Chicago Bears’ defense a difference-maker in Week 1 upset of San Francisco 49ers

CHICAGO – Matt Eberflus wrapped Eddie Jackson in a bear hug on the sideline. The second was a very long time coming for the Chicago Bears security, who seconds earlier jumped in entrance of a go thrown by San Francisco quarterback Trey Lance on a third-and-5 within the fourth quarter and got here away with an interception, his first since Dec. 29, 2019.

Since taking up as coach of the Bears this offseason, Eberflus has referred to as this a “clear slate” for Jackson, a veteran holdover from the earlier regime who signed a large contract extension in early 2020.

“That was excellent,” Eberflus stated of Jackson’s game-changing interception. “I could not be prouder of him.”

The Bears’ offense lastly capitalized off a turnover when operating again Khalil Herbert’s 3-yard landing put the 49ers away for good in a 19-10 upset win.

Eberflus earned his first NFL win as a result of his staff gained the turnover and penalty differentials. The Bears totaled two takeaways — cornerback Jaylon Johnson and security Jaquan Brisker mixed for a compelled fumble and restoration — and simply three penalties for twenty-four yards. Fifteen of these penalty yards got here when holder Trenton Gill was flagged for making an attempt to absorb water on the sphere with a towel.

“We have stated from the onset that we will play sensible, aggressive soccer,” Eberflus stated. “You possibly can nonetheless hit, and do the issues, and play aggressive, and end performs, and do it the appropriate manner. However you do it the sensible, aggressive manner.”

Eberflus promotes a HITS precept, which stands for Hustle, Depth, Takeaways, (Enjoying) Sensible. Sunday’s end result may help solidify the gamers’ buy-in.

“You begin to see the outcomes on movie, the best way we observe, the best way we hustle, simply the mindset of the entire staff, how we constructed our basis,” Jackson stated. “Proceed to construct this id on protection. We simply wish to proceed to fly round and get this going.”

Chicago proved its means to bounce again from a sluggish begin when Justin Fields and the offense ripped off touchdowns on three straight possessions after going scoreless within the first half.

But it surely was the Bears’ protection that supplied consistency. The Bears didn’t blitz Lance on any of his 34 dropbacks and nonetheless obtained stress on him 12 occasions, limiting the second-year quarterback to 1-of-7 for minus-2 yards passing on these dropbacks, plus two sacks and three scrambles.

What the Bears realized was they might set the tone with their protection and ultimately all the pieces else would fall into place.

Because the offense obtained higher within the second half, Chicago’s protection continued to hum. The Bears reduce down on the 49ers’ operating sport (6.4 yards per rush allowed within the first half, 3.2 yards per rush within the second) as a option to stifle an offense identified for coming at opponents from all angles.

The mainstays on this protection, like Jackson and linebacker Roquan Smith together with his team-high 9 tackles and half sack, led the best way, however the contributions from rookies like Brisker, defensive finish Dominique Robinson (1.5 sacks, 7 tackles, TFL) and cornerback Kyler Gordon (6 tackles, TFL) have been important.

“It places a much bigger perception within the locker room,” defensive finish Robert Quinn stated. “Guys with the ups and down and all of the ‘ifs.’

“No matter what the surface says, we are able to management the message on this locker room.”