ‘OK, that has to get better.’ I don’t care who we’re playing, the run game has to get better. You just see teams across the league that are able to establish the run. It hopes open up other areas of the field.”
Nagy is hoping a revived working recreation can lend a hand the Bears’ different offensive maladies — quarterback potency (27th), third-down potency (31st) and red-zone proportion (31st).
With working again David Montgomery anticipated to go back after lacking two video games with a concussion, an progressed working recreation may just give the Bears’ offense the spice up its on the lookout for. The Bears’ 4 warring parties after the ranked close to the ground of the NFL in overall protection: the Lions (27th), Texans (31st), Vikings (22nd) and Jaguars (30th).
“The biggest thing I think we took away [from the bye] is understanding schematically where we’re at,” Nagy stated. “These weeks move by way of so rapid that you simply get this four-day smash and also you’re in a position to tug again and glance beneath all of the layers of the place you’re around the league after which video-wise, why is that? Third down … red-zone … the run recreation. You have with the intention to get a hold of solutions and clear up that and be higher the remainder of the season.
“That’s where you rely on your coaching staff and your players. We’ve got to coach better and they have to play better, that’s what it comes down to.”