Chicago Sports

Rep. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, D-Ill., on Tuesday repudiated a letter he signed in June, along with 29 other House progressives — but not released until Monday — urging President Joe Biden to “engage in direct talks with Russia” to end the war in Ukraine.

The letter as written sparked a major uproar, exposing rifts within the Democratic family, days before the Nov. 8 midterm elections where Democrats may lose control of the House.

The backlash was so strong and swift that less than a day after the letter was made public, Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, retracted it on Tuesday.

“The Congressional Progressive Caucus hereby withdraws its recent letter to the White House regarding Ukraine,” she said in a statement.

“The letter was drafted several months ago, but unfortunately was released by staff without vetting. As Chair of the Caucus, I accept responsibility for this,” she said.

Back in June, Garcia did not take a lead in writing the letter or getting his colleagues to sign it.

Rep. Marie Newman, D-lll., also signed the letter. She lost her bid for another term when she was beaten by Rep. Sean Casten, D-Ill., in the June 28 Democratic primary. Garcia and Newman are vice chairs of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

As Garcia mulls running for Chicago mayor in 2023, the blowup over the letter — where Garcia’s role was that of a bit player — shows how his congressional life may get much more attention if he moves forward with a bid for City Hall. His allies, with his knowledge, started circulating mayoral nominating petitions for him on Saturday.

Garc?a said in a statement, “I joined this letter four months ago. The letter had been written to reflect the situation at that time. Some of that information is now outdated and the letter should not have been sent.

“However, I want to be clear:the letter’s underlying message remains pertinent. I strongly support Ukraine in its defense against Russia’s illegal invasion. And I strongly believe that diplomacy should continue to be a powerful tool in our foreign policy arsenal.”

Garcia was never told the letter was going to be released on Monday. He has voted for every measure supporting Ukraine and, as a member of the Financial Services Committee, introduced measures dealing with giving Ukraine debt relief.

The letter, addressed to Biden said in conclusion, “we urge you to make vigorous diplomatic efforts in support of a negotiated settlement and ceasefire, engage in direct talks with Russia, explore prospects for a new European security arrangement acceptable to all parties that will allow for a sovereign and independent Ukraine, and, in coordination with our Ukrainian partners, seek a rapid end to the conflict and reiterate this goal as America’s chief priority.”

Democratic critics of the letter said asking Biden to intervene undermined Ukraine and put pressure on Biden. The letter could also be seen as helpful to House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., who is threatening to cut aid to Ukraine if the GOP takes over the House and he becomes speaker.

Jayapal also said in her statement, “Because of the timing, our message is being conflated by some as being equivalent to the recent statement by Republican Leader McCarthy threatening an end to aid to Ukraine if Republicans take over.

“The proximity of these statements created the unfortunate appearance that Democrats, who have strongly and unanimously supported and voted for every package of military, strategic, and economic assistance to the Ukrainian people, are somehow aligned with Republicans who seek to pull the plug on American support for President Zelensky and the Ukrainian forces.

“Nothing could be further from the truth. Every war ends with diplomacy, and this one will too after Ukrainian victory. The letter sent yesterday, although restating that basic principle, has been conflated with GOP opposition to support for the Ukrainians’ just defense of their national sovereignty. As such, it is a distraction at this time and we withdraw the letter.”

Rep. Mike Quigley, D-Ill., with his co-chairs of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus, Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio, and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., issued a statement that took aim at the letter from the 30 progressives, making it clear that Ukraine negotiates for Ukraine — not the U.S.

“We have been unwavering in our support for Ukraine in the face of Vladimir Putin’s illegal invasion. Ukraine is an independent nation with the right to both territorial integrity and self-determination. Neither the United States nor any other nation can dictate when or how Ukraine ends their war against Russian invaders.”

There are about 100 members in the Congressional Progressive Caucus. The two other Illinois members, Democratic Reps. Jan Schakowsky and Danny Davis — whose district includes Chicago’s Ukrainian Village community — did not sign the letter.

