After Miami Dolphins broad receiver Tyreek Hill caught a 3-yard move from Tua Tagovailoa early within the second quarter Sunday, Hill sprinted throughout the Soldier Area finish zone and launched himself into the air for his trademark celebratory theatrics.
Roundoff, backflip — and a lead the Dolphins didn’t surrender once more in a 35-32 victory over the Chicago Bears.
A Bears protection that noticed two of its greatest gamers dealt on the NFL commerce deadline knew the problem it confronted towards Hill and Jaylen Waddle, two of the league’s prime 5 in receiving yards.
However the Bears might do little to sluggish them by way of three quarters. Hill completed with seven catches for 143 yards and a landing — bringing him to 1,104 receiving yards in 9 video games this season — and Waddle had 5 catches for 85 yards and a landing.
The Bears’ solely cease by way of the primary 42 minutes got here courtesy of Dolphins kicker Jason Sanders lacking a 29-yard discipline purpose broad left. When the protection lastly put collectively three late stops, the Bears offense couldn’t come by way of with the successful drive.
Cornerback Jaylon Johnson opened his postgame feedback with one phrase: “Velocity.”
“They did job, particularly utilizing some decide routes, issues like that,” Johnson stated. “It makes it tougher guarding anyone already extraordinarily quick, and now you could have rub routes, guys selecting one another. They did job there.
“We’ve simply received to do a greater job to execute, and I've to present myself a greater likelihood and discover a solution to know these decide routes are coming and do a greater job defending these. However they pose a number of pace they usually did a extremely good job operating throughout the sector, giving guys a number of arduous downs.”
Tagovailoa accomplished 21 of 30 passes for 302 yards and three touchdowns for a 135.7 passer score. The Bears didn’t document a sack or pressure a turnover.
“We have to do a greater job towards these guys of jamming and disrupting on the line of scrimmage,” coach Matt Eberflus stated. “I didn’t assume we did an excellent job of that, and in addition getting guys up beneath them the way in which we had deliberate throughout the course of the week.”
Understanding the missed alternative made the early struggles extra irritating.
Security Eddie Jackson has been round Chicago lengthy sufficient to know offensive performances like those the Bears and quarterback Justin Fields have put collectively the previous couple of weeks must be capitalized on, and he stated that was the discuss on the sideline because the protection tried to regroup.
“The offense as a complete coming on the market and persevering with to present us 30 factors, that’s one thing we’ve been asking for,” Jackson stated. “And we will’t permit groups to attain 28 or 35 factors on us as a protection. We’ve received to present them guys some assist.
“That was our message on the sideline. Like, ‘Bro, we’ve received to assist the O. … They’re doing all the pieces they'll, and we simply preserve developing brief, so we’ve received to get this fastened.’”
The Bears finally got here up with stops on three consecutive drives after the Dolphins pulled forward 35-25 within the third quarter, with security Jaquan Brisker saying the protection was “extra aggressive and extra locked in.”
The Dolphins went for it on fourth-and-6 on the Bears 35-yard line late within the third quarter, however Tagovailoa’s move to Mike Gesicki with security DeAndre Houston-Carson on him was broad.
They went for it once more on fourth-and-1 on the Bears 14 halfway by way of the fourth quarter, however Tagovailoa’s low move to Durham Smythe fell incomplete. That cease got here after Jackson was known as for a 47-yard move interference penalty whereas defending Waddle.
It was the Bears’ second move interference penalty, the primary on cornerback Kindle Vildor whereas defending Hill ultimately zone on the Dolphins’ first drive. That one, which ended with Vildor getting damage, ended up extra expensive. It gave the Dolphins 32 yards, they usually scored on the subsequent play.
The Bears overcame Jackson’s penalty to make the cease, although the Dolphins ate up extra time on the clock and the Bears took over deep of their territory.
“(The official) stated he didn’t see me enjoying the ball,” Jackson stated. “I didn’t take a look at a receiver one time, so I don’t know what he noticed, however I used to be enjoying the ball the entire time. Even guys on the Dolphins sideline informed me that was a horrible name.”
The ultimate cease got here courtesy of Johnson when he broke up Tagovailoa’s move to Waddle on third-and-11 with 2 minutes, 55 seconds to play.
“It was me and Waddle by ourselves,” Johnson stated. “I actually simply tried to comprise him the easiest way I can. He gave me a tough stick inside, in the reduction of outdoors after which he had two steps on me. However actually simply preserving my composure, seeing that the ball was brief by way of his physique language after which simply placing my fingers up the place I assumed the ball was coming and I made play.”
Johnson at all times talks about welcoming the problem to match up with the sport’s greatest broad receivers, and this week was no completely different. However he didn’t stroll away from Soldier Area glad.
“I'd undoubtedly say not ok,” Johnson stated. “I really feel like I didn’t affect the sport the way in which I wished to. There undoubtedly are some issues I'd need again, however on the finish of the day, I’m at all times going to maintain preventing.”
The efficiency got here within the wake of the Bears buying and selling group captains Robert Quinn and Roquan Smith in a six-day span. Undrafted rookie Jack Sanborn made his first begin at center linebacker, whereas the Bears moved Nicholas Morrow from the center to Smith’s spot at weak-side linebacker.
For the second straight week, Jackson didn’t use it as an excuse for the protection.
“You don’t actually take into consideration these kind of issues,” Jackson stated. “We’re out with the gamers we’ve received. Put our belief within the guys we’ve received on the sector and simply attempt to alter various things.
“The younger guys in there need to step up. It’s arduous, large sneakers to fill. However we’ve received to step up, we’ve received to organize effectively and now we have to execute irrespective of who's on the sector.”
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