Jaguars @ Bears
Final Score: Bears 35 – Jaguars 16
Writer: Zach Whetsel
In a clash of two “generational” QB talents, both actually showed up to play- save for a few boneheaded mistakes- but only one team around them decided to bring the juice as well. Unfortunately for Trevor Lawrence, his Jaguars look like the most uninspired team in football right now, and it left him too much to overcome. Doug Pederson shouldn’t even make it home from London at this point. Thankfully for the Bears, they get to heal up and ride today’s performance into a bye week before facing off against the Commanders. They can rest easy knowing they got the job done in dominant fashion today in London, becoming the first Bears team to put up 35+ points in back-to-back weeks since 2013. Is it safe to say that for the first time in Bears history they have a QB?
Three Up
- Caleb Williams – He really looked great today. I can’t skip over his one boneheaded interception in the first half- he arm punted the ball right to the safety- but aside from that mistake he had a pretty perfect day overall. He’s the first Bears rookie QB to throw 4 passing touchdowns in a game, with almost 60 yards rushing in the second quarter alone, and he had picture-perfect ball placement on both Keenan Allen touchdowns. It was a fun time watching him do what good players are meant to do against bad teams.
- Cole Kmet – Most of the fantasy community was out on Kmet as a TE coming into this season due to the quality receivers the Bears brought in to siphon targets away. What they didn’t expect, however, was how necessary he’s become to this team in key situations- he was even the emergency long-snapper today. He was just as reliable there as he’s been everywhere else this season. Kmet isn’t elite at anything, but he’s top-10 at everything, and Caleb is learning to love him as a reliable target. His role isn’t going away, even if he won’t catch two TDs every game.
- Keenan Allen – The Bears wanted Keenan involved in this game after a slow start to the season from the reliable vet. Last week I wrote that I didn’t expect him to be reliable week-to-week due to Odunze’s presence, but I figured he’d blow up at times if you could just predict when. This week was certainly a blow-up, and I have to say that Caleb seems to trust Allen’s savvy ability to come down with the ball in tight spaces more than any of his other targets. While Allen will still have his down weeks when the offense struggles, he’s clearly better than Rome for now and will get touches designed just for him and today seemed to show that Keenan Allen is the number two receiver in this offense when healthy, even if Rome will have some good weeks too.
Three Down
- Travis Etienne – Etienne has to be shaping up as one of the biggest fantasy bust picks of the season… he managed to score negative points on a day when he wasn’t even listed as injured until the third quarter when the game was already over. I’m not sure what’s going on with Doug Pederson’s usage of Etienne, but he was hardly in the game and didn’t make anything of his three carries when he was. The alarm bells were already sounding here but today it’s a full five-alarm emergency and it looks like the only hope might be a trade out of Jacksonville.
- Christian Kirk – Kirk played fine when he got the ball, but the guy thrives on short, quick completions, and it’s clear those are going to Engram now that he’s healthy again. Although Kirk secured more targets than Brian Thomas Jr still today, he’s no longer a focal point of this offense and is nearly worthless to fantasy managers moving forward. So much needs fixing on this squad before Kirk can become relevant again that it’s painful.
- Gabe Davis – As the only Jags WR that had an acceptable day, he should have had a much bigger one. He dropped a first-quarter touchdown that hit him in the numbers and then dropped another late in the game. Somehow he still came away with two TDs from completely separate drives, but we easily could have seen a four-score day out of Davis if he could just get out of his way a little. I don’t think I’ve ever been down on a receiver that scored two touchdowns in a game but it truly felt like he was conspiring against Trevor Lawrence at times today.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Quarterback
Trevor Lawrence: 23/35 passing, 234 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT | 4 carries, 17 yards
Although the interception was ugly, most of Trevor’s day was spent banging his head against the wall as he did his best to will his offense to success. This day was characterized by what won’t show up on the stat line for TLaw- SO MANY dropped touchdown passes from his offense. And they weren’t the ‘tough to catch’ excusable types, either. Gabe Davis and Brian Thomas shared in three of the most inexcusable dropped touchdowns I’ve seen in quite a while. Trevor had the stupid pick and underthrew an open deep ball… but this team is completely hapless right now and today’s performance was not even close to his fault.
