After returning to Chicago for the first time since leaving during the offseason via free agency, Mitch Trubisky didn't let the moment get the best of him.
Trubisky started for the Bills and led the team on four consecutive touchdown drives, setting the tone in what concluded as a 41-15 victory. He played the entire first half and went 20-for-28 for 221 yards with one passing touchdown. Throughout the week of practice, Trubisky had one goal in mind for his return to Chicago.
"I just wanted to play well," Trubisky said. "I think it's just important for me to come out here and play well and keep getting better week to week. And I knew people would be talking about it and hyping it up, but it was just important for me to come out here and do my job and show my teammates that I could play ball."
Trubisky was drafted No. 2 overall by the Bears in 2017. After four seasons with the team, he finished with a 51-50 record and got the team into the postseason twice. Trubisky said after the game that he felt welcomed by the fans and that he stills loves the people of Chicago. The Bills quarterback was happy to see his former teammates and coaches before and after the game.
"It was different coming back here in Chicago, obviously because I spent a lot of time here, the last four years," Trubisky stated. "It was awesome to see all the guys and coaches before the game, catching up with those guys. … But it kind of felt like practice back in the day, just going against those guys, talking a little smack, and just having fun playing football."
Trubisky is continuing to learn and grow in this new offensive system and looked comfortable in Saturday's game. Another playmaker in the Bills offense, Isaiah McKenzie, led the team in receptions (7) and receiving yards (72) against the Bears. He was glad that he was able to make Trubisky look good against his former team. The speedy receiver commended Trubisky on his ability to stay level-headed against the Bears.
"Everything went well," McKenzie said. "He practices hard every day, and he does everything the right way. And he showed it during the game. He came out there and performed well. He had a great game and I'm just happy for him. He's cool, calm, and collected. He just came out and he just threw the ball, slung it like he knows how to. He did what he had to do today."
Sean McDermott noted that it's not easy to do what Trubisky did on Saturday. The Bills head coach is happy that he was able to have this moment and that Trubisky didn't let the emotions of the game affect his play on the field.
"He's pretty even keel," McDermott said. "You know, again, he's really focused. He's a really focused young man. He's just trying to improve every day, and we're happy to have him and his family in Buffalo."
Offensive coordinator Brian Daboll gave Trubisky a little more control of the offense this week after he only threw two passes last week against the Lions. It's important for Trubisky to gain confidence within himself and the offense and this game was a big step for him. For the Bills' backup, a solid week of practice helped get him in the right mentality to perform as well as he did.
"I was excited," Trubisky said. "I think I stopped being anxious about three or four days ago. And I just felt really comfortable with the game plan, what we were doing out there. And my teammates had my back all week. So, we had a great week of practice. We just got to continue to get back to work and keep getting better and growing as an offense, but I was definitely more excited than anything out here, and I just felt really comfortable today."
