DeAndre Baker catches a break, Corey Ballentine does not

Baker’s issues coming into the game were well known, but the Bears chose to basically stay away from him and picked on another rookie instead. Janoris Jenkins played all 76 defensive snaps but Baker, the other starter at corner, played only 48. He shared time with Sam Beal, but Ballentine played 64 snaps. The Bears decided to test Ballentine and found success several times.

“I don’t know that,” said head coach Pat Shurmur when it was suggested the Bears were targeting Ballentine. “You’d have to ask them that. Everybody’s got to cover their guy.”

The Bears’ four longest pass plays came at the expense of Ballentine, all late in the third quarter and all on either first or second down.

(9:44) M.Trubisky pass deep right to A.Robinson to NYG 45 for 49 yards (C.Ballentine).
(12:19) (Shotgun) M.Trubisky pass deep middle to A.Robinson for 32 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
(14:14) M.Trubisky pass deep left to A.Robinson to NYG 37 for 23 yards (C.Ballentine).
(9:02) (No Huddle, Shotgun) M.Trubisky pass deep left to A.Miller to NYG 23 for 22 yards (C.Ballentine).

Ballentine also allowed a 14-yard gain to Anthony Miller in the second quarter.

“You just keep battling, keep fighting,” said Shurmur. “Unfortunately, there’s plays that are made on you throughout the game, then you just keep fighting to keep them out of the end zone, which we did a pretty decent job of for the most part. You just keep fighting. The young players just keep playing.”

Ballentine kept battling, but lost most of the time. He did lead the Giants in tackles with nine (eight solo), but was not credited with a pass defensed.