Notes
- Trevor marched the team down the field on the first drive of the day, looking sharp and poised as he picked apart the backups playing today in the Bears’ secondary. He delivered quickly and accurately under pressure multiple times and even hit Gabe Davis with a nice throw for the first opening-drive touchdown the Jags have had in 10 weeks. Except, of course, that marked the beginning of the end, as Davis dropped it and they had to settle for a field goal. Trevor was handicapped after that for most of the game by his team’s insistence on running D’Ernest Johnson up the gut for two yards to start every drive, and it took until it was too late for the coaches to let him start slinging it again. Regardless, Trevor did his best. I truly felt for him out there.
Missed Opportunities
- Beyond the many, many dropped touchdowns (Trevor truly suffered 6 or 7 today), Trevor also had a nice drive going when Engram fumbled the ball early in the second half. The only big missed opportunity that fell on Trevor’s shoulders today would be the incompletion on a deep ball to BTJ: Thomas was wide open on busted coverage and Trevor inexplicably threw the ball 10 yards too short and forced Thomas to wait on it while the Bears linebacker caught up and broke things up. Really, though, aside from that mistake that was clearly on Trevor, there was a ton left on the table by the offense around him. He could have had a much, much better day stats-wise.
Mac Jones: 1/1 passing, 6 yards
Mac came in for the Jags’ last offensive drive after they waived the white flag. He completed one pass and then immediately got blown up for a sack on third down- it highlighted just how good Trevor was all day at skirting the pressure since Mac was a statue back there and got destroyed for it. Hopefully, Trevor doesn’t go down because Mac Jones quarterbacking this offense could get ugly pretty quickly.
Running Back
D’Ernest Johnson: 6 carries, 28 yards | 2/2 receiving, 16 yards
By the numbers, D’Ernest Johnson was the leadback today for the Jaguars. None of their RBs had good days, but it was truly baffling to see Johnson getting the carries on first down so often. Once, in the first half, he took a carry for a yard and then seemed shocked himself that he wasn’t being subbed out. I truly couldn’t tell you why he was used so much today even with Etienne being effectively benched, but his longest run was 13 yards (nearly half his production) and most of his touches went for negligible gains on early downs, putting the offense in bad positions to start their drives. It was a frustrating thing to watch and even six carries felt like entirely too many.
Tank Bigsby: 7 carries, 24 yards
I suppose the reason Johnson got his touches was because Bigsby was doing even less with his. But still, while Bigsby didn’t do anything special with his touches, he’s more talented than D’Ernest Johnson from what we’ve seen of their careers so far, so the personnel decisions just feel like a mystery to me on this one. Regardless, nothing good was happening in the Jaguars’ run game today, no matter which back was getting the touches. They were down too quickly and their line is too bad for any RB to have mattered. We’ll just have to hope for a better game script against the Patriots next week.
Travis Etienne: 3 carries, -1 yards | 0/1 receiving
It feels wrong putting Etienne down as the third back on this team, but that’s the way it sure does look coming out of this game. He wasn’t able to get anything going with the few touches he did get, and then in the third quarter they ruled him out with a hamstring. You’d think the Jags would want him in as their supposed best receiving back in a game where they were down early, but something is off here mentally and I think the team and the RB are nearing a divorce. They almost need to be, because neither party seems particularly happy with the other right now. Just a disappointment.
And to be clear, the hamstring came after his usage was already in the toilet. They are separate pieces of info in this conversation, and both plenty important to consider.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Evan Engram: 10/10 receiving, 102 yards, 1 fumble
Evan Engram, the prince of PPR, has returned. He’s still quick for a tight end, easily able to create separation, and will catch everything TLaw throws to him (something that is sorely needed in this offense). Engram’s fumble was disappointing and came at the end of a big play where the Jags were driving, but otherwise, he looked to be about the only competent receiver on the team today. Even if I don’t agree with the idea of designing the offense around getting him targets, the coaches seem intent on it, and he’ll capitalize. In a year where competent tight-end play has been so difficult to find, those that held Engram should feel vindicated. His role looks stable from last year.
Gabe Davis: 5/8 receiving, 45 yards, 2 TDs
For what looked like a solid day on the stat sheet, it was impressively disappointing in actuality. Gabe Davis somehow continues to get himself open and in a spot to contribute and yet so often fails to deliver. Today was much more frustrating for his teammates in real life than for fantasy owners of the receiver, and that usually doesn’t bode well for usage in the future, although I think his role is fairly well-defined and needed in this offense. I’m sure he’ll have more good games in him but I don’t want any part of the mess that he’s directly contributing to in Jacksonville this year. He should have caught 4 TDs today just from passes that hit him in the numbers. It’s frustrating even writing this… I couldn’t imagine being Trevor Lawrence and watching him drop those.
