Skip to main content
Advertising

ChicagoBears.com | The Official Website of the Chicago Bears

Game Recap

Brought to you by

Game Recap: Bears escape with narrow victory

hicks-game-recap-092020

Mitchell Trubisky threw two touchdown passes in the first half and the Bears defense held off a late rally to preserve a 17-13 win over the New York Giants Sunday at Soldier Field.

Trubisky's TD strikes of 28 yards to David Montgomery and 17 yards to rookie Darnell Mooney gave the Bears a seemingly comfortable 17-0 halftime lead.

But the Giants roared back, holding the Bears scoreless in the second half while producing one touchdown and two field goals on three straight possessions to close the gap to 17-13 midway through the fourth quarter.

New York had an opportunity to win the game, reaching the Bears' 10-yard line with just :04 remaining in regulation. But Eddie Jackson broke up Daniel Jones' pass intended for receiver Golden Tate in the end zone as time expired.

Even if Tate had caught the ball, the touchdown would not have counted because Tate was flagged for interfering with nickel back Buster Skrine on the play.

With the win, the Bears improved to 2-0 for the first time since 2013 when they opened 3-0 in Marc Trestman's first season as coach.

Sunday's home opener was a tale of two halves for the Bears. After Trubisky completed 13 of 18 passes for 159 yards with two touchdowns in the first two quarters, he connected on 5 of 10 passes for 31 yards with two interceptions in the second half.

Montgomery led the Bears in rushing with 82 yards on 16 carries and caught three passes for a team-high 45 yards. He exited the game in the second quarter with a neck injury he sustained when he landed on his head after trying to hurdle a defensive lineman on a running play. But Montgomery returned to start the third quarter and played the rest of the contest.

The Bears took a 7-0 lead on the game's opening drive thanks to Trubisky's 28-yard TD pass to Montgomery. On third-and-seven, Trubisky dumped the ball off to Montgomery at the 20. He ran along the right sideline and then cut back across the field before reaching the end zone.

After converting just 2-of-11 third-down opportunities in last Sunday's season-opening win over the Detroit Lions, the Bears were successful on all four third-down chances on their opening drive. Trubisky completed 4-of-4 passes for 62 yards.

On the Giants' first possession, new Bears outside linebacker Robert Quinn made an immediate impact. On Quinn's first snap, he sacked Jones on third-and-six, forcing a fumble that was recovered by Khalil Mack at the Giants' 20.

The Bears converted the takeaway into Cairo Santos' 34-yard field goal, extending their lead to 10-0 with 4:36 left in the first quarter. The kick came after a diving Anthony Miller dropped Trubisky's perfectly-thrown pass in the end zone on third-and-six from the 16.

The Bears defense generated its second takeaway in three possessions as Deon Bush intercepted a Jones pass intended for tight end Evan Engram at the Bears' 25 and returned it nine yards. It was Bush's first career interception.

The Bears later increased their lead to 17-0 on Trubisky's 17-yard TD pass to Mooney with :14 remaining in the first half. Mooney stepped in front of cornerback Corey Ballentine to catch the 50/50 ball in the end zone.

The Bears converted 7-of-10 third-down opportunities in the first half and 9-of-16 in the game.

Giants running back Saquon Barkley left the game with what is believed to be a torn right ACL on the first play of the second quarter while being tackled by Jackson. Barkley exited after rushing for 28 yards on four carries.

On the Bears' first possession of the second half, Trubisky's pass intended for Allen Robinson was deflected into the air by cornerback James Bradberry and intercepted by safety Julian Love, who returned it 13 yards to the Bears' 25.

The Giants converted the turnover into Graham Gano's 39-yard field goal, closing the gap to 17-3 with 9:50 left in the third quarter. The kick came after Darius Slayton dropped a perfect Jones pass over the middle on third-and-six that would have resulted in a first down.

On their next possession, the Giants drove 95 yards on 11 plays, capped by Lewis' 1-yard TD burst on fourth-and-goal, cutting the deficit to 17-10 with 14:18 remaining in the fourth quarter.

The Bears followed by committing their second turnover as Bradbury ripped Trubisky's pass away from Robinson at the Giants' 34.

New York converted the turnover into Gano's 37-yard field goal, closing the gap to 17-13 with 7:43 left in regulation.

The Bears marched to the Giants' 32, but Santos missed a 50-yard field goal attempt wide left with 2:02 remaining.

That gave the Giants one final opportunity. They advanced from their own 40 to the Bears' 10, but were held out of the end zone.

See the game unfold through the lenses of our sideline photographers as the Bears face off against the Giants during the home opener of the 2020 season in Chicago, Illinois.

Related Content

Advertising
;