The bad news Bears got trampled in Arizona, where Chicago was thoroughly thrashed by the Cardinals, 29-9, on Sunday at State Farm Stadium. The ugly defeat demoted the Bears to an uncertain 4-4 record, throwing the team’s postseason aspirations into the air.
The notion that the Bears would work off the rust that impeded their production last week was quickly disproven. The game proved to be a defensive battle soon after kickoff, with both offenses punting on their first few drives. Arizona was first to break the deadlock, with tight end Trey McBride taking the end-around handoff at the two-yard line and outmuscling Bears safety Kevin Byard for the touchdown. The Cardinals held an early 7-0 lead as the first quarter expired.
Chicago cut into that lead one field goal at a time. Reliable kicker Cairo Santos knocked through a short field goal following Arizona’s scoring drive, and the Bears’ defense ensured they’d have another crack at overtaking their opponent. Rookie cornerback Reddy Steward took full advantage of his extended playing time, coming up behind fellow rookie receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. and performed Chicago’s signature Peanut Punch, knocking the ball free for his teammates to recover. Santos booted another field goal on the ensuing drive, tailing the Cardinals 7-6 midway through the second quarter.
The Cardinals soon after pulled away and never looked back, and that’s largely due to their offense’s potent rushing attack. Punishing running back James Connor lived up to his role as the offense’s bell cow ‘back, gashing the Bears’ defense and setting up his team deep in the redzone. The Cardinals’ scoring attempts were thwarted, forcing them to settle for three points — that’s what I’d be saying, if an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty wasn’t called on Chicago during the field goal attempt. The controversial flag gave the red-and-black another crack at the endzone and running back Trey Benson breached the promised land. Cardinals led 14-6 with just a few minutes left in the first half.
Chicago’s field goal the following drive did little to stop the bleeding, and Arizona dug a deeper wound with a stunning 53-yard touchdown run with just seconds left in the half. The egregious defensive error buried the Bears in a hole going into the half, with the Cardinals enjoying a comfortable 21-9 lead.
All the second half had in store was a comedy of errors in Chicago’s camp, while all Arizona had to do was keep the ship steady on the way to an easy victory. The offense could only muster punts throughout the rest of the game, with a turnover on downs and a safety adding stinging insult to injury. The game was definitively over well before the clock struck zero. The Bears’ disappointing 29-9 loss marks the club’s worst loss of the season, as Chicago was outplayed and outcoached throughout the entire contest.
This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears vs. Cardinals: Instant analysis of Chicago’s Week 9 loss