Tag: Cole Kmet

WATCH: Bears TE Marcedes Lewis scores TD vs. Cardinals

Marcedes Lewis caught a touchdown for the Chicago Bears. It’s a Christmas miracle.

39-year old Marcedes Lewis caught a touchdown for the Chicago Bears. It’s a Christmas miracle.

The Bears are pouring it on the Arizona Cardinals on Christmas Eve and scored their third touchdown of the day, a dart from Justin Fields to Lewis in the back of the end zone. Fields bought time in the pocket, allowing Lewis to peel off his defender for the easy score.

This is Lewis’ first touchdown of his 18th season in the league. The score was set up thanks to another big connection from Fields to tight end Cole Kmet, who has his first 100-yard receiving game of his career while dealing with a quad injury.

Near the end of the first half, the Bears lead the Cardinals 21-7.

WATCH: Bears QB Justin Fields scores rushing TD vs. Cardinals

Move over, Santa Claus. Justin Fields is the one delivering presents to Chicago Bears fans this Christmas Eve.

Move over, Santa Claus. Justin Fields is the one delivering presents to Chicago Bears fans this Christmas Eve. The Bears quarterback got the scoring started against the Arizona Cardinals with a three-yard touchdown run to put the Bears up 7-0. Fields dropped back to pass, and when he didn’t find anyone open, he took it upon himself to get into the end zone.

The scoring drive was set up thanks to a big connection from Fields to tight end Cole Kmet. Fields scrambled and threw up a heave to Kmet, who came down with the 53-yard catch, the longest reception of his career. With DJ Moore banged up on the first drive, the Bears offense needed to adjust, and they were successful.

Near the end of the first quarter, the Bears lead Arizona 7-0.

Bears TE Cole Kmet expected to play, RB D’Onta Foreman out vs. Cardinals

There’s good and bad news for the Bears offense ahead of Sunday’s matchup against the Cardinals.

The Chicago Bears are gearing up for a Christmas Eve showdown against the Arizona Cardinals, where there are some notable updates about the statuses of two important offensive contributors.

Tight end Cole Kmet has been battling a quad injury this week, and he was dubbed questionable for Sunday. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Kmet is expected to play against the Cardinals, giving quarterback Justin Fields one of his most dependable weapons.

Unfortunately, the Bears will be without running back D’Onta Foreman, who’s been dealing with a personal matter this week. Foreman has established himself as Chicago’s top running back this season, and the offense will certainly miss him. Luckily, they’ve got two capable backs in Khalil Herbert and rookie Roschon Johnson to shoulder the load.

The Bears and Cardinals kick things off at 3:25 p.m. CT at Soldier Field, where Chicago is looking to get back in the win column after last week’s brutal loss to the Cleveland Browns.

WATCH: Bears DB Eddie Jackson gets interception vs. Browns

Eddie Jackson gets his first interception of the season in a big moment against the Browns.

It was only a matter of time until Chicago Bears safety Eddie Jackson got himself an interception this season, and it came at the perfect time against the Cleveland Browns. The Browns were backed up in their own territory when quarterback Joe Flacco threw a duck while under pressure that landed right in the hands of Jackson. The veteran defensive back set up his blockers and took the ball all the way down to the one-yard line.

Jackson nearly had his first defensive touchdown since the 2020 season but was stopped just short. Fortunately, the Bears were able to convert after a stressful goal line series, culminating with a touchdown from Justin Fields to Cole Kmet to take the 7-0 lead. Cleveland responded, however, to tie things up at 7-7 near the end of the first half.

How the Bears’ thrilling 4th-and-13 touchdown came together

The Bears never intended to snap the ball on 4th-and-13…until the Lions gift wrapped them a free play.

The Chicago Bears felt destined to blow another lead to the Detroit Lions in the third quarter of Sunday’s divisional matchup. After leading 10-0 in the first quarter, the NFC North foes were deadlocked at 13-13 in the final minutes of the third quarter.

The Bears needed a spark on offense. And all it took was the dynamic duo of Justin Fields and DJ Moore (with a little help from the Lions).

Facing a fourth-and-13 from Detroit’s 38-yard line, Chicago’s offense lined up as if they were going to run a play. But it felt like they were trying to get the Lions to jump offsides to make a Cairo Santos field goal attempt easier.

Instead, Lions edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson jumped offsides — and the rest is history.

Fields dropped back and fired a deep shot to Moore, who caught it in stride for the game-changing touchdown.

“When he jumped, I was like, ‘Shoot, I’m out,’ and it was like, ‘meep meep,'” Moore told reporters after the game.

It’s crazy that we almost didn’t get to see what could develop into a turning point for the Bears this season, as the play wasn’t supposed to happen.

Tight end Cole Kmet admitted he was “shocked” that they actually ran a play, when there was no intent to snap the ball. But the Bears were ready when the Lions gave them a free shot.