Brian Thomas Jr: 3/6 receiving, 27 yards
Unfortunately for the young rookie receiver, the poor performance is ultimately on him just as much as it is on anyone else. He could have salvaged his day late but dropped a surefire touchdown that *surprise* hit him right in the numbers. The drops were a plague on this offense in the red zone today. Either way, it was also quite frustrating to see him get quality looks on the first drive when the Jaguars moved down the field with ease, only to not get another look for what felt like two full quarters. BTJ was the ultimate loser today with the Jags moving through Engram- they play vastly different roles, but the offense wasn’t looking to BTJ at all to move the ball down the field. You’d just love to see them get him more involved throughout the game plan.
Notes
- There was also a missed deep ball that I addressed in Lawrence’s section that was entirely on Trevor. BTJ had a full 15 yards on the nearest defender and it would have been a surefire touchdown if Trevor had led him at all- instead, Lawrence threw it only to the 5-yard line, allowing the Bears to catch back up and get in between BTJ and the ball. He’s a big-play threat for sure, if Trevor can hit him.
Missed Opportunities
- On the dropped touchdown, I think he would have been helped by getting some purposeful involvement in the game plan from the coaches earlier on. BTJ hadn’t had a meaningful target in forever by the time that pass came his way, and while the drop is inexcusable, it also feels like the coaches dropped the ball today in not getting him more involved. I tend to think players make plays when they get more meaningful opportunities.
Christian Kirk: 3/6 receiving, 39 yards
In future weeks, I expect Kirk to lose the most in this offense. His short-range, chain-moving style is the most easily replaced by Engram, and they clearly like Engram more in Jacksonville. It’s unfortunate, because Kirk played fine today when he got the ball, but his targets were what they were and he didn’t do anything special. Without volume, Kirk will end up having a stat line like this more often than not, and the volume just isn’t going to be there.
Brenton Strange: 1/2 receiving, 11 yards
The backup tight end has returned to a backup role with Engram back in the lineup. Although he played fine in Engram’s stead, he did not do enough to establish a meaningful role as a regular target earner in this offense. Return him to the bench until and only if Engram gets hurt again.
Chicago Bears
Quarterback
Caleb Williams: 23/29 passing, 226 yards, 4 TDs, 1 INT | 4 carries, 56 yards
Caleb looks good. He demonstrated poise and confidence in the pocket, great accuracy on short and intermediate routes, and an impressive ability to make things happen on the run when needed. His arm-punt INT in the second quarter was a tough one to watch but it almost didn’t matter; aside from that one comically bad throw, his play was impeccable and the Bears looked like a much better team than the Jags today under his direction.
Notes
- I will also throw out that Caleb likes to hold onto the ball. It’s not that he’s afraid to pull the trigger, but he’ll hold it and try to let things develop if the receivers aren’t open on script. It often works, leading to an exciting scramble or running passes like one to Kmet to set up the Bears’ final touchdown, but it also doesn’t. And of course, when it doesn’t work, the sacks can be ugly. He got bailed out on at least one of those today due to penalties on the Jaguars’ defense, but better teams will take advantage. It’s not a bad trait, because when things are open he’s perfectly happy to throw the ball quickly and in rhythm, you just have to take the bad with the good and he will always try to make things happen even if they’re not there.
Missed Opportunities
- Caleb’s deep ball to DJ Moore was just bad. He may have thought the safety wasn’t coming over the top, but touch on those remains a slight concern. If he had led DJ Moore to the pylon instead of leaving the ball out along the numbers, he’d have completed it, but he just left it hanging far too long against an NFL safety and it was an easy pick. Caleb’s been quick to learn from his mistakes up to this point in his career, so the Bears will just have to hope that trend continues with the deep balls.
Running Back
D’Andre Swift: 17 carries, 91 yards, 1 TD | 4/4 receiving, 28 yards
Swift is looking like an every-week, key contributor on this offense. As we all know at this point, he’s not strong at the point of contact, but Waldron is starting to call plays much more to Swift’s strengths and Swift is looking better for it every week. Given a little room to work or some space to cut back, he’s perfectly capable of making defenders pay for underestimating his speed and shiftiness, and he’s a weapon as a receiving back. At the same time, I’ve never seen a running back hit a defender with a full head of steam and just bounce straight off of them to the ground. He’s the opposite of Derrick Henry in that regard. Expect OK weeks from Swift against good run defenses, as he can’t create tough yards for himself, but the good-to-great weeks should continue for him for a while considering the Bears’ upcoming schedule.
