David Chao, MD: Was It Trubisky, Or Hamstring Injuries That Left Lions Hamstrung?

No question when you win, the QB gets the credit. When you start the fourth quarter down 23-6, then throw 3 TD passes to win, let the overreaction begin. But is this reaction warranted given the Lions cornerback hamstring injuries?

No question Mitch Trubisky deserves credit for leading the Bears to the come from behind victory but could he have done it against a healthy Lions defense? Why did the Lions allow three fourth-quarter passing touchdowns when only two field goals were conceded in the first three quarters? There is an alternate answer besides the Chicago quarterback catching fire to begin the 4th quarter. 

Late in the 3rd quarter, the Lions suffered their third significant cornerback injury, all suffering the dreaded early season soft tissue hamstring injury. Detroit started the game with their first-round pick Jeff Okudah out with a hamstring injury. Justin Coleman suffered a hamstring injury in the second quarter of Sunday's game. Desmond Trufant also going down with another hamstring injury as the 3rd quarter ended. No football team can survive three cluster injuries like this. This left the Lions with limited depth at corner. 

We saw it coming. At 3:20 p.m. ET at the break before the 4th quarter, we tweeted:

and posted to watch out that Trubisky and the Bears could take advantage and they did. 

Despite only 153 through three quarters and no TDs, he led three drives to touchdown passes, all in the fourth. Trubisky and the Bears are to be congratulated but most NFL starting QBs should be able to take advantage of depleted secondaries. Perhaps we shouldn't completely hail this as the coming of Trubisky after fending off the acquisition of Nick Foles. Maybe this will provide the momentum for next week but Chicago plays a healthy Giants defense with a mostly healthy secondary. Let's see what happens next week.

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