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The city’s top watchdog says the Chicago Police Department overlooked incriminating evidence while looking into an officer’s ties to the far-right Proud Boys, and failed to consider whether he should be fired forlying to investigators.

Officer Robert Bakker’s relationship with members of the Proud Boys ultimately resulted in a 120-day suspension — a decision that has sparked a firestorm of criticism at City Hall, with some alderpersons calling for his dismissal and grilling police brass at a budget hearing last week.

On Tuesday, Inspector General Deborah Witzburg added her voice to the outcry, telling the Sun-Times she believesBakker’s case sets a dangerous precedent.

“The outcome of this case represents a determination that someone who made ‘false’ and ‘contradicting’ statements about his association with the Proud Boys should continue to wear the uniform of the Chicago Police Department,” Witzburg said in a statement.

“Members of the public and the people who do good and honorable work in that uniform deserve a police accountability system in which they have reason to be confident,” she added.

Letters from her office to top police officials, obtained by the Sun-Times,details what Witzburg believes were glaring flaws in the police department’s internal investigation of Bakker.

‘Inconsistent statements’

The inspector general’s concerns stretch back toearly 2020,when the FBI interviewed Bakker about his relationship with the Proud Boys. Bakker told police department’s Bureau of Internal Affairs that he had already “ended his friendship” with three Proud Boys members when he sat down with agents.

Bakker insisted he had no involvement with “the Proud Boys organization,” though a police department investigator reported being unable to “obtain any verifiable evidence to disprove the statement.”

Witzburg noted that the police department’s case file appears to show Bakker “made inconsistent statements” to the FBI and the internal affairs bureau. The file also includes messages showing Bakker’s close links to the Proud Boys, she said.

Bakker’s claimed he left a “F— Antifa” chat channel after a single day when he learned “who theProud Boyswere.” Yet Bakker had posted on the channel over a two-month period in the summer of 2019, Witzburg said.

The officer also reported meeting two members of the group at a Proud Boys event at a bar, she said, “indicating that he knew who the Proud Boys were from the first time he met them.”

Chat logs show Bakker had whisked away a Proud Boys member after a bar fight and didn’t report it to police, Witzburg said.

While Bakker acknowledged that he invited members of the group to social events, messages show he apparently lied to investigators about attending a Proud Boys barbecue, Witzburg said.

Internal affairs investigators found that Bakker failed to tell police officials about being interviewed by the FBI. But they did not sustain allegations that Bakker associated with criminals and members of the Proud Boys.

A five-day suspension was recommended.

On Nov. 11 of 2020, Witzburg urged former Internal Affairs Chief Karen Konow to reassess the evidence against Bakker.

“BIA’s analysis and findings do not account for all of the available evidence in support of the allegations that Bakker associated with … individuals known to have been convicted of crimes and members of the Proud Boys,”Witzburg wrote.

Probe reopened, no dismissal

The internal affairs bureau did reopen the investigation and this time sustained five allegations against Bakker: that he made “contradicting statements” about his activity in the chat channels; made a “false statement” about attending the Proud Boys barbecue; failed to report the fight in the bar; and discredited the department by chatting with members of the Proud Boys and specifically supporting a member.

Early this year, the police department reached a “mediation agreement” under which Bakker accepted a 120-day suspension.

Several months later, on Sept. 12, Acting Deputy Inspector General Megan Carlson wrote Police Supt. David Brown andappeared to urgehim to fire Bakker.

Carlson asked Brown to look into whether Bakker’s testimony warranted a violation of a department rule prohibiting false statements — a violation that can lead to dismissal. “Even in the presence of a mediation agreement, you may seek separation,” Carlson wrote.

She quoted the former head of internal affairs Tina Skahill — who now leads the department’s reform efforts — as saying the department has “recommended separation” for officers found violating the rule since 2008.

