Chicago Bears Fall to AJ McCarron, Buffalo Bills in Preseason Finale
The Bills staged a furious second half comeback to knock off the Bears
By James Neveau ••
In this week’s Chicago Sports Almanac, we take a look back at an historic week in Chicago baseball, and examine what’s ahead for the Bears and Cubs.
AJ McCarron made a shaky case for a roster spot, leading a surge in the fourth quarter after struggling for most of the game, and the Buffalo Bills closed the preseason with a 28-27 victory over the Chicago Bears on Thursday night.
With both teams holding out their starters and few key reserves playing, the focus was on McCarron.
He ran for a touchdown and threw for three more in the fourth — including a 6-yarder to Keith Towbridge in the closing minute. That capped an 84-yard drive that was aided by two roughing-the-passer calls, including one against Isaiah Irving on a fourth down at the Buffalo 3.
McCarron was 13 of 34 for 156 yards and had an interception returned for a touchdown in the early going. He could be the odd man out if the Bills decide to go with two quarterbacks rather than three.
Tyler Bray made a case for the Bears to keep three quarterbacks. With Mitchell Trubisky and backup Chase Daniel not playing, Bray was 19 of 29 for 180 yards and an interception. Ryan Nall ran for 79 yards, including a 32-yard touchdown.
Signed to a two-year deal in free agency after spending the past four seasons as Andy Dalton's backup in Cincinnati, McCarron was considered the initial front-runner for the Bills' starting job because he had more experience than first-round pick Josh Allen and returning backup Nathan Peterman.
But he missed a little over a week after he bruised his right shoulder while being hit several times at Cleveland on Aug. 17. That injury along with his performance seemed to knock him out of the running for the starting job. It also raised questions about whether he will make the opening roster.
McCarron got off to a brutal start, throwing for just 39 yards and getting picked off twice in the first half.
His troubles really began after Cody Parkey kicked a 47-yard field goal on Chicago's first possession.
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Javon Wims #83 of the Chicago Bears looks on while warming up prior to the Hall of Fame Game against the Baltimore Ravens at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium on August 2, 2018 in Canton, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
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CANTON, OH - AUGUST 02: Mitchell Trubisky #10 of the Chicago Bears warms up prior to the Hall of Fame Game against the Baltimore Ravens at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium on August 2, 2018 in Canton, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
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CANTON, OH - AUGUST 02: Chase Daniel #4 of the Chicago Bears gets sacked by Kamalei Correa #51 of the Baltimore Ravens in the second quarter of the Hall of Fame Game at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium on August 2, 2018 in Canton, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
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CANTON, OH - AUGUST 02: Kamalei Correa #51 and Chris Board #49 of the Baltimore Ravens are called for an illegal hit while tackling Tanner Gentry #19 of the Chicago Bears in the third quarter of the Hall of Fame Game at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium on August 2, 2018 in Canton, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
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CINCINNATI, OH - AUGUST 09: Chicago Bears players lock arms during the National Anthem before a preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on August 9, 2018 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
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CINCINNATI, OH - AUGUST 09: Alex Erickson #12 of the Cincinnati Bengals makes a move while returning a punt in the second quarter of a preseason game against the Chicago Bears at Paul Brown Stadium on August 9, 2018 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
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DENVER, CO - AUGUST 18: Quarterback Mitchell Trubisky #10 of the Chicago Bears points to the bench area to celebrate after throwing a second quarter touchdown pass against the Denver Broncos during an NFL preseason game at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on August 18, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
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DENVER, CO - AUGUST 18: Running back Taquan Mizzell #33 of the Chicago Bears scores a fourth quarter touchdown against the Denver Broncos during an NFL preseason game at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on August 18, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
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DENVER, CO - AUGUST 18: Quarterback Chase Daniel #4 and offensive guard Will Pericak #73 of the Chicago Bears jump on to tight end Ben Braunecker #84 to celebrate what would be the game-winning touchdown against the Denver Broncos during an NFL preseason game at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on August 18, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - AUGUST 25: Mitchell Trubisky #10 of the Chicago Bears participates in warm-ups before a preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Soldier Field on August 25, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - AUGUST 25: Head coach Matt Nagy of the Chicago Bears (L) talks with head coach Andy Reid of the Kansas City Chiefs before a preseason game at Soldier Field on August 25, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - AUGUST 25: Taquan Mizzell #33 of the Chicago Bears is stopped by Breeland Speaks #57 and Mike Purcell #93 of the Kansas City Chiefsn(R) during a preseason game at Soldier Field on August 25, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
Moments later, McCarron threw a pass right to the Bears' Doran Grant along the sideline, resulting in a 33-yard touchdown return. And just like that, it was 10-0.
Parkey added a 23-yard field goal midway through the second quarter. Nall made it 20-0 with just under two minutes left in the half with his 32-yard TD run up the right sideline, though the Bears missed another opportunity in the closing seconds after McCarron got picked off again.
Chicago's Abdullah Anderson tipped a pass at the line, leading to an interception for John Timu. But Parkey's 39-yard attempt hit the right upright.
