In newsrooms and men’s rooms and conference rooms around Chicagoland conclusions have been reached following the Bears 27-21 victory over the New York Giants. The Bears can’t play defense anymore. Dave Toub’s exodus to Kansas City has left the special teams units in shambles. The offense can’t put together four successive quarters. There are no question marks at the end of the diehard sports fan sentences. These are facts and they are indisputable.

Except they’re not.

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These are my first ever (I think) rapid first game notes taken during the game. Not usually my approach but we’re giving it ago…

FIRST QUARTER

• The turnover-or-bust defense was in full effect. Nice plays on the ball by Bowman and Jennings (for a touchdown) but allowing Brandon Jacobs to gash the defensive line and linebackers was disconcerting.
• Lance Briggs getting barreled on the Jacobs touchdown run was oddly sad.
• No pass rush outside the opening drive.
• Understand Marc Trestman’s approach on fourth down but always want the zero off the board as soon as possible. Why take a turnover and allow it to be a momentum builder for your opponent?
• Brilliant work by Cutler and Marshall on the second Bears drive. When these two are in sync they are arguably the most fun pair in football to watch work.
• Bears have had substitution issues this season. I’ll write it off to a new coaching staff until around November. Then I will yell about it.

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Three final thoughts on Bears vs. Giants tonight:

1. Must win for the Bears. If they lose to the 0-5 Giants their season will not be over but it will become very difficult to stay positive and mount a significant charge at the postseason. This is a game a title contender wins 30-10. This is a game a playoff contender wins 27-24. This is a game a mediocre team loses.
2. No David Wilson means I’d be shocked if the Giants muster anything in the run department. Without the Bears respecting the run, the Giants will be forced to throw into the cover-2 shell most of the evening. I expect Major Wright and Chris Conte to get their hands on some footballs.
3. Giants offensive line is in shambles. I’d be very surprised if Shea McClellin and Julius Peppers don’t deliver solid-or-better performances. If the Giants go to a max protect look it will limit their one offensive desire: throwing deep.

Bearing down. Hey, you never know.

DaBearsBlog’s own Jeff Hughes appears on 1490 the Jock in Des Moines, Iowa with Marty Tirrell and Trent Condon.

The Bears have lost two straight games and the Marc Trestman regime is now facing its first real scrutiny. They have gone from 3-0 to 3-2.

So, why do I like the Chicago Bears this week?

I always like the Chicago Bears.

BUT WHAT FOOTBALL REASONS, JEFF?

• The New York Giants are one of the proudest franchises in the NFL and deserve the respect of fan bases across the country. But right now they are an abysmal team. They are not just winless through five games. They have had their doors blown off on a weekly basis, surrendering the most points in the league. (They are actually four points clear of the Jacksonville Jaguars.)
• Giants turn the ball over more than anybody else in the league and the Bears are in the midst of a turnover drought. I would think this goes the Bears way Thursday night.
• Giants can’t cover either of the Bears wide receivers with their current corners.
• Giants linebackers and safeties – outside perhaps the halfway decent Antrel Rolle – should have an impossible time with a motivated Martellus Bennett and Matt Forte out of the backfield.
• Giants are allowing 126 yards a game on the ground and only rushing for 56.
• Bears will make starting fast a priority after slow starts in almost every game this season (including all three home games). A fast start, a double-digit first quarter lead, will end this game. Bad teams don’t rally on the road. They shut the windows and close down the shop.

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