Monday Night Football Recap

The Mitchell Trubisky Era shows promise, but his debut essentially ended with a Mitchell Trubisky error.

Trubisky, the No. 2 overall pick in the NFL draft, got his first start at quarterback in Monday night’s home meeting for the Chicago Bears against the Minnesota Vikings.

He injected some life into a team that put almost no talent around him, got his first touchdown pass on a throw into the end zone that should have been intercepted but was instead deflected and at least helped the Bears hang on for a bit tied 17-17.

After the defense forced a punt, the Bears were in a position to see the rookie run a two-minute drill from his own 10-yard line. It took about two seconds. Trubisky scrambled to his right and threw for tight end Zach Miller, who was covered by Pro Bowl safety Harrison Smith.

Intercepted.

Six plays later, Kai Forbath kicked a 26-yard field goal and the Bears had lost 20-17.

Trubisky completed 12 of 25 passes for 128 yards, with that interception and a lost fumble to go with his deflected touchdown pass. In the crucible of Monday Night Football, against a strong Vikings defense, with several passes dropped and one big one called back on a penalty, you’d give the youngster more than a passing grade.

He’s the future and the Bears need to make sure he helps them escape the past. They haven’t started the same quarterback in all 16 games since Jay Cutler in 2009. In the interim they’ve had nine other players start at least one game at quarterback and it’s not exactly a red-carpet list (Caleb Hainie, Jimmy Clausen, Matt Barkley and this year’s deposed incumbent, Mike Glennon).

With so much to learn and so little surrounding him, Trubisky will face a number of challenges as his first season unfolds.

At least he provides hope for a team well on its way to a sixth losing season in the last seven and what appears to be an inevitable change of coaches.

 
 
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman