The Chicago Bears (0-1) were defeated by the Green Bay Packers (1-0), 38-20, where Chicago dropped to 11 straight losses dating back to last season.
Pro Football Focus handed out player grades for those who took a snap in the Bears’ Week 1 loss (minimum 13 reps), and we broke them down by offense and defense, analyzing the three highest- and lowest-graded players on each side, as well as some other notable performers.
Buy Bears TicketsThere were a few surprises — and then some not surprises — in terms of the highest- and lowest-graded players, both on offense and defense. Here’s a look:
Top 5 offense
- RT Darnell Wright – 72.1
- RB Roschon Johnson – 71.5
- RB D’Onta Foreman – 68.5
- WR Tyler Scott – 67.1
- RB Khalil Herbert – 65.5
Wright, the team’s top draft pick, was the highest-graded player on offense for Chicago. He earned a 77.0 mark in run blocking and 64.8 in pass blocking. Three of the top five highest-graded players for the Bears were their three running backs in Johnson, Foreman and Herbert. Johnson totaled 62 scrimmage yards and a score, earning high marks in pass protection (82.5) and run game (79.5) but received lower marks in the passing game (57.1) and run blocking (59.7).
Foreman had five carries for 16 yards and two catches for eight yards, earning strong pass blocking (72.4) and run game (72.1) grades. Herbert had nine carries for 27 yards and three catches for 37 yards, earning solid marks across the board in passing (72.6), pass blocking (65.8), run game (61.9) and run blocking (60.0). Meanwhile, Scott had two catches for 14 yards, where he earned a 66.0 passing grade.
Bottom 5 offense
- C Lucas Patrick – 43.2
- WR Chase Claypool – 43.2
- LG Cody Whitehair – 47.2
- RG Nate Davis – 48.6
- TE Cole Kmet – 55.5
Three of the Bears’ starting offensive linemen were among the lowest-graded players, which tells you everything you need to know about how the offensive line performed. Patrick was the lowest graded earning poor marks in pass blocking (50.7) and run blocking (45.5). Whitehair also struggled in pass protection (52.8) and run blocking (44.1). Davis, who missed most of the summer, was abysmal in pass protection (26.8) and wasn’t much better in run blocking (58.1).
Meanwhile, Claypool was nonexistent in Sunday’s game, catching zero passes on two targets. He didn’t look like he wanted to be out there. Claypool struggled across the board in passing (46.8), run blocking (31.0) and was slightly better in pass protection (61.6). Kmet, who finished with five catches for 44 yards, struggled as a blocker, earning a brutal 37.3 mark in pass protection and 44.4. mark in run blocking.
Top 5 defense
- NT Andrew Billings – 88.1
- S Eddie Jackson – 78.8
- DT Zacch Pickens – 75.6
- CB Tyrique Stevenson – 67.2
- CB Jaylon Johnson – 66.6
Billings earned the highest grade of any Bears player at 88.1, recording two tackles and one QB hit. He was a big part of Chicago’s encouraging run defense, which allowed 92 rushing yards. Billings was strong in run defense (79.5) and pass rush (74.8) but he was marked down in tackling (28.2). Jackson had four tackles and one pass breakup, where he earned strong marks in tackling (83.9), coverage (72.9) and run defense (71.6) but was marked down in pass rush (60.0).
A couple of defensive rookies also made the list with Pickens and Stevenson. Pickens was strong against the run, earning a 73.7 mark, but he struggled as a pass rusher with a 57.0 mark. Stevenson recorded six tackles, including one for a loss, and had a strong day in coverage (70.3). But he was marked down in tackling (49.1) and run defense (55.4). Johnson, who had three tackles, struggling in tackling (29.4) and run defense (55.3) but earned a higher coverage grade (69.5).
Bottom 5 defense
- DE Rasheem Green – 37.7
- DT Justin Jones – 45.9
- LB T.J. Edwards – 49.3
- DE DeMarcus Walker – 50.6
- LB Tremaine Edmunds – 51.2
Four new members of Chicago’s front seven were among the lowest-graded defensive players. Starting with linebackers Edmunds and Edwards, who were actually encouraging against the run. Edmunds, who had eight tackles including two for a loss, earned a strong 81.4 tackling mark and was strong against the run (66.3). But he was marked down in pass rush 56.) and coverage (42.7). Edmunds, who led the team with 14 tackles, also thrived as a tackler (74.0) and against the run (72.0). But he was also marked down as a pass rusher (43.6) and coverage (37.8).
Walker, who had two tackles, one for a loss and one QB hit, struggled as a tackler (26.2) and against the run (49.3) and was slightly better in coverage (60.0) and pass rush (61.9). Green, who recorded one tackle, was the lowest-graded defensive player. He had abysmal marks across the board in tackling (24.3), run defense (40.8) and pass rush (51.5). Meanwhile, Jones also struggled against the run (51.1) and as a pass rusher (49.0).
Other notables
- WR Darnell Mooney – 63.8
- LT Braxton Jones – 62.0
- QB Justin Fields – 60.9
- DE Yannick Ngakoue – 58.5
Fields had a rough outing against the Packers, which included a costly fumble and pick-six. But he actually had a higher grade (60.9) than Jordan Love (60.8). Fields completed 24-of-37 passes for 216 yards with one touchdown and that interception, as well as nine carries for 59 yards. Fields earned a high mark as a runner (82.0) but struggled as a passer (49.4). Mooney led the team with 53 receiving yards on four catches and was the recipient of Fields’ lone touchdown. Mooney earned a so-so mark in the passing game (63.9) and struggled as a run blocker (54.6).
Three of the starting offensive linemen were the lowest-graded players, but that wasn’t the case with Jones, despite some rough mistakes. Jones committed three penalties, including a couple of holding calls. He earned an impressive 89.9 pass blocking grade but struggled against the run (56.4) and in the passing game (28.7). Ngakoue recorded four tackles, including two for a loss, one sack and one QB hit. Ngakoue earned strong marks as a tackler (73.5) and against the run (66.0) but was marked down in pass rush (51.7) despite being the lone player to record a sack on Love.