She also included an excerpt from a letter Brown wrote last year as part of a different disciplinary case in which he detailed the consequences of retaining an officer who is a known liar.

“Such a violation impairs an officer’s ability to testify in criminal cases, to effectuate arrests, hinders an officer from signing affidavits in support of search warrants, and participating in joint federal task forces,” Brown wrote.

But the inspector general, in a recent quarterly report,said her office never got a response from Brown.

Testimony raises more questions

The department declined to answer a list of questions seeking comment on the case.

Brown and the current internal affairs chief, Yolanda Talley, defended Bakker’s suspension during sometimes baffling testimony at a City Council budget hearing last week.

Brown claimed investigators didn’t have enough evidence to prove Bakker “associated with or was a member of a hate group, Proud Boys or any other hate group” — even though his own internal affairs bureau had found links.

Talley focused on the “hate group” designation, saying “this investigation would have look totally different” if the FBI had labeled the Proud Boys as a hate group.

But the FBI “does not designate hate groups,” agency spokeswoman Siobhan Johnson told the Sun-Times.

The Proud Boys has been designated a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, and the internal investigation found that Bakker had clearly associated with members of the group.

Five of the group’s members have been charged with seditious conspiracy in connection to the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. One of them has pleaded guilty.

Continuing her testimony, Talley claimed the suspension “would not have been more than five days for what we were able to prove.” Then she disclosed an apparently privileged exchange with Bakker.

“We brought him in for a second interview and he just felt so bad that he was accused of this, he mediated for 120 days,” Talley said. “We didn’t offer him 120 days. He came in and spoke to us and said, ‘I’ll take 120 days.'”

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No one was injured when a parking garage caught fire Tuesday afternoon on the Near West Side.

About 3:45 p.m., firefighters responded to a call of fire at a parking garage of an apartment building in the 700 block of South Ashland Avenue, according to the Chicago Fire Department.

No injuries were reported, fire officials said.

The cause of the blaze was not known.

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Every game for the Bears and quarterback Justin Fields this season needs to be viewed through a microscope and a telescope.

The dominant victory over a decent Patriots team Monday, for example, was indisputably a momentous win in and of itself. Given how few of those impressive conquests the Bears have enjoyed over the past decade, that’s worth something. Game day was fun again. It’s been a while.

But for the party to continue, these have to be true steps forward in the long run.

And with Fields being young and unproven — it was his 17th start, and he’s had a sub-80 passer rating in more than half of them — the question every time he plays well is whether the Bears have found the start of something big.

Optimism comes easily after watching him rip through a top-10 defense on the road. Fields was efficient as a passer, going 13 of 21 for 179 yards with a touchdown and an interception, and ran 14 times for 82 yards and a touchdown. The combined passing-rushing total of 261 yards was his sixth-highest, and aesthetically, the designed runs, deep throws and misdirection looked like a viable template for the Bears.

The offense had 14 plays of 10 yards or more, scored on 7 of 11 possessions (the Bears intentionally gave one away in the final minute out of sheer mercy) and converted 11 of 18 third downs.

Here’s a look at what went so well:

Third downs

How an offense fares usually hinges on third-down success, and the Bears made dramatic improvement after converting just 35.6% over the first six weeks (24th in the NFL). They were especially good when they put the ball in Fields’ hands.

Fields completed 5 of 7 passes for 89 yards — one misfire was an interception — with one sack and rushed five times for 47 yards. The Bears picked up a first down on 10 of those 13 plays, including on third-and-six, 14, 16 and seven.

One of the most interesting plays was the third-and-16 shortly before halftime. With the Bears at the Patriots’ 27-yard line and 19 seconds left, it would have been logical to call a run and perhaps get five yards closer on the field goal.

Instead, Fields gave them a chance to keep playing for a touchdown by hitting Darnell Mooney for 17 yards.