Roschon Johnson: 5 carries, 8 yards | 2/3 receiving, 25 yards
Roschon is not fast, nor is he particularly shifty, quick, or agile… but he’s a solid football player. He has surprisingly good hands, so the team is willing to go to him occasionally in the screen game or on dump-offs, and they tend to work. Furthermore, in short-yardage situations, he’s nothing if not dependable, so he gets meaningful work there. As I wrote last week, he’s not someone you can rely on to get consistent points week-to-week; he’s just not talented enough for that kind of role. However, there are worse options in a pinch because the Bears trust him as their RB2, and as long as the offense is humming, he should get some meaningful looks here and there.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Cole Kmet: 5/5 receiving, 70 yards, 2 TDs
Cole Kmet, TE1, WR1, and Longsnapper #1 for the Bears today. If this wasn’t a legacy game for the Chicago-area native, I’m not sure what would qualify. Kmet isn’t the guy who’s truly great at anything, but he’ll do everything asked of him and he’ll do it well. That’s just what the Bears needed from him today, as their long snapper hurt himself on their second punt of the day in the first quarter, and Kmet had to step into the role as the emergency backup. He proceeded to catch both of the Bears’ first two touchdown passes and complete the snaps for the extra points, securing himself a role in all 14 of the Bears’ first points on the day. It was a fun day to be Cole Kmet.
Notes
- Kmet is very friendly to a QB in his play style overall and has carved out a role as an every-game contributor for this offense. He’s smart about getting himself open on the scramble drill, catches everything that comes his way, and is a big target that’s always running full speed to get open- even if it’s not the fastest top-end speed. Caleb clearly has developed a rapport with Kmet at this point and his role is one that I’d expect to be fairly reliable all season long.
Keenan Allen: 5/5 receiving, 41 yards, 2 TDs
Caleb spread the ball around a ton today, but Allen was the reliable end-zone target that got the job done when it mattered most. Allen is a master at using his leverage and incredible hands to snag every ball that comes his way, and today was the first time it truly clicked between Allen and Williams. Both touchdown receptions were tough work that required pinpoint accuracy and great route-running to turn into completions- the type of plays where even though the Jags are bad, it could have been anyone defending Keenan and he’d have gotten his. Look for the chemistry between Allen and Caleb to continue growing, as Keenan is the perfect target to earn the tough yards in tight situations that Caleb needs as he grows. It was great to see them work it out today against a bad defense- against a good one, they’ll need to be clicking, as the easier yards won’t come.
Rome Odunze: 2/2 receiving, 40 yards
Rome did not seem to be a focus for the offense today, although he looked good when he did get his targets. Both were tough catches in tight windows that Rome did his job in bringing in. Of course, you’d like to see him more involved moving forward, especially since he was a top-10 pick and was billed as the third jewel in one of the best wide receiver classes in recent memory, but his time will come. For now, he’s certainly a little less polished than Keenan Allen and isn’t quite the physical freak that DJ Moore manages to be, so he’ll spend some weeks waiting in the wings. Regardless, it’s encouraging that Rome looked good with the couple of targets he had, and his time will certainly come.
DJ Moore: 4/5 receiving, 20 yards
Who’d have thought after last week that DJ Moore would be the fourth option on this offense today, yardage-wise? He was close to connecting on the deep ball that Caleb left hanging too long for his INT, and that would have taken Moore’s day from a bust to solid, but otherwise, he was only targeted on plays that are more meaningful football-wise than for fantasy. Some weeks may just be that way, as Caleb is happy to spread the ball around to whoever is open but expect DJ Moore to get his more often than not. He’s still the #1 in this offense, and weeks like this will likely be rare as the season goes on.
Notes
- DJ did go into the medical tent in the second half, with an injury that looked like it could be concerning. Thankfully, he returned shortly after with full clearance from the medical staff. It shouldn’t be an issue, but keep an eye on the medical report this week just in case.
Marcedes Lewis: 1/1 receiving, 2 yards
Lewis converted a first down on a play where he used his old-man strength and stretched out over the line to gain late in the game today. He’s old, over 40, and still kicking. Not fantasy-relevant though, and neither is the Bears’ other backup tight end, Gerald Everett. They love Kmet in this offense but neither of these guys could serve as fantasy starters even if Kmet went down.