Bears fall to Colts in defensive struggle, suffer first loss of season
The Bears were unable to put together a touchdown drive until late in their eventual loss to the Colts. (Credit: Colin Boyle/IndyStar via Imagn Content Services, LLC)

Bears fall to Colts in defensive struggle, suffer first loss of season


by - Senior Writer -

CHICAGO — Suffering their first loss of the season, the Chicago Bears (3-1) failed to score a touchdown until they were inside the two-minute warning of the second half on Sunday. The Indianapolis Colts (3-1) came into Soldier Field and earned a 19-11 victory in a Week 4 matchup defined by defensive stops and field goals.

Nick Foles made his first start at quarterback as a Bear after leading his squad on a second-half comeback in Week 3. Unfortunately for Foles, he failed to replicate his magic from the previous week, as the Colts' defense held Foles and the Bears' offense in check for most of the game. Furthermore, Chicago tallied a measly 28 rushing yards in their first outing since Tarik Cohen went down for the year.


Play-by-Play Summary:


First Half:


Bears, punt: The game kicked off at 3:25 p.m. CDT after being rescheduled from a noon CDT kickoff in order to compensate for the New England Patriots-Kansas City Chiefs matchup being postponed due to COVID-19 concerns. On the first possession of the contest, the Bears converted one first down before having to punt, and the punt was tipped, resulting in the Colts taking over near midfield.

Drive: 5 plays, 17 yards, 3:17

Score: Colts 0, Bears 0


Colts, touchdown: Starting the drive at their own 47, the Colts marched 53 yards to the end zone. Roy Robertson-Harris sacked Philip Rivers on the Colts' first play from scrimmage, but pass interference called on Chicago resulted in an Indianapolis first down on the next snap. The Colts then got called for holding, but Rivers went on to find Zach Pascal for a 36-yard gain on third-and-9. On third-and-5 at the Chicago 13, Rivers connected with Mo Alie-Cox for a 13-yard touchdown, giving Rivers 401 touchdown passes in his career.

Drive: 6 plays, 53 yards, 3:35

Score: Colts 7, Bears 0


Bears, punt: Foles completed two straight passes for a first down, but the Bears were forced to punt soon afterward.

Drive: 5 plays, 15 yards, 2:25

Score: Colts 7, Bears 0


Colts, punt: The Colts went three-and-out.

Drive: 3 plays, 5 yards, 0:49

Score: Colts 7, Bears 0


Bears, punt: Solid field position after the punt led to Chicago advancing into Indianapolis territory before stalling out.

Drive: 6 plays, 19 yards, 3:17

Score: Colts 7, Bears 0


Colts, punt: Pat O'Donnell pinned the Colts deep with a solid punt. After starting at their own 7-yard line, the Colts benefited from Nyheim Hines picking up back-to-back first downs. Hines reeled off a 12-yard gain on the ground and then converted a screen pass into a 15-yard pickup. The Bears forced the Colts to punt, though.

Drive: 5 plays, 31 yards, 2:18

Score: Colts 7, Bears 0


Bears, field goal: After taking over deep in their own territory, the Bears drove into field goal range. Darnell Mooney began the possession with a leaping 33-yard catch. Allen Robinson proceeded to pick up 27 yards after Foles found him over the middle. Foles and David Montgomery teamed up on a 17-yard pass play that moved the Bears into the red zone for the first time. The Colts held the Bears to a field goal, with Cairo Santos chipping in a 27-yarder to put Chicago on the scoreboard. Robinson surpassed 5,000 career receiving yards on the possession.

Drive: 9 plays, 84 yards, 4:55

Score: Colts 7, Bears 3


Colts, field goal: The Colts answered the Bears' field goal with one of their own. A pass interference call and a horse collar penalty went against the Bears and helped the Colts reach the red zone. An interception on second-and-goal got called back, as Roquan Smith was out of bounds when making the pick off a tipped pass in the end zone. The Colts had to settle for three, thanks to the Bears' goal line stand, and Rodrigo Blankenship made a 21-yarder.

Drive: 14 plays, 67 yards, 5:37

Score: Colts 10, Bears 3


Bears, punt: On third-and-10 Foles nearly completed a deep pass to Cordarrelle Patterson. Foles' left leg was rolled into by an Indianapolis defender. Thankfully, Foles was able to walk it off. The Bears punted after going three-and-out.

Drive: 3 plays, 0 yards, 1:42

Score: Colts 10, Bears 3


Colts, field goal: Patterson inexplicably took his helmet off to argue with an official at the end of the Colts' punt return, and he was flagged for it, thus giving the Colts solid field position. Kyle Fuller committed pass interference while covering T.Y. Hilton at the Chicago 10-yard line. Once again, the Colts were forced to settle for a short field goal, with Blankenship making a 30-yarder with six seconds remaining in the first half. Brent Urban forced the field goal by sacking Rivers on third-and-goal.

Drive: 8 plays, 43 yards, 1:59

Score: Colts 13, Bears 3


Bears, end of half: Foles kneeled to usher in halftime.

Drive: 1 play, -1 yard, 0:06

Score: Colts 13, Bears 3


Second Half:


Colts, punt: The Bears stuffed Jordan Wilkins in the backfield for a loss on third-and-short, forcing a punt.