He rolled right and didn’t have a chance to set his feet for the throw, but this was a perfect example of why he’s more than just a “mobile quarterback.” While Fields used his feet to create space by rolling, it was his arm strength and accuracy that helped him get the ball to Mooney on the sideline in a tight spot. The throw covered 23 yards, and it was right on target.

With a penalty, the Bears got to the 5-yard line and ended up kicking a field goal anyway because they ran out of time. But as automatic as Cairo Santos has been, he certainly liked Fields cutting his attempt from what probably would’ve been 40-plus yards down to basically an extra point.

Creating space

If Fields can continue to be effective as a runner and passer, that causes issues for opposing defenses all over the field. There were many plays in which the Bears took advantage of the Patriots diverting significant attention to Fields.

That’s rarely clearer than when he scrambles out of the pocket and creates indecision for defenders as to whether they’re going to play for him to take off running or hold steady in coverage, and the Bears used that on third-and-seven in the middle of the third quarter.

Patriots linebacker Mack Wilson ripped through the line and lunged at Fields as soon as he dropped back, and when Fields dodged him and rolled left, Adrian Phillips was waiting for him. In part because of that, Devin McCourty had no help covering tight end Cole Kmet up the left sideline, and Kmet had a couple of steps on him.

Fields’ throw was short rather than leading Kmet up the sideline, making it difficult forKmet to fightthrough McCourty to get back to the ball and make the catch in bounds. But the opportunity was there because the Patriots were forced to guard against Fields running.

Elite running

Speaking of running, Fields has been as fast and elusive as any quarterback in the NFL other than the incomparable Lamar Jackson. Among quarterbacks, Fields is second to Jackson in yards rushing (364 and runs of 20-plus yards (three) and third in first down pickups by rush (25).

On his 20-yard scramble late in the first half, which put the Bears in scoring range, he escaped two would-be tacklers that most quarterbacks probably couldn’t. The Patriots overpowered the Bears’ offensive line, and defensive lineman Daniel Ekuale had a chance to drop Fields for a 10-yard sack, but couldn’t get a hand on him. Then, as Fields emerged from the crowded backfield, Phillips didn’t pick him up quickly enough to get a good angle, and that allowed him probably an extra nine yards.

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Goran Dragic isn’t much into nicknames.

At age 36 and just starting NBA season No. 15, nah, let someone else spend that energy.

What the Bulls veteran guard knows about himself and the current collection of bench players is there’s something good going on. Maybe great. And what others in or outside of the Advocate Center want to label it? That’s on them.

Especially when the sample size is still so small.

Backed against the ropes and trying to avoid an eight count in Monday’s first quarter against Boston, coach Billy Donovan was searching to find a cohesive unit. He settled on reserves Dragic, Derrick Jones Jr., Andre Drummond and Alex Caruso, staggering them with All-Star Zach LaVine.

Not really a look that had seen a bunch of time together in practice, especially with LaVine’s knee management schedule, but one that instantly started to work. A 19-point deficit eventually was trimmed down to just a point after a Jones dunk from a Dragic dime. LaVine tied it when he split a pair of free throws at the 8:51 mark of that second quarter, and Dragic put the Bulls ahead with a layup a minute later.

As Jones put it, “and we never looked back.”

So does that grouping have staying power? Dragic hoped so.

“I feel like we have the right players,” Dragic said of why he felt that grouping worked. “Nobody is selfish, but the key for that group on offense is the ball has to move. When you play stagnant, when you hold the ball, that’s when the second unit gets in trouble. You move the ball, we can be great. I honestly think we could have one of the best second units in the league.”

Big words, especially with how new that grouping was, but Dragic’s hope was if the mindset remained, the players could even be a bit interchangeable.

Coby White could spell LaVine in that group and Javonte Green has a similar skillset to Jones, but that was for another game. What proved to be lethal against the Celtics was Caruso – a plus/minus of plus-20 in that second quarter – Dragic (plus-16), Jones (plus-16), LaVine (plus-15) and Drummond (plus-11).

