Broncos 31, Bears 28: The Good, Bad & Ugly
Let the horns blare: the Denver Broncos finally tasted sweet victory, albeit in Week 4. After playing with pluck, pride, and perseverance (in the second half, at least), the Broncos managed to scrape out a 31-28 win over the Chicago Bears.
It seems like the Broncos saved up all their energy from the lackluster first half to unleash it in the later quarters. Oddly enough, it's reminiscent of Denver's soporific performance in Miami last week.
This half-game zeal might work against the Bears, but any other competent NFL squad would've chewed the Broncos up. But it's a win, so let's cover the good, bad, and ugly from Week 4.
The Good
Russell Wilson | QB
If we're talking about game-changers, Wilson springs to mind. His Road to Redemption Tour is on a roll, and while he might not have Patrick Mahomes or Josh Allen abilities, Wilson is steering Sean Payton's ship with admirable calm.
Against the Bears, Wilson displayed spot-on decision-making and footwork that enabled his receivers to exploit the Bears' defensive flaws. With a commendable three passing touchdowns (zero interceptions) and a passer rating of 133.5%, the Broncos' QB brought his A-game.
Jaleel McLaughlin | RB
Let's also shout out to Jaleel McLaughlin, the rookie running back who seemingly traded his feet for rocket thrusters. His exemplary 10.3 yards-per-carry average on seven rushes made a compelling case for the rookie to move up the depth chart. The sporadic dominance of Denver's running game made the Bears think twice about their aggressive tactics.
The Bad
Vance Joseph's Defense
Sadly, the Broncos' defense was the antithesis of the team's winning spirit. Picturing them is akin to visualizing a leaky faucet slowly corroding the base it stands on.
At this point of the season, Joseph is not meeting expectations, but surely, after the mauling in Miami, one would expect some introspection. Alas, with Justin Simmons missing in action, the Broncos' defense resembled a chaotic garage band — out of tune and seemingly unprepared.
Meanwhile, Denver's defensive line allowed Bears QB Justin Fields to have a field day, passing for north of 300 yards and four touchdowns.
The Ugly
Penalties
It's disheartening when a team's offense and defense flirt with disaster at pivotal game moments. The defense's baffling lapses in judgment on 3rd-&-long, combined with the offense's penchant for collecting penalties (were they hoping for an ice cream treat post-game from the Bears?), raised several eyebrows.
Such brain glitches haven't been synonymous with Payton's coaching style traditionally, and one wonders what exactly has gone amiss.
Securing a win in the NFL is like scaling Mount Everest. The Broncos managed it on Sunday, giving players, coaches, and the fan base a glimmer of hope, but the indicator lights are blinking red from the initial four games, signaling potential doom.
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