CHICAGO (670 The Score) – Ninety-two yards stood between the NFL’s active leader in fourth-quarter comebacks and a victory Sunday at Soldier Field, but standing in between was a defense ready to assert itself once again.
In the Bears’ defensive huddle, the focus wasn’t on sitting back and waiting for the clock to expire. Their intention was to end the game in emphatic fashion.
“At some point on that drive, we were getting a takeaway,” Bears star cornerback Jaylon Johnson said, echoing the words of his teammates on defense.
Sure enough, it only took one play for the Bears’ stifling defense to get the football. Pass rusher Darrell Taylor applied the pressure on Stafford, and safety Jaquan Brisker hauled in an interception to seal Chicago’s 24-18 win.
Back at home a week after an ugly loss in Indianapolis, the Bears (2-2) bounced back with a key victory that featured contributions from all three phases. Rookie quarterback Caleb Williams managed the game efficiently in throwing for 157 yards and a touchdown as part of a turnover-free day. Chicago’s defense held Stafford and Los Angeles’ offense in check before capping the game with its first takeaway.
The Bears’ special teams units played their role as well, with kicker Cairo Santos hitting a clutch field goal late in the first half and rookie punter Tory Taylor’s superb performance changing field position in Chicago’s favor several times.
“At the end of the game, you could feel all three phases, really, to seal the deal on the game,” head coach Matt Eberflus said.
The past week at Halas Hall featured necessary troubleshooting for a scuffling offense. Key leaders for the Bears approached offensive coordinator Shane Waldron and asked to be coached harder and for the scheme to better cater to the personnel.
Veteran tight end Marcedes Lewis, top receiver DJ Moore, tight end Cole Kmet and the rookie Williams made sure their voices were heard by Waldron, who welcomed the collaboration.
“Us being on the same page,” Williams said. “Us understanding the flow that we’re in. If we’re in a flow, let us stay in that flow, get going – whether that’s the run game, whether it’s the pass game. Today, we did both pretty evenly, which is great and what we want to do every week.
“That was the main point of emphasis throughout the week, and obviously us having open communication is most important. Us having communication, myself being better at communicating, whether it’s game day or throughout the week, I had to be better.
“Today and throughout the week as a collective, we were better.”
The Bears rushed 28 times for 131 yards and two scores – one by D’Andre Swift and one by Roschon Johnson – while Williams was was 17-of-23 for 157 yards and a nine-year touchdown pass to Moore in the third quarter.
Waldron’s adjustments were also on display. With the Bears facing first-and-goal from the 1-yard line in the second quarter, Waldron turned to the powerful Johnson in the backfield and called upon backup center Doug Kramer to serve as a lead-blocking fullback out of the I-formation. Johnson and the Bears bullied their way for a one-yard touchdown run.
That was in stark contrast to the Bears’ approach in a 21-16 loss to the Colts the previous Sunday, when Waldron dialed up four runs out of shotgun in a go-to-goal sequence that began at the 4-yard line. It was capped by a disastrous speed option call on fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line that resulted in a 12-yard loss for Swift.
This Sunday, Swift enjoyed a breakthrough performance, carrying 16 times for 93 yards, including a 36-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter, while adding seven receptions for 72 yards.
“Execution from everybody,” Swift said. “I feel like we took a step in the right direction offensively this week.
“We complemented the run and the pass. Some things we need to clean up, but definitely a step in the right direction.”
Behind a strong defense, the Bears held off the Rams. Chicago’s defense is holding opponents to 18.8 points per game through four weeks, giving the team a chance amid the offense’s early struggles.
Sunday wasn’t a dominant performance by any means – the Rams posted 322 yards and had several explosive plays while star running back Kyren Williams carried 19 times for 94 yards – but the Bears’ defense delivered what it needed to produce a victory. When the game was on the line, they took the football away from Stafford and the Rams to seal the victory.
After a week of being challenged inside Halas Hall, the Bears responded with urgency to earn a much-needed victory.
“We played complementary football and came out with a win,” Johnson said.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.