CHICAGO (670 The Score) --
'Twas the day before Christmas,
'Twas the Bears and the Bills,
Not a good grade was given,
Except for All-Pro Trenton Gill
The stockings were layered,
Warm winter outfits were made,
I'm already tired of this format,
So let's just get to the grades.
Offense: D
Maybe it's just old habit, but after the last few years, it still feels weird to watch the Bears come out of the gate with a functional offense. The Bills gave them the ball to start the game, and the Bears responded by marching 74 yards downfield in eight plays for the first score of the afternoon. You'll always remember where you were when Dante Pettis scored that six-yard touchdown on Christmas Eve. The Bears trying to capitalize on a Kyler Gordon interception in the second quarter by soon going incompletion, two-yard loss and fumbled snap/sack wasn't exactly encouraging, but in the spirit of the holidays, we'll look past it. David Montgomery had the world's quietest 60 yards at halftime, a tale as old as time. After the Bears' first couple drives, it got boring. Montgomery's fumble in the third quarter felt like the moment when Buffalo took hold of the game for good – if not, it was definitely the moment when people decided that it was time to go home. Drops were, if you can believe it, an issue for pass-catchers Saturday. Cole Kmet (five catches for 27 yards), Khalil Herbert and Pettis all had their moment in the proverbial (and very cold) sun, but it's hard to blame people with numb hands for not catching an oblong leather ball hurled at their faces in 35-mph winds. But you know who did catch a pass? Velus Jones Jr.! It was a nice one too. Otherwise, it was a quiet day. Turns out playing in sub-zero wind chills isn't conducive to tons of yards and points. Unless you're the Bills, who cruised to a 35-13 win.
Defense: D
There were almost no expectations for this Bears group Saturday, which, between you and me, ain't the worst place to be. But once again, they punched above their weight, at least in the first half. Gordon has mastered the art of "catching passes that are gently placed into his arms," but it's been nice to see him come on strong over the last month or so. Jaquan Brisker's sack a few drives later must have been nice for general manager Ryan Poles to see as he furiously Google'd Steelers receiver George Pickens' stats just, you know, to stay prepared. Stefon Diggs wasn't even targeted in the first half, which maybe feels like more of a Bills mistake, but whatever! Frankly, the way the Bills were running the ball, they didn't even really need Diggs. Buffalo blew the game open with back-to-back drives that featured rushing touchdowns of 25-plus yards and finished the day with 254 total yards and three touchdowns on the ground. The Bears got a quarterback hit for the first time in five weeks though! And if I told you that, for the price of admission, you could see Josh Allen intercepted twice (should've been more), with one of them going to Nicholas Morrow, would that interest you? No? Well it happened even without you!
Special teams: B
Trenton "All-Pro" Gill set the tone early with a 63-yard punt that pinned the Bills at their own 2-yard line. The majesty of it reminded everyone why they were there in the first place. Cairo Santos looked the haters in the eye and kicked two separate field goals. His longest – a 37-yarder in the second quarter – wobbled through the uprights with the determination of a man out to prove everyone wrong.
Cam Ellis is a writer for 670 The Score and Audacy Sports. Follow him on Twitter @KingsleyEllis.
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