The Chicago Bears opened the preseason with a 19-14 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs at Soldier Field. Although, the Bears’ second and third string won the game.
Former NFL MVP quarterback Patrick Mahomes generated an 11-play opening drive for the Chiefs that ended with a Blake Bell touchdown. The Bears first-string offense did not generate any points, had a three-and-out opening drive, and still looked like a work in progress.
If this was a regular season game, Mahomes would have played the entire game and the outcome would probably be in the Chiefs’ favor.
In the preseason, it is never the end result that matters because the game does not count in the record books. Instead, it is all about looking at how certain individuals perform or a certain position group looks.
The Chicago Bears had one great individual performance, a couple of good showcases, and a few bad outings.
Rookie Jaquan Brisker was outstanding in his first NFL preseason game.
New Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles used one of his second-round picks on Brisker. There was a feeling Poles should have drafted a desperately needed wide receiver after taking cornerback Kyler Gordon with his first pick in the second round. Instead, Poles saw a chance to add another starter to a rebuilding defense and selected the safety out of Penn State.
Brisker rewarded Poles’ faith in the safety with a great game. The young safety was always near the ball and it was not because the Chiefs were gashing the Bears deep. Instead, Brisker was running up to the line to make tackles or helping out with pass coverage over the middle.
He showed his difference making ability during a series midway through the second quarter. He got a tackle for loss coming off the backside after Trevis Gipson’s penetration blew up a run play. On third down, he nearly came up with an interception.
It was one preseason game but he showed the potential that Poles saw to be a really good NFL starter in the league. If he can play at this level in the regular season, it will allow Eddie Jackson to go back to being a ball-hawking safety and get some interceptions.
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