Sometimes life comes at you sliding with its cleats raised. And as onerous as chances are you’ll attempt to leap and dodge misfortune, a rogue spike would possibly catch you proper the place you’d reasonably it not.
At that time, there’s a option to make. Find a snug spot away from the chaos to twist up and whimper. Or come proper again and attempt to make a press release.
You know the place we’re headed right here, proper? Directly to rookie security Jaquan Brisker’s locker stall late Monday at Gillette Stadium after the Chicago Bears’ gorgeous 33-14 romp towards the New England Patriots.
It was Brisker who took a cleats-up slide to his, um, “area” early within the second quarter. And it was Brisker who responded three snaps later with an “I’m still here” interception off the proprietor of these cleats, Patriots quarterback Mac Jones.
Yep, Brisker confirmed, the bodily discomfort that despatched him staggering to the sideline for a second was precisely what it regarded like. “He slid and hit me somewhere I shouldn’t be hit,” Brisker stated. “He caught me. You know what I mean?”
Yep. Gotcha.
As for that one-handed decide, the primary of Brisker’s profession, on a move down the suitable sideline to tight finish Jonnu Smith a number of moments later? With Smith and huge receiver Tyquan Thornton each operating vertical routes to Brisker’s aspect, the Bears security tried to place himself correctly.
“I tried to split the difference,” Brisker stated. “When he actually threw it, I was kind of surprised. I just capitalized.”
Consider {that a} microcosm second. In a big-stage recreation set as much as take a look at what the Bears had been manufactured from on so many ranges, Brisker and his teammates supplied an attention-grabbing present of resolve and dedication. And this time they complemented it with some game-winning playmaking.
That second-quarter takeaway was the primary of three Bears interceptions and was made for the spotlight reel.
Said Bears linebacker Roquan Smith: “When I saw it live, that one-handed (grab) and the way that dude did that, I was a fan. I was like, ‘What?’ I couldn’t believe it. I thought he was just going to knock it down or something. But, man, that was epic.”
Brisker, as soon as an completed basketball participant, had flashbacks to his hoops days.
“It felt like a rebound,” he stated. “I went up, grabbed it and came down with it in one hand.”
On an evening filled with sparks, that was actually one. And the large moments stored coming.
This was a four-phase victory: offense, protection, particular groups, teaching.
Perfect efficiency? Nah. But it was actually probably the most full effort of the primary seven video games, a gritty exhibiting from a gaggle that hated the best way its Week 6 prime-time loss to the Washington Commanders sat.
“That one stung,” tight finish Cole Kmet stated. “I’m not going to lie. It hurt a lot.”
Eleven nights later, after a week-plus of refocusing and adjusting, the Bears dealt with nearly every part that got here at them.
They outgained the Patriots 390-260, held a 24-12 benefit in first downs and, within the remaining minute, took it straightforward on their hosts reasonably than making an attempt to hold 40 on Bill Belichick and Co. by punching in a double-exclamation-point landing.
Inside a jubilant locker room, there was an apparent sense of satisfaction.
“This feels good,” quarterback Justin Fields stated. “Everybody’s excited. I’m just proud of the way our guys came out and started the game and, of course, how we finished.”
Fields had arguably his most spectacular outing of the 12 months, throwing for 179 yards and a landing whereas including 82 dashing yards and a 3-yard rating. His operating means continues to be a harmful weapon. The Bears turned him free on a a lot greater quantity of designed runs, not simply ready for him to make issues occur as a scrambler.
“I thought that brought a whole different element to our offense,” Fields stated.
Equally spectacular was the style with which the Bears responded to a blast of Zappe magic within the first half. Patriots rookie quarterback Bailey Zappe changed Jones on the crew’s fourth possession and inside seven snaps led his offense to 14 factors and a four-point lead.
Reflexively, Bears followers started bracing for what they’ve change into far too accustomed to — one other potential prime-time embarrassment.
Instead, these Bears gathered themselves, dug in and outscored the Patriots 23-0 the remainder of the best way.
After a 43-yard completion from Zappe to DeVante Parker and a 4-yard Rhamondre Stevenson landing run within the second quarter, the Bears instantly responded with a 75-yard landing march, capped by Fields’ 25-yard quick-hit move to operating again Khalil Herbert.
That began a streak of 5 consecutive scoring drives, an unthinkable feat in most weeks this season.
“That felt good,” Kmet stated. “Man, it simply felt like we had been being actually bodily up entrance. I believed we out-physicaled them the entire evening, which is actually enjoyable.
“When you’re able to get on a roll like that and you’ve got a bunch of guys touching the football, that’s a lot of fun. I think it’s definitely something we can lean into.”
Meanwhile, the Bears protection was doing its factor too. Smith snagged a tipped move for his second interception this season. On the subsequent collection, rookie cornerback Kyler Gordon joined the decide social gathering, breaking in entrance of Thornton and snaring Zappe’s move along with his proper hand.
“Being able to get one (turnover) after another, it was pretty sweet,” Smith stated. “Yeah, man. We’re very happy.”
That was all a part of the Bears’ suffocating second-half submission maintain as they methodically squeezed the life out of the Patriots and their followers. Best of all, they acquired probably the most gratifying reward as Gillette Stadium grew to become remarkably quiet all through the second half. No roars. No revolutionary cannon blasts. Nothing.
“It was pretty sweet how hushed it was,” Smith stated. “After we were making those big plays, I was like, ‘Where are all the fans talking?’ But, man, it was like you could hear a rat (pee).”
That model of silence felt oh-so satisfying.
“We took note of that,” defensive finish Trevis Gipson added. “In that first half, this place was pretty rocking. But we kept playing with relentlessness and made a decision to write the story in the second half. We wanted to finish strong.”
As the Bears left New England, none of their gamers was making a grander-than-required big-picture interpretation of Monday’s victory. So far more shall be wanted from this group within the weeks and months forward to achieve any proverbial turning level.
But on one evening, with the brilliant lights shining, the Bears consider they showcased what they’re manufactured from and what they’re able to turning into as soon as they’ll discover consistency.
Brisker, for what it’s price, had a large smile as he processed the evening.
“If we keep rolling like this with everybody doing their job, we’re just getting warmed up,” he stated.
It actually felt like one thing optimistic to construct on.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com