When New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones faked a handoff to Saquon Barkley within the first quarter Sunday at MetLife Stadium after which spun to his left, a transparent 21-yard lane to the tip zone lay earlier than Jones.
With Chicago Bears defenders Trevis Gipson, Jaquan Brisker and Dominique Robinson in chase mode, Jones picked up pace. Cornerback Kyler Gordon was unable to shake tight finish Tanner Hudson’s block close to the aim line, and Jones squeaked into the nook of the tip zone behind Hudson for his first of two landing runs within the first half.
The Giants by no means trailed once more of their 20-12 victory, and Jones contributed 68 dashing yards to his group’s 262 for the day, a season excessive by a Bears opponent.
“He’s a good athlete,” linebacker Nicholas Morrow mentioned of Jones. “He’s got some long legs, so he’s got a good stride and can get out there a little bit. But there are some rules we’ve got to follow to make sure we can contain some of those runs.”
Jones’ second landing got here in comparable style — a faux to Barkley, a dash to the left nook of the tip zone, an 8-yard landing.
Coach Matt Eberflus mentioned the Bears made changes to cease comparable bootleg performs within the second half, however they wanted to come back faster. The injury of two touchdowns was accomplished, and paired with a Bears offense that did not get in the long run zone, it was an excessive amount of to beat.
“It’s just eyes — you’ve got to keep your eyes in the right spot,” security Eddie Jackson mentioned of defending Jones on play motion. “They were doing a good job setting it up, running with Saquon. Running, running, then slip the boot here and there. We just have to do a better job with our eyes and on the edges.”
The risk Barkley posed helped the Giants pull off the performs. After accidents restricted him the final couple of seasons, Barkley continued his bounce-back season with 31 carries for 146 yards and two catches for 16 yards.
His efficiency additionally continued a regarding development, because the Bears have allowed greater than 175 dashing yards in three of their 4 video games this season.
“He came out and played a great game, but there were a lot of mistakes on our behalf,” linebacker Roquan Smith mentioned. “He’s a heck of a player, but that’s no excuse. We’ve just got to all get better and look ourselves in the mirror, including myself.”
Jones was hobbled by a left ankle harm halfway by the second half, and backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor left to be evaluated for a concussion. The Bears held the Giants to 2 second-half discipline targets from kicker Graham Gano.
Jackson got here up with an enormous interception early within the fourth quarter — his third in 4 video games — however the Bears offense did not capitalize on the takeaway that gave them the ball at their 4-yard line.
Through 4 video games, the Bears protection hasn’t allowed a landing after halftime, giving up simply 18 second-half factors.
But the operating thread within the Bears locker room from defenders was that errors right here and there saved the unit from placing collectively the game-altering efficiency the group wanted — particularly because the offense struggled and particular groups made expensive errors, such because the muffed punt by returner Velus Jones Jr. within the fourth quarter.
Morrow lamented a missed sort out on a brief cross from Jones to Barkley on the Giants’ second landing drive. On third-and-9, Morrow was proper on Barkley when he caught the ball, however Barkley spun out of his grasp for a 15-yard acquire.
Gordon was referred to as for a 40-yard cross interference penalty on the Giants’ first field-goal drive of the second half. And Smith wasn’t happy that Taylor twirled out of his grasp on third-and-4 on the Giants’ remaining field-goal drive.
“Self-inflicted wounds. That’s the biggest thing. That’s what hurts the most,” Jackson mentioned. “Player for player, we felt like we had ups on them. We just have to do the little things right. We can’t keep shooting ourselves in the foot, myself included, and both sides of the ball I’m sure, even on special teams.”
Eberflus mentioned a spotlight this week for the entire group because the Bears put together for the 3-1 Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium shall be placing collectively a full recreation after Sunday’s first-half miscues.
“We just have to be consistent all the way through,” Eberflus mentioned. “That’s going to be something we’re going to preach this week and do a better job of. Apparently we’re doing some good things in this second half, but we have to play 60 minutes in this league.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com