“The fact that we played with energy on both ends is everything,” Dragic said. “Of course you have to play with energy, but it’s also about the right mix of the players. You have guys that can play on the ball, play pick-and-roll, then you have guys that are really good at setting screens and applying pressure. Guys like Derrick [Monday night], rolling to the rim, [Drummond] the same. Then you have Zach’s shooting, and with A.C. [Caruso] you have that feistiness, his defense, so just a right mix of players that we really could be a problem.”

Jones was all for that.

In the first two regular-season games of the season, the veteran sat and watched. While Donovan was close to playing the forward against Miami and Washington, it just didn’t happen.

Then during the blowout to Cleveland on Saturday, Donovan put Jones in to try and stop the bleeding, and liked what he saw in his 17 minutes of work.

“Just stayed ready,” Jones said of his role. “I’ve been through this many times through my career, so it’s not the first time. I’m good.

“I’ve been playing this game for a long time and I know what I’m good at.”

That will again be tested Wednesday against Indiana.

So could this be a new version of the “Bench Mob” that carried the Bulls to the Eastern Conference Finals a decade ago?

With just four games played, they’ll be plenty of time to figure that out. And who knows, maybe even a nickname.

Just don’t bother Dragic with that.

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Not an overreaction: The 49ers trading for Christian McCaffery changes nothing.

CMC is an unbelievably talented running back who, when healthy, is arguably the best running back in the NFL. The duo threat McCaffery can do it all, he is one of three players in NFL history to have 1,000 rushing yards & 1,000 receiving yards in the same season.  As talented as CMC is he’s been no stranger to an injury-plagued season. McCaffery hasn’t played a full season since 2019 and is coming off of back-to-back season-ending injuries.

The 49ers have been no stranger to injured running backs either while being coached by Kyle Shanahan. It has been a revolving door of running backs where Shanahan has embraced the “next man up model.” Since Shanahan became head coach a different running back has led the 49ers in rushing every year. Players like Carlos Hyde, Matt Breida, Raheem Mostert, Jefferey Wilson, and Elijah Mitchell have all led the 49ers’ backfield in one season or another. Not to mention the 2nd and 3rd string backs that have filled (Tevin Coleman) in while each of these starts missed time.

San Francisco essentially traded its entire draft next year for a running back that does the exact same thing as they have had since 2017, plays great when he’s healthy, and then gets injured to where they can’t finish the season. It may be inevitable for CMC to avoid the injury list and the if-more likely when-that time comes, whoever is 2nd on that depth chart will be who you want on your fantasy team.

Overreaction: The sun is setting on Brady and Rodgers

Both the Packers and the Bucs had embarrassing losses on Sunday to teams with backup quarterbacks and draft day already penciled in on their calendars. With both teams sitting at 3-4, the struggles of the Packers and Bucs have been glaring this year, and have some questioning if it’s the NFL Hall of Fame quarterbacks that are to blame.

Yes both Brady and Rodgers have been playing below their near-impossible standards. Rodgers is the Reigning NFL MVP and won it back to back the last two seasons, he lost his best weapon in the offseason and the Packers’ front office refused to trade up in the draft to get one of the best receivers in the class. Brady is the greatest NFL player of all time and has had his entire offensive line wiped out due to injury, he also takes Wednesdays off and is going through a very public divorce.

It is also important to note that both offenses look stagnated, the Packers haven’t scored 30 points in a game this year and cannot find a deep threat to open their offense up. the Bucks only scored more than 21 points one time this season and could barely muster just 3 points against the Panthers who are fighting for the first pick in the draft. Both teams have been known in the past for their explosive offenses, but until these offenses return to a high level, struggles will likely continue for the two playoff-hopeful teams.

