(670 The Score) The Bears had a chance to drive for a tie or the lead with 2:24 remaining in regulation Sunday as they trailed the Buccaneers 20-17. The ball was in quarterback Justin Fields’ hands, and there was opportunity before him. It all went horribly wrong.
With the Bears facing first-and-11 from their own 6-yard line, Fields dropped back into his own end zone and threw a middle screen intended for running back Khalil Herbert that was instead intercepted by Buccaneers linebacker Shaq Barrett. As the play turned into a moving scrum, Barrett reached the end zone for the clinching score.
The ill-fated screen pass proved to be the dagger in the Bears' 27-17 loss, which dropped them to 0-2.
“It’s great when it works,” Bears coach Matt Eberflus told reporters at Raymond James Stadium of the play call. “It’s great when it works. And when it doesn’t, everybody is going to criticize. So, it is what it is. We’re going to look at it.
“You can pop some runs on it. You saw some of those.”
On the following series for the Bears on offense, Fields was intercepted by Buccaneers safety Christian Izien. Tampa Bay went into victory formation to secure its victory over Chicago.
Fields was 16-of-29 for 211 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. His touchdown pass came on a 20-yard strike to receiver Chase Claypool in the fourth quarter. It marked Claypool’s first touchdown with the Bears.
The Bears (0-2) travel to Kansas City to take on the defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs (1-1) next Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium.