What a difference one week can make in the narrative surrounding a player’s season. We’re witnessing this in real-time with Bears wide receiver Anthony Miller.
In Week 1, Miller was a hero after securing a game-winning 27-yard touchdown from Mitch Trubisky with less than two minutes remaining. He put the Bears on top of the Lions, 27-23, for what was Chicago’s first opening-weekend win since 2013.
Miller wasn’t as clutch on Sunday. In fact, he dropped what looked like a nearly identical throw from Trubisky for what would’ve been another touchdown and kept the game out of reach for the Giants, who nearly stole the game from the Bears in the second half.
1. Mitch Trubisky still isn't where the #Bears need him to be.
That said, his start to 2020 is encouraging. He has 5 TD passes to just 2 INTs.
The noteworthy thing is he should have at least 6 TD passes. He's delivered some impressive balls that weren't caught this year. pic.twitter.com/8PwRbSsRCJ
— Erik Lambert (@ErikLambert1) September 21, 2020
The Bears held on to win, 17-13, in ugly fashion. But Miller’s multi-drop game changed the outlook of his season, at least in the eyes of fantasy football pundits. He was listed as a player to cut by Pro Football Focus.
“Miller had a surprisingly good performance in Week 1 despite limited playing time with four catches for 76 yards and a touchdown,” PFF’s Nathan Jahnke wrote. “This week was more discouraging — the Bears used more two-tight-end sets, which Miller almost never plays in. He finished seventh among skill players in snaps and had three targets and no catches. It’s hard to find a scenario where you could trust starting Miller in most leagues.”
Sure, PFF’s breakdown of Miller’s letdown was more about the way the Bears used him than his inability to take advantage of his opportunities. Sometimes, drops like Miller’s in Week 2 can reduce the confidence a quarterback and coaching staff have in a player. And maybe it’s that reduced confidence that was the culprit for Miller’s fewer chances to make plays.
Regardless of the ‘why,’ Miller has to take that developmental step now in Year 3 from a player with immense potential to a professional wide receiver who can be trusted in any situation.
He was that guy in Week 1. In Sunday’s win against the Giants, he was anything but.