The Chicago Bears (0-2) were defeated by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-0), 27-17, where Chicago dropped to 12 straight losses dating back to last season.
Pro Football Focus handed out player grades for those who took a snap in the Bears’ Week 2 loss (minimum 15 reps), and we broke them down by offense and defense, analyzing the three highest- and lowest-graded players on each side, as well as some other notable performers.
Buy Bears TicketsThere were a few surprises — and then some not surprises — in terms of the highest- and lowest-graded players, both on offense and defense. Here’s a look:
Top 3 offense
- RB Khalil Herbert – 84.0
- TE Cole Kmet – 77.3
- WR DJ Moore – 76.9
Herbert saw limited action as a runner, but he made the most of his opportunities. Herbert had seven carries for 35 yards (5.0 average) and added one reception for 23 yards. He earned an impressive 88.2 mark in the run game, as well as solid marks in pass protection (77.8) and the passing game (66.2). Kmet had a solid outing with four catches for 38 yards. He earned high marks in passing (80.7) and pass blocking (71.4). Moore saw more action than he did in the season opener, where he led the team with six catches for 104 yards. That earned him a solid 75.7 passing mark.
Bottom 3 offense
- TE Robert Tonyan – 41.0
- RG Ja’Tyre Carter – 48.5
- WR Trent Taylor – 51.7
Tonyan was the lowest-graded player on offense for Chicago. Tonyan had zero catches on two targets. While he earned a strong mark in pass protection (66.3), he struggled in the passing (52.0) and run blocking (35.3) department. Carter got the start at right guard in place of Nate Davis, who missed the game due to a death in the family. But Carter, like most of the offensive line, struggled. Carter was so-so in pass protection, allowing two pressures but zero sacks, earning a 62.5 mark. But he struggled in run blocking (41.5). Taylor saw some action on offense, but he didn’t make it into the box score. He earned a 52.3 passing mark and 60.0 run blocking mark.
Top 3 defense
- LB Tremaine Edmunds – 76.9
- DT Andrew Billings – 76.7
- DE Dominique Robinson – 74.4
Edmunds led the Bears with 16 total tackles, and he was the highest-graded defensive player with a minimum of two snaps. Edmunds earned strong marks in run defense (75.2) and coverage (69.8) but was marked down in tackling (61.3) and pass rush (55.0). Billings had two tackles, including one tackle for loss. He earned an impressive 90.5 pass rush mark and was also marked up in coverage (69.3). But Billings was marked down in tackling (29.7) and run defense (55.6). Robinson recorded one tackle and one pass breakup. He earned solid marks across the board in tackling (69.2), coverage (67.1), pass rush (64.3) and run defense (61.3).
Bottom 3 defense
- DE Yannick Ngakoue – 35.1
- CB Tyrique Stevenson – 36.1
- DT Zacch Pickens – 46.5
Ngakoue had a brutal showing against the Buccaneers, where he missed some sack opportunities on Baker Mayfield, and he was the lowest-graded defensive player. Ngakoue totaled two tackles, earning low marks in tackling (23.1), run defense (45.8) and pass rush (47.0). Stevenson, who totaled seven tackles, had another rough showing in his rookie season as the second-lowest graded defensive player. He earned a strong tackling mark (79.8) but was marked down in coverage (36.2) and run defense (42.8). Meanwhile, Pickens, who had two tackles, struggled with tackling (28.6), run defense (49.3) and pass rush (54.3).
Other notables
- QB Justin Fields – 52.3
- WR Chase Claypool – 66.4
- LB T.J. Edwards – 74.3
- CB Greg Stroman Jr. – 68.1
Fields had another brutal outing, where he failed to hit open receivers and held the ball too long, which led to sacks. He completed 16-of-29 passes for 211 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions, including a costly pick-6, and was sacked six times. Fields earned a rough 49.1 passing grade but was marked up with a 68.6 run grade, although he only had four rushes for three yards and a touchdown. Claypool bounced back after a rough season opener, catching three passes for 36 yards, including a 20-yard touchdown. He earned solid marks in passing (68.2) and run blocking (65.3).
Edwards had the second-most tackles with 12, and he was one of the higher-grading defensive players. He earned strong marks in coverage (73.2), run defense (67.6) and tackling (65.4) but was marked down in pass rush (58.3). Stroman stepped in for the injured Kyler Gordon (IR) and Josh Blackwell at nickel cornerback, and he did fairly well. He had seven tackles, including one for a loss. Stroman earned solid marks in tackling (80.7), coverage (76.3) and run defense (74.6) but was marked down in pass rush (48.7).
