CHICAGO (670 The Score) – Bears rookie punter Tory Taylor takes pride in being part of his team's success, and that was certainly the case Sunday at Soldier Field.
Taylor delivered three punts inside the Rams’ 20-yard line, including a booming 66-yarder midway through the fourth quarter and a pinpoint 35-yarder late in the game. Both punts set up the Bears’ defense in a great spot to make pivotal stops that sealed Chicago’s 24-18 win against Los Angeles.
"It's obviously a pretty special feeling," Taylor said. "A lot goes into that one specific play. So, for us to kind of go out there and dominate field position for our team, we're obviously pretty ecstatic.”
With 1:13 remaining, the Bears elected to punt on fourth-and-3 at the Rams’ 43-yard line. Taylor lobbed in a punt that was downed at the 8-yard line, leaving the Rams backed up to their own end zone. On the ensuing play, quarterback Matthew Stafford was pressured near the goal line and threw an ill-fated pass that Bears safety Jaquan Brisker intercepted to secure the victory.
Taylor punted five times for an average of 55.4 yards Sunday. After celebrating their victory in the home locker room, the Bears made sure to praise their punter.
A fourth-round pick of the Bears in April, Taylor has given his team a key boost with his punting ability.
"Hell yeah," Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson said. "I haven't been that pumped up for a punt in a long time. He's definitely special, man. So, definitely giving us some punt-and-pins, giving them bad field position, giving us some good field position for us to be able to pin our ears back and go hunt.”
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.