A rendering released by the Chicago Bears shows the view from the proposed stadium of the Arlington Park entertainment district. (Hart Howerton/Chicago Bears, Hart Howerton/Chicago Bears)
The Chicago Bears knew they would have a challenge stopping New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley on Sunday at MetLife Stadium, and Barkley made his mark with 146 rushing yards.
Giants quarterbacks Daniel Jones and Tyrod Taylor also carved up the Bears defense, combining for 98 rushing yards in a 20-12 victory.
The Bears had a late chance to go on a tying drive after the defense came up with a stop, but rookie returner Velus Jones Jr., who was making his NFL debut, muffed the punt. Giants running back Gary Brightwell recovered it, and the Giants held on to win.
Giants kicker Graham Gano made two second-half field goals from 44 and 43 yards out to build on a 14-9 halftime lead. Gano missed a 37-yard attempt off the left upright in the final minute, and the Bears had a wild final attempt to score but couldn’t come through.
The second field goal came after the Giants’ second quarterback swap of the day.
Jones left the game late in the third quarter after getting his left ankle taped. Taylor entered while Jones stood on the sideline watching. But Taylor was taken out midway through his second drive to be evaluated for a concussion, and Jones came back in. The Giants ran four straight running plays.
The Bears offense didn’t get much going in the second half, getting its only points from Michael Badgley’s fourth field goal of the day.
Bears quarterback Justin Fields completed 11 of 22 passes for 174 yards with no touchdowns, no interceptions and one lost fumble. He rushed for 52 yards and was sacked six times. Khalil Herbert rushed for 77 yards on 19 carries.
Gano made a 44-yard field goal late in the third quarter to push the Giants lead to 17-12. The drive included a 40-yard pass interference penalty on Bears rookie cornerback Kyler Gordon against wide receiver Darius Slayton. But rookie safety Jaquan Brisker sacked Jones on the next play, and Nicholas Morrow made a big stop of Barkley to help slow the drive.
Badgley, who was filling in for Cairo Santos while Santos is out for personal reasons, made field goals from 29, 22, 40 and 35 yards.
The Bears are now 2-2 on the season.
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Here’s how the Week 4 game unfolded.
New rejuvenated spirit for Jackson — and same bold confidence
Eddie Jackson feels new energy under the changed coaching staff and roster. And the “fresh start” coaches touted for him in the spring has led to two interceptions in the first three games of 2022. The team vibe is one Jackson hopes pushes him back to the playmaking prowess that resulted in 10 interceptions and five touchdowns in his first three seasons.
Not that he ever thought it was gone, even after a couple of years of loss on and off the field.
“I always knew what type of player I am,” Jackson told the Tribune. “My coaches, players, teammates, everyone knows. It never was a thing where my head was held low.”
Inactives for Week 4
The Bears will be without top running back David Montgomery, top cornerback Jaylon Johnson and kicker Cairo Santos.
The Bears ruled out Montgomery (ankle) and Johnson (quad) earlier in the week, and announced Santos would not play on Sunday morning as he is away from the team for personal reasons. The Bears signed Michael Badgley to serve as the kicker.
But rookie wide receiver/returner Velus Jones Jr. will make his NFL debut after missing the first three games with a hamstring injury.
Also inactive for the Bears are tight end Ryan Griffin (Achilles), linebacker Matt Adams (hamstring) and safety Dane Cruikshank (hamstring). Offensive lineman Ja’Tyre Carter is a healthy scratch.
Halftime: Giants 14, Bears 9
Giants quarterback Daniel Jones scored on two touchdown runs in the first half to fuel a 14-9 halftime lead over the Bears.
Jones sped in from 21 yards out on their second drive of the game for a 7-3 lead. Late in the second quarter, Jones’ 8-yard touchdown run following a fake handoff that fooled several Bears players put the Giants ahead 14-6.
Jones’ second touchdown came after Bears quarterback Justin Fields fumbled while being hit by Azeez Ojulari, and the Giants recovered it. Jones rushed for 49 yards on five carries in the half, and running back Saquon Barkley had 12 carries for 90 yards.
Fields got the passing game going with a few big plays in the first half. He completed 5 of 11 passes for 117 yards, including two passes for 74 yards to wide receiver Darnell Mooney. Fields also rushed for 47 yards. He was sacked five times.
But the Bears couldn’t find the end zone, settling for three fields goals from Michael Badgley, who is filling in for kicker Cairo Santos while Santos is out for personal reasons.
Badgley made a 29-yard field goal on the Bears’ first drive for a 3-0 lead. The Bears put together some big plays on the drive, including an 18-yard Fields pass to Mooney and a 16-yard Fields scramble. But after getting to the 14-yard line following Giants linebacker Micah McFadden’s unnecessary roughness penalty for a hit on Fields, the Bears stalled. Khalil Herbert had carries of one and two yards, and Fields threw incomplete in the end zone.
On the Bears’ second drive, Badgley made a 22-yard field goal to cut the Giants’ lead to 7-6. Fields connected with Mooney for a 56-yard pass and Herbert had a 9-yard run before the drive stalled.
Bears rookie defensive back Josh Blackwell forced Giants punt returner Richie James to fumble late in the second quarter, and Blackwell recovered it at the Giants’ 35-yard line. But the Bears settled for Badgley’s 40-yard field goal.
The Bears lost left guard Cody Whitehair to a knee injury and announced he was doubtful to return.
Should the Bears have hired Brian Daboll?
As one of 10 new head coaches this season — and one of five without NFL head coaching experience — Brian Daboll remains in the early stages of building his program, articulating his vision and resetting the Giants’ culture.
Like his coaching opponent this weekend, Matt Eberflus of the Chicago Bears, Daboll is aware the 2022 season will require substantial patience and a surplus of resolve as a rebuilding team low on talent experiences the inevitable performance dips and mental funks that accompany the big-win highs.
Latest news from Arlington Heights
A petition to prohibit public money for a Chicago Bears development in Arlington Heights won enough signatures to be considered by the village board Monday, but trustees are expected to reject it.
The libertarian group Americans for Prosperity — Illinois had initially fallen short of the required 557 signatures, or 1% of the registered voters in the village. Seventy of those who signed were discounted for not being registered resident voters, not matching registered signatures, or other reasons.
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Originally published at Tribune News Service