Generally life comes at you sliding with its cleats raised. And as exhausting as chances are you'll attempt to leap and dodge misfortune, a rogue spike would possibly catch you proper the place you’d slightly it not.
At that time, there’s a option to make. Discover a snug spot away from the chaos to curve up and whimper. Or come proper again and attempt to make an announcement.
You already know the place we’re headed right here, proper? On to rookie security Jaquan Brisker’s locker stall late Monday at Gillette Stadium after the Chicago Bears’ gorgeous 33-14 romp towards the New England Patriots.
It was Brisker who took a cleats-up slide to his, um, “space” early within the second quarter. And it was Brisker who responded three snaps later with an “I’m nonetheless right here” interception off the proprietor of these cleats, Patriots quarterback Mac Jones.
Yep, Brisker confirmed, the bodily discomfort that despatched him staggering to the sideline for a second was precisely what it seemed like. “He slid and hit me someplace I shouldn’t be hit,” Brisker mentioned. “He caught me. You already know what I imply?”
Yep. Gotcha.
As for that one-handed decide, the primary of Brisker’s profession, on a move down the fitting sideline to tight finish Jonnu Smith just a few moments later? With Smith and huge receiver Tyquan Thornton each working vertical routes to Brisker’s facet, the Bears security tried to place himself correctly.
“I attempted to separate the distinction,” Brisker mentioned. “When he truly threw it, I used to be form of stunned. I simply capitalized.”
Take into account that a microcosm second. In a big-stage sport set as much as check what the Bears have been product of on so many ranges, Brisker and his teammates provided an attention-grabbing present of resolve and willpower. And this time they complemented it with some game-winning playmaking.
That second-quarter takeaway was the primary of three Bears interceptions and was made for the spotlight reel.
Mentioned Bears linebacker Roquan Smith: “After I noticed it dwell, that one-handed (seize) and the way in which that dude did that, I used to be a fan. I used to be like, ‘What?’ I couldn’t consider it. I assumed he was simply going to knock it down or one thing. However, man, that was epic.”
Brisker, as soon as an achieved basketball participant, had flashbacks to his hoops days.
“It felt like a rebound,” he mentioned. “I went up, grabbed it and got here down with it in a single hand.”
On an evening stuffed with sparks, that was definitely one. And the large moments saved coming.
This was a four-phase victory: offense, protection, particular groups, teaching.
Good efficiency? Nah. Nevertheless it was definitely essentially the most full effort of the primary seven video games, a gritty exhibiting from a bunch that hated the way in which its Week 6 prime-time loss to the Washington Commanders sat.
“That one stung,” tight finish Cole Kmet mentioned. “I’m not going to lie. It harm quite a bit.”
Eleven nights later, after a week-plus of refocusing and adjusting, the Bears dealt with nearly all the pieces that got here at them.
They outgained the Patriots 390-260, held a 24-12 benefit in first downs and, within the remaining minute, took it straightforward on their hosts slightly than making an attempt to hold 40 on Invoice Belichick and Co. by punching in a double-exclamation-point landing.
Inside a jubilant locker room, there was an apparent sense of satisfaction.
“This feels good,” quarterback Justin Fields mentioned. “Everyone’s excited. I’m simply happy with the way in which our guys got here out and began the sport and, in fact, how we completed.”
Fields had arguably his most spectacular outing of the 12 months, throwing for 179 yards and a landing whereas including 82 speeding yards and a 3-yard rating. His working skill continues to be a harmful weapon. The Bears turned him free on a a lot larger quantity of designed runs, not simply ready for him to make issues occur as a scrambler.
“I assumed that introduced a complete totally different aspect to our offense,” Fields mentioned.
Equally spectacular was the style with which the Bears responded to a blast of Zappe magic within the first half. Patriots rookie quarterback Bailey Zappe changed Jones on the staff’s fourth possession and inside seven snaps led his offense to 14 factors and a four-point lead.
Reflexively, Bears followers started bracing for what they’ve turn out to be far too accustomed to — one other potential prime-time embarrassment.
As a substitute, these Bears gathered themselves, dug in and outscored the Patriots 23-0 the remainder of the way in which.
After a 43-yard completion from Zappe to DeVante Parker and a 4-yard Rhamondre Stevenson landing run within the second quarter, the Bears instantly responded with a 75-yard landing march, capped by Fields’ 25-yard quick-hit move to working again Khalil Herbert.
That began a streak of 5 consecutive scoring drives, an unthinkable feat in most weeks this season.
“That felt good,” Kmet mentioned. “Man, it simply felt like we have been being actually bodily up entrance. I assumed we out-physicaled them the entire night time, which is admittedly enjoyable.
“Once you’re capable of get on a roll like that and also you’ve received a bunch of fellows touching the soccer, that’s loads of enjoyable. I feel it’s undoubtedly one thing we will lean into.”
In the meantime, the Bears protection was doing its factor too. Smith snagged a tipped move for his second interception this season. On the subsequent sequence, rookie cornerback Kyler Gordon joined the decide occasion, breaking in entrance of Thornton and snaring Zappe’s move together with his proper hand.
“Having the ability to get one (turnover) after one other, it was fairly candy,” Smith mentioned. “Yeah, man. We’re very pleased.”
That was all a part of the Bears’ suffocating second-half submission maintain as they methodically squeezed the life out of the Patriots and their followers. They acquired essentially the most gratifying reward as Gillette Stadium turned remarkably quiet all through the second half. No roars. No revolutionary cannon blasts. Nothing.
“It was fairly candy how hushed it was,” Smith mentioned. “After we have been making these large performs, I used to be like, ‘The place are all of the followers speaking?’ However, man, it was like you can hear a rat (pee).”
That model of silence felt oh-so satisfying.
“We took observe of that,” defensive finish Trevis Gipson added. “In that first half, this place was fairly rocking. However we saved enjoying with relentlessness and decided to jot down the story within the second half. We needed to complete sturdy.”
Because the Bears left New England, none of their gamers was making a grander-than-required big-picture interpretation of Monday’s victory. A lot extra will likely be wanted from this group within the weeks and months forward to succeed in any proverbial turning level.
However on one night time, with the brilliant lights shining, the Bears consider they showcased what they're product of and what they're able to turning into as soon as they'll discover consistency.
Brisker, for what it’s price, had a large smile as he processed the night time.
“If we maintain rolling like this with all people doing their job, we’re simply getting warmed up,” he mentioned.
It definitely felt like one thing optimistic to construct on.
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