“Fourth-and-13, hell of a cadence,” Kmet said. “I thought no way in hell are they jumping… If they do jump, we all know what we’re getting to. But it was fourth-and-13, and we’re at the 938-yard line). That’s prime take-a-delay (time).”

While the play itself might have been a surprise, Fields said it wasn’t a challenge given it’s something they’ve prepared for every week.

“We practice it multiple times a week,” Fields said. “We’re used to it. Might have happened like three times this week during practice and walk-throughs. Like I said, we practice it. It happens every week, and the guys are ready for it, and we executed it. It ended up being a big play.”

Cole Kmet said Bears only snapped ball on a long TD because Aidan Hutchinson shockingly jumped offsides

The Bears weren’t going to snap the ball on a TD until Aidan Hutchinson intervened.

Sometimes, as their 2023 season reaches its end stages, the Chicago Bears win in spite of themselves. Heck, sometimes they might only win because the opponent literally forces them to.

In the middle of a Bears’ 28-13 blowout win over the Detroit Lions, a critical 38-yard touchdown (on a fourth and 13!) from Justin Fields to D.J. Moore might have been the breaking point. And it probably never happens if Aidan Hutchinson doesn’t jump offsides on a play where the Bears had zero intention of snapping the ball.

Wait, what?

That is correct. According to Chicago tight end Cole Kmet, the Bears had no intention of snapping the ball on a fourth and long. They were just trying to draw someone offside. Understandable. There aren’t many smart plays for fourth and long. But Kmet thought that there was no chance the Lions would come early on that down and distance. Hutchinson proved him wrong, and the rest was history.

Talk about a real lack of discipline from Hutchinson in a pivotal situation. This costly mistake may as well have permanently flipped the game in Chicago’s favor. No wonder the Lions have lost two of their last three games in convincing fashion.

Cole Kmet hints Bears’ game plan could look similar against Chargers

Bears TE Cole Kmet indicated the offensive philosophy is “going to stay primarily the same” vs. the Chargers.

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.”

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.

Fantasy football start ’em, sit ’em: Week 6

Check out these starts and sits for fantasy football in Week 6.

As the fantasy football season rages on into the heart of the campaign, managers continue to face crucial start/sit decisions as it pertains to their lineups.

Fortunately, only two teams have the week off. Teams on a bye in Week 6 include the Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers.

Doing start/sit articles can be a little challenging. The players featured on the list below should not be taken as “must starts” or “must sits.” Instead, these are more suggestions on what we believe managers should do with fringe players heading into the weekend. The choice is ultimately up to the manager.

Just because a player is listed as a “start” doesn’t mean he should be put in the lineup over the secure, bona fide studs. Vice versa for the “sits.” If there’s no better option on the waiver wire or the bench, a manager shouldn’t automatically sit the player. That’s why these can be tricky waters to navigate.

Feel free to ask any specific start/sit questions via X, formerly Twitter, (@KevinHickey11) or check out our player projections for Week 6:

5 keys to a Bears victory over the Vikings in Week 6

The Bears take on the Vikings looking for their second straight win. Here are five keys to a Chicago victory.

The Chicago Bears are gearing up to host the rival Minnesota Vikings in Week 6, and it’s a tale of two 1-4 teams who have drastically different outlooks on their seasons.

Chicago is coming off a statement win against the Washington Commanders on Thursday Night Football, which saw quarterback Justin Fields throw four touchdown passes, and the team is nearly at full strength as key players return from injury.

Minnesota, on the other hand, is falling well short of expectations following a 13-4 2022 campaign. And their most recent loss to the Chiefs was only made things worse when perennial All-Pro receiver Justin Jefferson was placed on injured reserve this week. The Vikings are wounded, and they’re looking at the Bears as a real Viking would look at his prey after starving for days.

Despte the loss of Jefferson, the purple and gold will not give up the win easily. Chicago needs to succeed in five key categories in order to take down their divisional foe from the snow-capped north of Minnesota.

Let’s break down the five keys to a Bears victory against the Vikings in Week 6.

Good, bad and ugly from Bears’ Week 5 win over the Commanders

The Bears got its first win of the season against the Commanders. We break down the (mostly) good, bad and ugly from the victory.

It’s been a couple of days since the Chicago Bears’ triumphant victory over the Washington Commanders on Thursday Night Football, and victory has never tasted sweeter.

Quarterback Justin Fields now has a two-game sample size of elite play, the offense is firing on all cylinders, and the defense actually stood its ground and didn’t allow a miraculous comeback victory two weeks in a row. The Chicago faithful now get to enjoy a full slate of football knowing that their team has done its job.

Before all the exciting action kicks off tomorrow, let’s wax poetic about what the Bears did right in Week 5, and where they can improve with the extra time off this week.

Let’s break down the good, bad and ugly in the Bears Week 5 win over the Commanders.