Bears Defense at a Loss to Explain Second-Half Collapse
It's fairly common for Chicago Bears offensive players to talk about regrouping after they express frustration.
Now it's carrying over to their defense.
The New Orleans Saints couldn't be stopped in the second half Sunday in their 36-25 win over the Bears, and while the Bears continued struggling offensively, the defense collapsed, as well.
“Just shot ourselves in the foot," safety Eddie Jackson said. "Lot of plays we left out there. We didn't come out, got to finish four quarters. Lot of busted things on our side we got to clean up."
The Bears got outrushed 151 yards to 17. Since they reduced Minnesota and Dalvin Cook to rubble, the Chicago defense has given up 169 and 151 yards rushing the last two games. Not coincidentally, Akiem Hicks missed most of the previous game and all of Sunday's game with his arm injury.
"We just started doing uncharacteristic things," defensive end Bilal Nichols said. "We didn't play our techniques right. We just played bad."
Latavius Murray became the second back in two weeks to go over 100 yards against the Bears with 119.
The Saints had 37 minutes and 26 seconds of possession time to 22:34 for the Bears. So it would be safe to assume the defense wore down, but they were still fresh enough when they were giving up two long touchdown drives in the third quarter to fall behind 26-10.
"We've got to stay on top of it," Nichols said. "We can't come out and have ups and downs. We got to stay more consistent throughout the game. Not being able to knock those guys back. Push those guys back.
"We've seen what they did in the run game against us two weeks ago against the Raiders, so we felt like they were going to come out and run the ball. We did a good job in the first half. We just got to stay on them."
Of the 151 yards, 118 came after halftime.
"I feel like we played well enough to win in the first half, but in the second half I don't know what happened," Bears cornerback Prince Amukamara said. "We're going to have to look at the film. What I do know is that they just came and punched us in the mouth and just kept going and going and going.
"Credit to the (Bears) offense for not giving up and continuing to trying to help us get the W. But on our side of the ball, it’s just unacceptable."
They shouldn't go patting their offense on the back too much, unless four first downs in the first three quarters is considered good now.
"It's hard to explain," Jackson said. "You want it bad. Words can't really explain it right now."
The numbers — like 151 yards rushing, 37:26 of possession time and 36 points allowed —did it well enough.
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