GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Bears have been brutal to begin games this season, and that trend followed them all the way to the end.
They opened Sunday against the Packers with a three-and-out and a punt, and that was the 11th time in 17 games they started that way. In 17 opening drives, the Bears managed just two field goals, one against the Texans in Week 2 and one against the Packers in Week 11, and allowed their opponent to score first 15 of 17 times.
This one was particularly ugly. Starting at their own 30, the Bears’ first play was a high snap from center Coleman Shelton that went through quarterback Caleb Williams’ hands, and Williams was sacked for a seven-yard loss.