Not an Overreaction: The Chargers are cursed

I’m not superstitious, but I am a little stitious when it comes to the Los Angeles Chargers. The Chargers have a long history of season-ending injuries to key players and the latest season-ending injury to NFL All-Por corner J.C. Jackson adds to the list. They also lose wide receiver Mike Williams, who is out for several weeks These two are the newest additions injury report that never seems without names for Los Angeles. The Bolts are notorious for injuries and infamously had a doctor puncture then quarterback Tyrod Taylor’s lung, causing him to be out longer than his initial injury. This is what caused now-starter Justin Herbert to be propelled into the starting lineup.

The Chargers have long been heralded as a “dark horse” Superbowl team and the team that will finally supplant the Chiefs as the winners of the AFC West. The Chargers have not won the AFC West since 2009 and by the looks of things, will not win it anytime soon. The Chargers currently sit at 4-3 having just lost 37-23 to Geno Smith and the Seahawks (more on them in a moment) and barely beating the Broncos by a field goal in OT. This same Chargers team got blown out by Jacksonville 38-10 a week after losing the Chiefs by just three points.

The Bolts may be cursed to never have all the pieces together at the right time. In the Philip Rivers era, that was always the knock on any of their talented teams over the years. Even in his twilight with the Chargers Rivers could never get over the hump and make it to the Superbowl. Some of those teams had breathtaking offense and others had punishing defenses. Either way, you could always count on a key player getting injured every year to derail any momentum they had. That same curse may live on with this Chargers team and those to come.

Overreaction: The Seahawks are the best team in the NFC West

I eluded the Seahawk’s massive win over the Chargers previously and the Seahawks have been an interesting story this entire year. Making the shocking decision to move on from Russell Wilson in the off-season and then naming journeyman back-up Geno Smith the starter created the idea the Seahawks were looking to rebuild from the ground up. Teams enquired about the availability of NFL Pro Bowl wide receivers DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, but Seattle held firm not budging on moving the weapons, they wanted to see what Smith could do with the team they already had.

That was a brilliant decision because the Seahawks, at the very least, are incredibly fun to watch. Geno Smith has made some mind-blowing throws this season and has squashed any doubt that surrounded the production of Metcalf and Lockett in fantasy football. Seattle is 4-3 with only one loss coming by more than a one-score. That loss was a 27-7 route by the 49ers, which didn’t have Christian McCaffery yet. San Francisco’s top 3 defense in yards per play in the NFL, shut down the Seahawks only scoring seven points.

The Seahawks have looked good but so has their division. The NFC West has the reigning NFL Superbowl Champion Rams, the reloaded 49ers, and the Cardinals just got their best offensive weapon, DeAndre Hopkins, back from suspension. The Seahawks have looked good with Kenneth Walker running the ball and Geno Smith is leading the NFL in completion percentage at 73%. The defense has even shown strides as Tariq Woolen has allowed just a 40.2 passer rating this season. He is top 5 in that category. Seattle has great pieces to build on, just not enough to be a contender today.

How did you react to the CMC trade? Did you have any NFL overreactions that I missed? Let me know in the comments and follow ChiCity Sports for more.

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When Bears offensive line coach Chris Morgan told center Sam Mustipher he was no longer starting last week, Mustipher did not take it well.

“I was pissed. Furious,” Mustipher said. “I could use profanity to describe how I was feeling at that point, but that was tough. Because I’m all about the Bears and wanting to help the Bears win. And for me to feel like it came down on my shoulders …”

And then, the discipline that turned made Mustipher from an undrafted free agent into an NFL starter in the first place prevailed.

“But when you get benched, you’ve got to be honest with yourself,” Mustipher said. “Obviously what I was doing wasn’t good enough. And that’s what they felt. I could have sulked. I could have pouted. But once the initial sting wears off, you’ve got to be a man. I looked myself in the mirror and I was like, ‘Here’s the things I’ve got to improve on. And the next time I get on the football field, I can leave no doubt.”

