CHICAGO — The Chicago Bears‘ past collided with the future on Saturday. And the past — at least for one day — won by a landslide.
Week 2 of Chicago’s preseason home schedule marked the highly anticipated return of Mitchell Trubisky, whom the Bears drafted second overall in 2017.
The looming quarterback battle between Bears rookie quarterback Justin Fields and Trubisky — albeit in exhibition form — energized the city of Chicago and sports talk radio throughout the week.
The Soldier Field crowd greeted Trubisky, who started in place of Pro Bowler Josh Allen, with a mixture of cheers and light boos before Trubisky went straight to work on the way to a memorable homecoming.
Over two quarters, Trubisky led Buffalo to 34 points in seven offensive series. The fifth-year veteran moved the ball effortlessly against a Bears defense that put up little resistance.
Trubisky finished 20 of 28 for 220 yards and one touchdown for a passer rating of 106.2.
Fields started the third quarter after a mostly forgettable showing by the Bears offense — quarterbacked by Andy Dalton — in the opening 30 minutes of play.
Fields cobbled together an average performance, but nowhere near the level of Trubisky’s afternoon. Fields completed 9 of 19 passes for 80 yards and rushed for 46 yards on four carries.
The Bears rookie survived a scare when Buffalo linebacker Andre Smith came free off the edge and delivered a devastating blow to Fields, whose helmet went flying on the play. The officials flagged Smith for roughing the passer and the Bears scored on a 13-yard run by Khalil Herbert on the very next play.