The Chicago Bears came out looking abysmal on offense and the Rams opened the scoring up with a pair of field goals. The good news was the Chicago Bears offense turned it on in the second half and scored some points. The bad news was injuries to the offensive line, penalties committed by the offensive line, and mistakes by the offensive line. The Bears’ defense played another phenomenal game and dictated the outcome 24-18.
Bears D Highlights First Half
Chicago Bears’ safety Jaquan Brisker would have had an interception of Matthew Stafford if it wasn’t for his foot touching out of bounds before intercepting the pass. Montez Sweat then had a strip sack on Rams QB Matthew Stafford with a few minutes left in the first half, giving the ball back to the Bears offense. Bears DT Gervon Dexter Sr. also had a sack in the first half.
Caleb Williams fumbled the ball on a sack that was thankfully recovered by the Bears to retain possession, only to punt the ball a few downs later. Williams did go into the blue injury tent in the first half and was seen walking gingerly after that, but never missed a snap. Keenan Allen had his first game back since Week 1 and drew a key pass interference penalty late in the first half to give the Bears the ball at the 1-yard line. Allen’s presence was felt in the first half with 2 catches on 2 targets and running hard after the catch.
More First Half Highlights
Chicago Bears RB Roschon Johnson followed Offensive Lineman Doug Kramer, who lined up in the backfield at fullback into the endzone off the right tackle for a one-yard touchdown run. Chicago Bears Kicker Cairo Santos kicked the PAT with 5:42 left in the first half. Rams Kicker Joshua Karty then missed a field goal wide right with 1:01 left in the first half that would have put the Rams up 9-7. After the miss, the Chicago Bears offense took over on their 33-yard line.
D’Andre Swift took a screen pass 27 yards to the Rams 42-yard line with under 45 seconds. Williams took a sack one play after overthrowing Rome Odunze in the end zone. The Bears were unable to punch it in and Chicago Bears Kicker Cairo Santos added a 40-yard field goal with 0:09 left in the first half giving the Bears a 10-6 lead. Head Coach Matt Eberflus praised his team for playing complimentary football in the first half but also said they needed to clean up the penalties. Swift had 66 scrimmage yards in the first half as the bright spot.
Offense Takes Over in 2nd Half
The LA Rams received the kickoff with a touchback out the back of the endzone to start the second half. The Rams put together a nice drive on their first possession, getting into the red zone. The Chicago Bears’ defense stiffened and held the Rams to another field goal to preserve their lead at 10-9.
The Chicago Bears’ first drive of the second half started from their 26-yard line after a DeAndre Carter return. The Chicago Bears worked the ball down into the red zone on a long drive on a mix of run and pass, running an up-tempo offense. Williams threw his first TD pass to DJ Moore in the back of the endzone from nine yards out. Chicago Bears kicker Cairo Santos, hit the PAT to give the Bears the lead 17-9.
On the Rams’ next possession, they drove right down the field again and capped off the scoring drive with a 3-yard touchdown run by RB Kyren Williams. The Rams went for two to tie the game and the attempt failed on an incomplete pass intended for Rams WR DeMarcus Robinson.
More Second Half Recap
The Chicago Bears started their next drive from the 30-yard line after a touchback and had a nice mix of run and pass to start the drive. Chicago Bears TE Cole Kmet caught a big throw over the middle for 22 yards to set up Bears RB D’Andre Swift on the next play. Swift ran behind a block from the left guard for a 36-yard touchdown run and Cairo Santos PAT put the Bears up 24-15 with 12:26 left in the 4th quarter.
The Rams started their next drive from the 30-yard line after a touchback. Chicago Bears Safety Jaquon Brisker sacked Matthew Stafford for a 9-yard loss to make it third down and a country mile and the Rams could not convert. Joshua Karty came out on fourth down and kicked a 52-yard field goal on the subsequent play.
Caleb Williams got sacked for the third time on this drive, forcing a 4th down and 14. Tory Taylor came onto the field to punt and blasted one deep that bounced inside the 10-yard line and hooked out of bounds, pinning the Rams deep in their territory and they took over at their 8-yard line. The Chicago Bears forced a 4th and 2 by holding the Rams on 3rd and 7. The Rams punted the ball away to the Bears with 4:14 to go in the game. After a return by DeAndre Carter and a penalty on the Rams, the Bears take over at their 38-yard line.
Chicago Bears Close It Out
The Chicago Bears finally had a lead late in the game and began to run out the clock in the run game. Kramer went in at fullback and led RB Roschon Johnson through the middle for a big first down. Swift added a run on a toss from Williams, then the Rams called their final time out of the game. After the 2:00 warning, the Chicago Bears had a 3rd down and 5, and they ran it with Caleb Williams on a keeper who got a few yards.
On 4th down and 3, the Bears got to the ball quickly trying to use a hard count to draw the Rams offsides. When it didn’t work, the Chicago Bears called a timeout. Taylor’s punt went off his leg deep in the air and was touched down inside the Rams 10-yard line. On the ensuing play, Chicago Bears Safety Jaquan Brisker picked off Matthew Stafford at the 18-yard line and the defense slammed the door on a Bears win. Williams came in to put the Bears in victory formation and ended the game with a w 24-18.
Final Thoughts
In an exciting game that finally saw the Chicago Bears’ offense come to life, they had rushing touchdowns and passing touchdowns in the same game for the first time this year. The Bears’ offensive line still had too many mistakes. Injuries also plagued the Bears O-line with starting LG Tevin Jenkins getting injured in the second quarter and missing the remainder of the game. Keenan Allen made a huge difference in how defenses cover the Bears pass-catchers and his veteran presence on the field greatly benefitted the Bears’ offense.
The Bears are now 2-0 in the comfy confines of Soldier Field and take on the Carolina Panthers in Week 5 at home. Brisker should be the player of the game with 12 total tackles, two tackles for loss, one pass defended, one sack, and the game-sealing INT of Stafford. Maligned Chicago Bears OC Shane Waldron finally got the play calling right, recognizing their identity, and taking advantage of his players ‘ skills after Caleb Williams and the Bears leaders called a private meeting with him earlier in the week.
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