To even Mustipher’s surprise, that opportunity came just 10 snaps into his benching, when his replacement, Lucas Patrick, injured his toe in the first quarter Monday night against the Patriots at Gillette Stadium. (Patrick was still being examined Tuesday. His status is “wait and see” according to coach Matt Eberflus.) Mustipher got the call, and went to work.

And he got the job done. The Bears rushed for 243 yards, averaged 5.4 yards per carry and scored on seven of Mustipher’s first eight possessions in a 33-14 upset. But as much as he plays on emotion, Mustipher wasn’t going to call it a storybook ending.

“I wasn’t inspired [by the benching] –that stuff’s for Disney movies,” Mustipher said. “I’m more about, I wanted to go out there and affect winning. I wanted to help the Bears win. That’s the mentality I take into every game It was the same [Monday] night. As soon as Lucas went down, I was like, ‘All right, how can I help these guys win?’ That’s what it’s about.”

It was that kind of game for the Bears. An offensive line that was identified as an area of needed improvement over the mini-bye week responded in a big moment — aided no doubt by a game plan that utilized Justin Fields as well as in any game he’s played for the Bears.

“Elation,” Mustipher said. “Fate, if that’s what you want to call it. It’s cool to see all that work come to fruition [after] the roller coaster of emotions that I had this week.”

And the Bears did it with two discards. Not only Mustipher, but guard Michael Schofield, who had been cut in training camp and then re-signed on Sept. 14, started at left guard when Patrick moved to center.And they did it with two discards. Not only Mustipher, but guard Michael Schofield, who had been cut in training camp and then re-signed on Sept. 14, started at left guard when Patrick moved to center.

Schofield, the Sandburg High School product, is in his eighth NFL season and started on the Broncos’ Super Bowl winning team in the 2015 season. But this was a moment to remember.

“It was pretty cool. Pretty special moment for me,” Schofield said. “First game starting as a Bear. Beating the Patriots is always a fun thing to do. So it was good — very special.”

Schofield was 2-4 in his career against the Patriots before Monday night’s game, but 0-2 against them at Gillette Stadium, including a 41-28 blowout loss with the Chargers in the AFC Championship in the 2018 season playoffs.

“We thought we had a hell of a team and we got there and they kicked our ass,” Schofield said.

So the victory Monday night was particularly gratifying for Schofield, especially during a difficult season that left his NFL future uncertain.

“It’s definitely pretty good for me,” he said. “Just how the season went — obviously getting cut and being able to start a game and [I] played pretty decent. It’s exciting. Crazy how it works out.”

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The Bears emerged from their mini-bye disguised as the Ravens.

That was the conclusion drawn Monday night by Patriots safety Devin McCourty, who saw quarterback Justin Fields’ designed runs as a reflection of the best running quarterback in the sport.

“I think with the extended time they added some plays that I think we saw in the Baltimore game with Lamar Jackson,” McCourty said. “Some of those style of plays.”

Ten of them, in fact — or three fewer than the 13 designed quarterback runs the Bears called in the first six games of the season combined. Monday, they produced 56 yards, one touchdown — and a 33-14 upset win at Gillette Stadium.

Bears offensive coordinator Luke Getsy might have found the Bears’ offensive identity.

“I thought it brought a whole different element to our offense,” Fields said.

Running back David Montgomery, who had 15 carries for 62 yards, said Fields’ planned runs “softened up” the tackle box. Fields’ read-option keepers worked well against the Patriots’ frequent man defense looks.

“They can’t predict or see what kind of formation we are in to make it seem like they know what we are doing,” Montgomery said. “We switched it up a bit, and it worked out for the best for us.”

Patriots boss Bill Belichick, who admitted to being “outcoached,” saw in the first quarter what the Bears were trying to do with Fields.

“Once a couple of those started hitting early in the game, then we could see that’s the way the game was going to go,” he said. “So, yeah, I wouldn’t say it was a total surprise. Once it declared, then we were definitely playing for it.