Drive: 3 plays, 6 yards, 2:10

Score: Colts 13, Bears 3


Bears, punt: Foles was sacked by Justin Houston on the Bears' first play of the second half, and a punt soon followed.

Drive: 3 plays, -3 yards, 1:45

Score: Colts 13, Bears 3


Colts, punt: The slow start to the third quarter continued, as the Colts went three-and-out.

Drive: 3 plays, 0 yards, 0:57

Score: Colts 13, Bears 3


Bears, punt: Jimmy Graham hauled in an 11-yard catch, and the Bears caught a break on the next play, as a fumble ruling was overturned and changed to an incomplete pass. Robinson was hit while in the process of making a catch, and the Colts, who recovered what was initially ruled a fumble, did not take possession. Anthony Miller moved the chains with a 12-yard reception, but the Bears were again forced to punt.

Drive: 8 plays, 33 yards, 4:02

Score: Colts 13, Bears 3


Colts, field goal: Rivers connected with Hilton and Marcus Johnson for gains of 13 and 27 yards, respectively. Wilkins broke free for a 16-yard gain after catching a short pass. The Colts never quite entered the red zone, and Blankenship connected on a 44-yarder.

Drive: 10 plays, 54 yards, 5:11

Score: Colts 16, Bears 3


Bears, punt: On third-and-1, Patterson lost a yard on an unsuccessful rush attempt early in the fourth quarter.

Drive: 3 plays, 8 yards, 1:49

Score: Colts 16, Bears 3


Colts, punt: The Bears' defense was able to force a quick punt.

Drive: 3 plays, 3 yards, 1:05

Score: Colts 16, Bears 3


Bears, interception: Bears head coach Matt Nagy opted to go for it on fourth-and-2 from the Bears' 28, and the gamble paid off, as a deep pass near the sideline to Montgomery drew a flag for pass interference on the Colts. A few plays later, Montgomery picked up six yards on a third-down carry that kept the drive alive. On third-and-10 at the Colts' 26, Foles' pass went through the hands of Miller and into the arms of Julian Blackmon for an interception.

Drive: 9 plays, 54 yards, 2:02

Score: Colts 16, Bears 3


Colts, field goal: Blackmon's interception return resulted in Indianapolis taking over at its own 22-yard line. Jonathan Taylor and Hines combined for multiple pivotal rushes on the drive. Rivers made one of his signature side-armed throws to former Bear Trey Burton on a third-down conversion, and the Colts forced the Bears to use two timeouts en route to Blankenship making a 30-yarder with 3:47 left on the game clock.

Drive: 13 plays, 66 yards, 7:12

Score: Colts 19, Bears 3


Bears, touchdown: The Bears took advantage of the Colts playing prevent defense and pulled off a 90-yard touchdown drive in a little over two minutes. Robinson made a solid catch for a 22-yard gain during the possession and capped off the drive with a leaping 16-yard touchdown grab. Robinson elevated over his defender in the end zone and came down with the football in his grasp. On the ensuing two-point conversion, Montgomery punched it in on the ground.

Drive: 8 plays, 90 yards, 2:12

Score: Colts 19, Bears 11


Colts, downs: Santos' onside kick was easily recovered by the Colts, who were able to run out the clock. Rivers kneeled on fourth down as time expired, handing the Bears their first loss of the season.

Drive: 4 plays, -3 yards, 1:35

Final Score: Colts 19, Bears 11


Statistical Breakdown:

Chicago Bears: 1st Downs: 16; Total Plays: 59; Total Yards: 269; Total Drives: 11; Yards per Play: 4.6; Passing Yards: 241; Rushing Yards: 28; Red Zone: 1-2; Penalties: 8-103; Turnovers: 1; Defensive/Special Teams TDs: 0; Time of Possession: 27:32

Indianapolis Colts: 1st Downs: 18; Total Plays: 68; Total Yards: 289; Total Drives: 11; Yards per Play: 4.2; Passing Yards: 186; Rushing Yards: 103; Red Zone: 1-4; Penalties: 8-76; Turnovers: 0; Defensive/Special Teams TDs: 0; Time of Possession: 32:28


"Bear Down" Team MVPs:

Passing: Nick Foles (QB): 26/42, 249 YDS, 5.9 AVG, 1 TD, 1 INT, 1-8 SACK, 76.4 RTG

Rushing: David Montgomery (RB): 10 CAR, 27 YDS, 2.7 AVG, 0 TD, 6 LONG

Receiving: Allen Robinson (WR): 7 REC, 101 YDS, 14.4 AVG, 1 TD, 27 LONG, 10 TGTS

Defense: Roquan Smith (LB): 13 TOT, 11 SOLO, 0 SACKS, 3 TFL, 0 PD, 0 QB HITS, 0 TD

Special Teams: Cordarrelle Patterson (KR): 3 NO, 65 YDS, 21.7 AVG, 26 LONG, 0 TD


Up Next: Following a short turnaround, the Bears will battle the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-1) on Thursday, Oct. 8. The Week 5 matchup at Soldier Field will likely feature a quarterback rematch from Super Bowl LII, with Foles primed to battle Tom Brady under the bright lights. The game will kick off at 7:20 p.m. CDT. Expect a cool, clear night with light winds in Chicago. The Bears lead the all-time series with the Bucs 39-20 and won the previous matchup, which took place in 2018, 48-10.


Highlights:

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