A game in which keeping score is optional – AFC 26, NFC 7, just FYI – takeaways are optional, too. But the presence of seven Bears in the game played at just a notch above walk-through pace made Sunday’s goings-on worth a look… .
…if only for comic relief. Seeing Dallas running back Ezekiel Elliott on special teams and as a defensive back, plus running backs Saquon Barkley and Alvin Kamara as defensive linemen, pushed the second half over the line into “silly.”
But anyhow, just as a general information point: The last two times the Bears had as many overall Pro Bowl selectees (eight with idled Khalil Mack) as they have this year, they were coming off those Super Bowl appearances – which, of course, guarantees nothing, since the 1985 and 2006 teams didn’t return to glory. The ’06 team took four years just to make the playoffs, and the ’85 team lost their next two first-round (divisional) games… .
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…Kyle Fuller distinguished himself with a second-quarter interception of an Andrew Luck pass. Why this warrants noting is because Fuller, who tied for NFL-high with seven interceptions, was operating without benefit of a pass rush (apologies to defensive lineman Akiem Hicks; “rush” is used only advisedly in Pro Bowls) in a game played far below regular or even training camp speed….
…Mitchell Trubisky’s second pass as a Pro Bowl quarterback was one of those should-have-been-intercepted’s, and Trubisky, filling in since the Rams’ Jared Goff will be otherwise engaged next weekend, was intercepted on his first pass of the second half after completing three of four to finish a scoreless first half. The interception effectively buried Trubisky’s passer rating (24.5), for those keeping score, and it was difficult to tell if anyone really was….
…Cody Whitehair at center and Charles Leno at left tackle gave the Bears representation on the offensive line, although being part of an offense that netted just 148 yards, compared to the 416 of the AFC, isn’t going to be a signature moment for either. The NFC ran the football just nine times in 45 plays….
…Hicks was credited with a pair of tackles.
