The Chicago Bears got a 34-21 win over the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday night to wrap up the preseason with a 4-0 record.
Of course, with the deadline for rosters to be cut to 53 on Tuesday afternoon, it was a huge game for several players and a few stood out.
Here's a look at the top-graded Bears, according to Pro Football Focus, in the final preseason game.
Offense
- LG Bill Murray - 91.3
- C Doug Kramer - 80.2
- RB Velus Jones Jr. - 77.3
- WR DeAndre Carter - 76.2
- RT Jake Curhan - 73.3
- WR Nsimba Webster - 73.1
- QB Tyson Bagent - 72.0
- TE Brenden Bates - 70.9
- TE Tommy Sweeney - 70.5
- QB Austin Reed - 69.8
The worst-graded Bears on offense were RB Travis Homer (43.8), WR John Jackson III (45.7), TE Stephen Carlson (52.5), FB Khari Blasingame (53.0) and RB Ian Wheeler (53.7).
None of those are particularly surprising, at least among the skill position players. It's a little surprising to see WR Tyler Scott and QB Brett Rypien outside the top 10, although their grades were fine, but Jones had his biggest game of the preseason and Carter - despite his poor decision that led to a muffed punt - was solid overall. Blasingame and Carlson both played fewer than 10 snaps, so those poor grades are based on an extremely small sample.
Defense
- S Tarvarius Moore - 86.9
- DE Austin Booker - 86.1
- DE Khalid Kareem - 85.4
- LB Micah Baskerville - 82.6
- CB Reddy Steward - 78.2
- CB Greg Stroman Jr. - 76.4
- DE Daniel Hardy - 74.5
- S Adrian Colbert - 74.3
- S Jonathan Owens - 73.9
- S Quindell Johnson - 70.5
Meanwhile, the lowest-graded Bears defenders were DT Keith Randolph Jr. (36.1), CB Josh Blackwell (40.1), LB Noah Sewell (41.1), CB Ro Torrence (50.5) and LB Paul Moala (51.9).
Chicago's defense has balled out all preseason and seemingly made things difficult for the front office and coaches with roster cuts. It certainly won't be surprising to see some of the players they part with get claimed by another team.
As for the above grades, they mostly seem to pass the eye test.
Booker only played 16 snaps but was a force, registering two pressures and a stop. Moore was all over the place, racking up three tackles and two stops. Hardy and Kareem each had four pressures, while Colbert not only had that diving pass breakup but also a pressure on Steward's pick-six and a tackle. And for Steward, as just mentioned, he had two interceptions; a pick-six and another interception at the goal line.
It was a great performance by the unit overall and several guys showed they're deserving of a spot, whether in Chicago or elsewhere.
We'll now wait and see how the roster shakes out later in the week but, after that, all attention will be on Tennessee and the Bears' season-opener on Sept. 8.
