LAKE FOREST – Yes, special teams gaffes played a huge role in the Bears' 38-31 loss to the Patriots on Sunday, but if you go to the tape in search of scalps, including special teams coach Chris Tabor’s, you will come away disappointed.
You can argue that without Cordarrelle Patterson’s 95-yard kickoff return touchdown to pull the Patriots within three points of the Bears at 17-14 and Kyle Van Noy’s 29-yard return of a Dont’a Hightower blocked Patrick O’Donnell punt to break a 24-24 tie, the Bears win the football game.
But that’s a stretch, as we have no idea what the Patriots would have done with the ball on the possessions they would have had.