LAKE FOREST, Ill. (670 The Score) — Breaking free down the sideline last October at FedEx Field, Bears receiver DJ Moore had nothing in his way of the end zone.
Moore hardly broke his stride on his 56-yard touchdown reception. Upon reaching the end zone, he didn’t spike the football, hit the Griddy dance or unveil a choreographed celebration. Instead, Moore ran off to celebrate with his teammates.
It isn't Moore’s style to draw attention to himself like many of his peers at wide receiver.
“I'm not one of those people that does all the antics,” Moore said. “Like, if y'all catch me and y'all see me out there doing little silly stuff, I'm not going to do that on a major stage on Sunday night. That's not me. I do it with my teammates. I'm not going to go out there and look crazy.
“I don't dance, I don't TikTok, I'm not about to go out there and do the extra stuff they do.”
Moore believes his lack of antics is part of the reason why he isn't considered one of the best receivers in the NFL. Despite having a strong season in 2023, Moore wasn't selected to the Pro Bowl. It's an honor he has never received in his six-year NFL career. Moore also wasn’t voted as one of the top 100 players in the league-run player poll, but he's OK with all of that.
What matters for Moore and the Bears are the results, which they're hoping to change this season. After going 10-24 in head coach Matt Eberflus' first two seasons, Chicago believes it’s set for a breakthrough in 2024.
But the Bears aren’t getting caught up in the potential possibilities, and they aren’t reading into the narratives.
"I'm done buying into the hype, honestly,” Pro Bowl cornerback Jaylon Johnson said. “I mean, I've had some pretty good rosters, plenty of talented people in the locker room, some times where, 'Oh, yeah, this is our year. This is our year.' So, I mean, everything we have in his locker room sounds good, it seems good, I've seen it. But at the end of the day, none of that matters. What matters is what we're going to do this weekend and from every Sunday or Monday, (whenever) game it is. That's when it matters.
“The preseason hype for me (doesn’t) move me. I mean, Caleb (Williams), everybody, we all got to come in here and we got to work. I mean, just top to bottom, myself, new contract year, that doesn’t mean nothing no more. We got to come in here and we got to go to work."
Johnson ranked as the No. 1 cornerback in the NFL in 2023, according to Pro Football Focus grades. Despite that, he was also left off the NFL’s top 100 list.
Pro Bowl pass rusher Montez Sweat and veteran receiver Keenan Allen were the Bears’ lone representatives on that top-100 list. By comparison, the Chiefs had three players ranked in the top 10.
Admittedly, Johnson wasn't pleased about being left off this list – “Bull----,” he called it – but it’s a motivating factor that will drive him. Similarly, Moore knows well that his play will do the talking on his behalf.
The 22-year-old Williams, the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft, has already declared his goal of winning eight Super Bowl championships – which would break legendary quarterback Tom Brady's record of seven. Inside the Bears' locker room, there's a common drive.
Bears center Coleman Shelton, who won a Super Bowl ring with the Rams in February 2022, sees the right mindset in his new team.
“There was a lot of leadership,” Shelton said, reflecting on his championship Rams team. “It was led from the front, and I feel that a lot here too, which is great. A lot of the players stepping up and being able to take ownership, kind of bringing the team along with them.
“You always want your best players (to) lead by example. They just go in every day in the building and go to work, and I think that’s what a lot of guys on our team do a great job of. Just coming in here, showing that, ‘Hey, this is the way we want to get it done, and this is the way it should get done.’ Just coming in and leading by example from the front.”
The Bears are that team garnering headlines and preseason praise. There’s great fascination to see what Williams and his dynamic supporting cast can do, and the Chicago defense has also stated its intention to be a top-five unit in the league.
But all of that hype fades away once the football is kicked into the air Sunday at Soldier Field. What follows is how the Bears hope to be judged.
“We got to get through Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,” Moore said. “At the end of the year, we'll know if that anticipation was correct or wrong. What the record is at the end of the year is what it is. Hopefully, it's on the winning side and we're in the postseason and we can have this conversation smiling.”
As for my predictions?
I have Williams earning a win in his debut as the Bears defense leads the way to a 24-13 victory against the Titans. Beyond that, I predict the Bears will go 10-7 in the regular season to earn the final playoff berth in the NFC.
2024 season predictions
NFC playoff picture
1. Cowboys
2. 49ers
3. Lions
4. Buccaneers
5. Packers
6. Eagles
7. Bears
NFC Championship: Cowboys defeat Packers
AFC playoff picture
1. Ravens
2. Chiefs
3. Texans
4. Jets
5. Bengals
6. Dolphins
7. Colts
AFC Championship: Chiefs defeat Bengals
Super Bowl: Chiefs defeat Cowboys
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.