Opener Is a Bit Wacky for Bears

The new-look Chicago Bears won their season opener Sunday, defeating the Kansas City Chiefs, 20-17.

The beginning was impressive, the middle ugly, and it didn’t get much better than the end for first-year Bear Coach Dick Jauron.

“My favorite offensive formation is taking a knee. I love that formation,” said Jauron, who won the matchup of first-year coaches with the Chiefs’ Gunther Cunningham.

These aren’t the same Bears that Chicago had come to dread the last few years. Forget that boring, predictable offense. Offensive coordinator Gary Crowton has the Bears looking like a Western Athletic Conference team.

Shane Matthews threw for 245 yards and two touchdowns in his first NFL start, but was taken out in the second quarter so Cade McNown, the team’s No. 1 draft choice out of UCLA, could get some playing time. The Bears were leading 10-3 at the time.

McNown’s first pass was incomplete, but he followed with a 22-yard completion to Ryan Wetnight. He finished six for nine for 77 yards, and one of his incompletions was a dropped ball by Curtis Enis.

However, Enis had a big game. He somersaulted into the end zone for his first career touchdown and had 133 yards of total offense.

The Bears also had some mishaps. Leading 20-10 early in the fourth quarter, Matthews had gone back to throw when the ball slipped out of his hand. Former UCLA player Donnie Edwards picked it up and ran 79 yards for a touchdown. The Bears asked for a review, claiming Matthews’ arm was going forward, but the touchdown stood.