“We didn’t do a great job defending it.”

General manager Ryan Poles defended Getsy a few hours before kickoff, saying he’d done a good job blending the run and pass and managing Fields “through the ups and downs” of the season.

“And then, just the ability to adapt and adjust to the strengths of the guys,” he said.

He played to those strengths Monday. While the Bears change their strategy for each opponent, designed Fields runs should be here to stay.

Counting scrambles, Fields finished with 14 rushes for 82 yards. Only a few of the planned runs, though, ended up with the quarterback getting touched.

“I wasn’t trying to take many big hits,” Fields said. “So I knew I had more designed runs this game. I knew I was going to have to run the ball a little bit more. Just being able to last the entire game was big.”

He slid at the end of his first planned run, an 8-yarder over left guard after faking a fly sweep to Dante Pettis late in the first quarter. Fields capped that drive with a 3-yard touchdown run, this time over the left tackle, after a fake sweep to fellow receiver Velus Jones.

Fields ran out of bounds on three of his six second-quarter designed runs — a read-option keeper right for 15 yards and another left for four, as well as a sweep left for nine. He slid on a nine-yard draw late in the first half.

“Just gotta be smart about it,” head coach Matt Eberflus said Tuesday. “He’s got very good instincts that way, so we trust him.”

Fields would have run more were the game not such a blowout. Take away the final kneeldown, and the Bears called designed quarterback runs twice in the second half.

Fields has room to improve — he fumbled four times on passing downs, and didn’t lose a single one — but might have helped the Bears’ offense find a direction heading into Dallas.

“We just have to do it the right way – and we’ve got to be creative with how we do it,” Eberflus said. “So we’re gonna do that. We’re working on the gameplan right now, so we’re excited about getting that going. …

“I think once you put it on tape, the guys have to defend it.”

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Bears fans didn’t like a certain move by Mac Jones

The Chicago Bears should be euphoric after their Monday Night win against the New England Patriots. The Bears blew out the Patriots in a surprising fashion featuring two rookies earning their first career interception. Safety Jaquan Brisker, who picked off Mac Jones in the second quarter, should feel great after the turnover. However, he received a hit to his package that might sting Tuesday morning.

On a play in the first half, Jones went for a quarterback slide and lifted his right foot into the crotch of Brisker. It’s hard to look at the footage and not think Jones could have avoided the contact.

Thankfully, Jones would continue to go with balls deep into the secondary on the drive. One of which went where Brisker was playing to snatch instant Karma from the Patriots quarterback.

Bears fans want fines and flags

Bears fans took to Twitter immediately following the contact. Many thought the act was intentional by Jones. Most fans thought it was a dirty play that should have been flagged. Here are some of the best takes on social media following the play.

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Bears fans didn’t like a certain move by Mac Jones

The Chicago Bears should be euphoric after their Monday Night win against the New England Patriots. The Bears blew out the Patriots in a surprising fashion featuring two rookies earning their first career interception. Safety Jaquan Brisker, who picked off Mac Jones in the second quarter, should feel great after the turnover. However, he received a hit to his package that might sting Tuesday morning.

On a play in the first half, Jones went for a quarterback slide and lifted his right foot into the crotch of Brisker. It’s hard to look at the footage and not think Jones could have avoided the contact.

Thankfully, Jones would continue to go with balls deep into the secondary on the drive. One of which went where Brisker was playing to snatch instant Karma from the Patriots quarterback.

Bears fans want fines and flags

Bears fans took to Twitter immediately following the contact. Many thought the act was intentional by Jones. Most fans thought it was a dirty play that should have been flagged. Here are some of the best takes on social media following the play.

For More Great Chicago Sports Content

Follow us on Twitter at @chicitysports23 for more great content. We appreciate you taking time to read our articles. To interact more with our community and keep up to date on the latest in Chicago sports news, JOIN OUR FREE FACEBOOK GROUP by CLICKING HERE

Read More