Any thoughts of taking the measure of a first-time starting quarterback vanished early when Brock Osweiler guided the Denver Broncos 74 yards in just four plays on their opening possession, the final 48 coming on a toss to a wide-open Demaryius Thomas cutting across the middle completely uncontested. The coverage was poor and the tackling even worse, which the Bears improved on as the game went on but too late in a two-point game.
Denver tight ends ran free too often in the secondary and netted 61 yards on six catches just in the first half. Osweiler was able to complete 20 of 27 passes for 250 yards, two touchdowns and a 127.1 rating. Only Matthew Stafford (362) and Philip Rivers (262) have thrown for more yards on the Bears this season and both needed 42 attempts to do it, vs. Osweiler’s 27.
[SHOP: Gear up Bears fans!]
Tracy Porter continued his solid overall play with work against Thomas after that first possession. But Kyle Fuller, who finished with 7 solo tackles and a pass breakup, gave up inside leverage to wideout Cody Latimer for a 10-yard touchdown pass on which Fuller was several yards deep in the end zone and allowed Latimer a free crossing route into the end zone.
Adrian Amos delivered a crushing sack on Denver’s opening second-half drive and finished with 7 solo stops, one for a loss in a strong game by the rookie all over the field.
Chris Prosinski was told on Friday that he was starting in place of injured Antrel Rolle (ankle) at safety and struggled at times. Prosinski was sealed too easily inside to allow a 15-yard sweep on Denver’s first possession, then was completely ineffective even impeding Thomas on the Broncos’ 48-yard TD pass in the first quarter. He was able to pick up a sack of a scrambling Osweler in the third quarter.
Moon's Grade: D