(670 The Score) The Bears pulled off an unexpected comeback win Sunday, beating the Seahawks, 25-24, with a late rally and key two-point conversion at Lumen Field in Seattle. Here are the observations from Chicago’s fifth win of the season.
Foles enters the fold
Forgive me for coming away from a Bears win with a negative view, but watching veteran quarterback Nick Foles lead a comeback victory brought my mind to the bigger picture.
Why exactly did the Bears toss Foles into a third-string role and feel so compelled to sign fellow veteran Andy Dalton last offseason?
When he met with the media last January to assess the 2020 season, Bears general manager Ryan Pace referenced how Foles struggled in large part due to injuries and inconsistencies within the offense. That was Pace's way of offering his public endorsement for Foles, who's under contract through the 2022 season. Then, Pace went against his own sentiment and signed Dalton to a one-year, $10-million deal.
Pace acquired Dalton while also recognizing the likelihood that the Bears would draft a quarterback, which they ended up doing by trading up to No. 11 overall to select Justin Fields. The Bears' plan was to push Foles out of the quarterback picture – and hope he could perhaps be traded or might even opt to retire. After committing to Foles in March 2020, Pace spent $10 million on Dalton that would've been better used elsewhere on the depth chart.
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Foles got another chance with the Bears on Sunday with Fields and Dalton both injured. He went 24-of-35 for 250 yards and a touchdown. He led a six-play, 80-yard touchdown drive late in the fourth quarter, capping it with a 15-yard strike to tight end Jimmy Graham in the end zone before then connecting with receiver Damiere Byrd on a two-point conversion to give the Bears the lead.
For Foles, it was a bit of redemption. As for the Bears, it reminded of Pace’s poor plan.
Sack machine
Bears pass rusher Robert Quinn had just two sacks in 2020. It seemed he was washed up in the first season of a five-year deal he signed with Chicago.
Now, Quinn has produced one of the most unlikely individual seasons in Bears history as he nears the team’s single-season sack record set by Hall of Fame pass rusher Richard Dent. Quinn recorded his 17th sack of the season Sunday, putting him a half-sack away from Dent’s record mark of 17.5 set in 1984.
With two games to play, Quinn has the chance to make his mark in the Bears record books. It has been a remarkable bounce-back.
Start me up
When the Bears took the field on defense for the opening drive of the game, veteran cornerback Artie Burns was starting over rookie Thomas Graham Jr. As the offense came out to the field, veteran Germain Ifedi started at right tackle in place of rookie Larry Borom.
With all due respect to Burns and Ifedi, the Bears don’t need to see them anymore. It was a shortsighted decision by coach Matt Nagy – as well as Pace, who also deserves blame – to allow veterans to play over rookies. But that's what happens when a team allows a lame-duck coach and general manager to remain in their positions like the Bears have.
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Graham worked 68% of snaps on defense as part of a rotation with Burns, while Borom came in at left tackle after fellow rookie Teven Jenkins exited with a shoulder injury.
Regardless, somebody inside of Halas Hall need to take charge of this issue and force Nagy and Pace into playing the Bears’ younger players in the final two games.
Extra points
-- The blocking on running back Khalil Herbert’s 20-yard touchdown run was worth admiring. Borom and interior linemen Cody Whitehair and Sam Mustipher paved the way, and Herbert did the rest.
-- It’s not often you see a 15-play, 71-yard drive result in no points. But the Bears pulled it off in the first quarter. After having first-and-goal at the Seahawks' 4-yard line, they came up empty. Let’s never see the wildcat again, please.
-- Entering Sunday, the Bears were 0-8 when trailing at halftime this season. They changed that as Foles led them back.
-- Give it up for Byrd, who played what Foles called “backyard football” to get open for the go-ahead two-point conversion. He then made a sensational catch.
-- Bears defensive lineman Akiem Hicks would rather be playing, but he had entertaining thoughts on Twitter while sidelined in COVID-19 protocols. He could be a terrific analyst whenever he decides to retire.
-- Man, what happened to the Seahawks?
-- We need more snow football games.
-- How are there still two more games left in this season?
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.