Chicago Bears: You missed a big Mitch Trubisky growth moment

Chicago Bears fans were too overwhelmed by how pitifully the defense played on Sunday that they might’ve overlooked their quarterback.

Strike that. They didn’t overlook him so much as focus a little too much on his one big mistake. For those who didn’t happen to catch the game in Miami, it took place towards the end of the 3rd quarter. The Bears had already scored three touchdowns coming out of the half and had driven towards the goal line for a chance to make it 28. Then Trubisky inexplicably threw a pass into double coverage that was picked off in the end zone.

It was a play that did not have to happen and should not have happened. It was 1st down. He could’ve thrown the ball away and they would’ve had two more cracks at the end zone or at least come away with three points. Instead he forced it and committed a cardinal sin as a quarterback. Sure enough, Miami took the ball 80 yards the other way to tie the game. It was a sequence that could’ve easily crushed the spirit of a young quarterback.

Trubisky had a chance to put the game away and he blew it. Did he wallow in self-pity and start to doubt himself? No. Quite the opposite actually.

Trubisky didn’t let the mistake affect him for long (if at all)

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The trademark of what makes a successful NFL quarterback is how they handle making a mistake. Does it affect their play the rest of the game or do they shrug it off and move on to the next series? Trubisky showed his mettle the next time the Bears got the football. He went 3-for-5 for 47 yards and a touchdown pass to Anthony Miller to regain the lead 28-21. The drive took almost six minutes off the clock, leaving just over three left to play.

It was a masterful rebound from such an ugly blunder moments before. Unfortunately, the defense coughed it up on the next play from scrimmage on a 75-yard touchdown. In total following that interception Trubisky was 6-of-8 for 64 yards and a touchdown. That’s not a bad response in the face of adversity. Something Bears quarterbacks have had a hard time with for ages.

If anything head coach Matt Nagy deserves some criticism for not putting the ball in his hands in overtime. On the final drive of the game, Trubisky threw the ball once in six plays and it was the first play. After that, it was all runs including a 3rd and 4 where the Dolphins were clearly keying on the run. Nagy always says he trusts his quarterback but it sure didn’t look like it there.

Maybe he should after seeing a response like that.

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