In the long-awaited first preseason game for the Bears, they rallied back from an early lead by the Dolphins to win 20-13 with help from rookie quarterback Justin Fields. This game was probably the most anticipated preseason game for a lot of fans, especially Bears fans. A lot of hype came from the anticipation of this year’s rookie class, and they didn’t disappoint.
The first half was lackluster, to say the least. Quarterback Andy Dalton started the game and had two drives with the Bears that resulted in three-and-outs. The first half got off to a slow start due to penalties and poor separation from receivers. Once the rookie (Fields) entered the huddle, it seemed like the energy was uplifted and the offense started moving, a lot due to his mobility. On a positive note, the Bears probably had the best third-quarter football they’ve played since the Matt Nagy era, scoring 14 points with Fields under center.
On the defensive side of the ball, the pass rush got after it today but was unable to come away with any sacks against Miami’s first-team offense. Safety DeAndre Houston-Carson did, however, come away with an interception on Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, which was ultimately dunked in the “takeaway bucket.” The second half for the defense was similar to the offense as they played better. They didn’t allow any points and recorded three sacks. With this being Sean Desai’s first game as a defensive coordinator, it was encouraging as players, for the most part, were put in a position to succeed.