Heading into rookie quarterback Tyson Bagent’s first NFL start, we knew the Chicago Bears were going to tailor the offensive game plan toward his strengths. That meant quick throws and letting the receivers make the plays.
Bagent was efficient in his debut, completing 21 of 29 passes for 162 yards and a touchdown. Chicago’s ground game set the tone for the day, with running back D’Onta Foreman carrying the ball 16 times for 89 yards and two touchdowns. He added another touchdown in the passing game, as well.
Bagent did well mixing in his receivers, but the most surprising was that tight end Cole Kmet was not targeted once in the game. It marked the first time since Sept. 27, 2020, that the Notre Dame product was not targeted, which also happened to be his first NFL start.
Kmet recently sat down with CHGO and talked about how different the game plan going in was from the final result.
“Based on the game plan, I was like, ‘I’m going to get a crap-ton of balls thrown at me,'” he said. “It’s funny how things work. You get into the flow of the game, and you’re like, ‘Ok, we’re beating them to a pulp, just keep running the ball.’ (Bagent) was doing the quick throws, that’s just what was working.”
What you saw with Tyson Bagent Sunday wasn’t necessarily the full game plan, Cole Kmet hints. 👀
Full show with Cole: https://t.co/8lhkMgO5E1 pic.twitter.com/8MLhU2Kx3r
— CHGO Bears (@CHGO_Bears) October 25, 2023
Head coach Matt Eberflus noted on Monday that quarterback Justin Fields is “doubtful” to play in Week 8 against the Los Angeles Chargers. All signs point toward Bagent getting his second consecutive start.
Might the Bears open the playbook a little more?
“I think it kind of depends on how (the Chargers) play us a little bit,” Kmet said. “We’re going to want to go into the game and run the rock. I think that’s going to stay consistent. Hopefully, we can just pound for five yards a carry. That’d be awesome. We’ll see where it goes.
“I’m sure they’ll make adjustments off the tape that Tyson’s got and try some things at him. I think all-in-all, the philosophy is going to stay primarily the same.”
The Chargers passing game is averaging 252.3 yards per game, good for the eighth-most in the NFL after the first seven weeks.
Quarterback Justin Herbert has been playing with a fractured middle finger and has just 653 passing yards over the last three weeks, marking the fewest he’s had in any three-game span in his career. He also has four interceptions in that span, again, marking the most he’s had in any three-game span.
That said, the Oregon standout is among the league’s best quarterbacks, so there is some expectation that Bagent will need to take more chances against the Chargers defense, a group that is allowing 310.0 passing yards per game, the most in the NFL.