Tyson Bagent falters late after solid start in New Orleans defeat for Bears

The New Orleans Saints defeated the Chicago Bears 24-17 in Week 9 at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. 

The Bears scored first with a touchdown pass from Tyson Bagent to Cole Kmet. The Saints responded with a touchdown pass from Derek Carr to Taysom Hill. The game was tied at 14-14 at halftime. The Saints took the lead in the second half with a field goal by Blake Grupe and a touchdown pass from Taysom Hill to Juwan Johnson. The Bears scored a touchdown late in the game, but the Saints recovered an onside kick and ran out the clock to secure the win with a final score of 24-17.

The Saints defence delivered five takeaways to help the team. Cornerback Paulson Adebo had three of the takeaways, two interceptions, and a fumble recovery, while safety Marcus Maye had the fourth, a diving interception. Linebacker Demario Davis had a late strip-sack that was recovered by fellow linebacker Pete Werner to ice the game. Defensive end Cameron Jordan added a sack.

Rookie quarterback Tyson Bagent gave the Saints a rugged game as he scrambled eight times for 70 yards. He was 18 of 30 for 220 yards with two touchdown passes, three interceptions, and a lost fumble. The Bears outgained the Saints, but the five turnovers and eight penalties for 71 yards were too much to overcome.

Here are some of the big takeaways from Sunday’s game.

Missed opportunities and inconsistency from Chicago

Despite an initial wave of optimism, the Bears’ performance throughout the game was characterised by a rollercoaster of promise and debilitating mistakes. This defeat serves as a poignant reminder of an ongoing problem haunting Chicago – the team consistently possesses the potential to secure victories but struggles to follow through, often snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

Sunday’s match can be seen as a microcosm of their entire season – flashes of brilliance tainted by critical lapses at crucial moments. While the offence displayed glimpses of vitality, late-game turnovers by quarterback Tyson Bagent ultimately sealed the Bears’ fate.

There were moments when the Bears’ offence appeared fully capable of taking on formidable opponents, marked by well-executed, sustained drives that culminated in touchdowns. However, these shining moments were marred by disappointing drives, including a missed field goal, two interceptions, and a fumble. It’s evident that this Chicago offence is grappling with the challenge of delivering in clutch situations.

Defensively, the Bears mirrored the inconsistency of their offence. Although there were glimpses of promise, such as forcing a missed field goal, late-game lapses were far too frequent to prevent the Saints from maintaining or regaining momentum. The inability to stand firm in critical moments was glaring, as evidenced by the surrender of a five-play, 47-yard scoring drive that sealed Chicago’s fate.

The Bears are confronted with a pressing need to address missed opportunities and the lack of discipline that resulted in costly penalties. This team possesses the essential components required for competition, but the finesse needed to clinch victories remains elusive. Fans continue to patiently await the day when the Bears’ potential finally translates into a consistent string of wins.

The loss today becomes just another addition to a growing collection of “what could have been” scenarios, as Chicago persists in its quest to harmonise skill and execution to secure victories. The calendar offers little respite, with a challenging matchup against the Carolina Panthers looming this Thursday. Chicago must swiftly recover from the sting of defeat and concentrate on delivering a performance that aligns with the evident talent within the team. The path to redemption for Chicago remains steep.

Saints improve in Redzone efficiency

The New Orleans Saints demonstrated a significant improvement in their red zone efficiency during their game against the Chicago Bears. This improvement was a continuation of a trend that started in Week 7, with Taysom Hill playing a crucial role. Hill has registered five scores within the red zone since Week 7, rushing for three touchdowns, catching a pass in the end zone, and throwing a pass for a score. 

In the game against the Bears, Hill’s versatility was on full display. He converted a key third down in the red zone on a 12-yard scramble. This ability to contribute in multiple ways, especially in the red zone, has been a key factor in the Saints’ improved offensive production. 

Earlier in the season, the Saints had struggled to finish with touchdowns even when they advanced the ball deep in opponent territory. Through eight weeks, they ranked 27th in red-scoring (touchdown) percentage. However, their performance against the Bears showed a marked improvement in this area. 

This improvement in red zone efficiency has been a result of a combination of factors. The Saints have been able to marry up big plays, improved communication, and near-perfection in red zone efficiency to produce more effective offensive showings. The threat of the run in the red zone, especially with Hill’s ability to scramble, has forced opponents to respect that aspect of New Orleans’ offence, which has been beneficial.

Run defense concerns for the Saints

The New Orleans Saints’ run defence showed some vulnerabilities in their game against the Bears, which is a concern that has been present throughout the season. The Bears’ undrafted free-agent quarterback, Tyson Bagent, was able to exploit these weaknesses, rushing for 70 yards on 8 attempts against a Saints defence that struggled to contain him. This issue extends beyond just this game, as the Saints’ run defence has had difficulties limiting quarterbacks throughout the season. For instance, Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence also had a successful game rushing against the Saints.

The Saints’ struggles in run defence are partly due to their pass rush failing to finish, which has resulted in opposing quarterbacks opting to run the ball. The Saints’ defence ranks in the bottom five in the league in sacks, which is a significant factor in their run defence issues. 

In the game against the Bears, the Saints allowed a total of 156 net rushing yards. This is a significant amount, especially considering that the Bears’ rushing attack was not operating at its optimal condition. 

Moving forward, the Saints will need to address these run defence concerns. Improving their pass rush could be one way to limit the running opportunities for opposing quarterbacks. Additionally, they may need to make adjustments to their defensive schemes to better contain the run.

Questionable coaching decisions

Dennis Allen made several dubious decisions during Sunday’s match. One notable instance was his choice to accept a holding penalty in the first quarter, which turned a 4th and 2 into a 3rd and 12 situation. The Chicago Bears took advantage of this by converting on 3rd down and eventually scoring a touchdown.

Another perplexing move was when, in the closing moments of the third quarter during a tied game, he opted to punt from the Bears’ 39-yard line. This decision appeared questionable, particularly given the defence’s struggles up to that point. Fortunately, this gamble paid off as the Saints successfully pinned the Bears inside the 10-yard line, resulting in a quick 3-and-out.

Yet another questionable choice involved having Derek Carr attempt a quarterback sneak on 4th and 1 instead of utilising Taysom Hill. Alternatively, the Saints could have attempted a short field goal to create a two-score advantage. However, Carr’s attempt was unsuccessful, allowing the Bears an opportunity to tie the game with a touchdown. Fortunately, the defence came to the rescue with an interception. These decisions made by the coaching staff lacked logical explanations, and had they backfired, it would have raised significant concerns for the Saints.

What’s next?

The win improved the Saints’ record to 5-4 and moved them into first place in the NFC South, while the Bears’ record dropped to 2-7. The Saints will look to push their winning streak to three games next Sunday as they travel to Minnesota to play the Vikings (5-4) , while the Bears have a short turnaround as they host the Carolina Panthers (1-7) on ‘Thursday Night Football’ at Soldier Field.