(670 The Score) The Bears scuffled in Baltimore on Sunday, losing 30-16 to the Ravens in a contest that snapped their four-game winning streak.
After finding ways to win the last four games, the Bears looked sloppy and undisciplined in falling to 4-3. Here are observations from Chicago's disappointing performance.
Formula for victory missing
The Bears had 15 takeaways in their recent four-game winning streak. Forcing turnovers is the best way to flip a close game.
On Sunday in Baltimore, Chicago's defense came up empty in the takeaways department, taking away an important avenue to mask the team's struggles elsewhere.
The Bears scored just one touchdown in three trips to the red zone. The defense scuffled as well, as it was unable to consistently get off the field or pressure Ravens backup quarterback Tyler Huntley.
Adding to the woes, the Bears committed double-digit penalties for the third time in seven games this season. They were penalized 11 times for 79 yards.
Bears head coach Ben Johnson has worked to combat his team’s discipline issues, honing in on the details during the offseason program and training camp. It’s now late October, and nothing has changed.
Johnson feared those types of miscues would cost the Bears games, and they certainly played a key part in the loss Sunday.
For the time being, the Bears have little margin for error in order to win a game. They need to have better execution on both sides of the football and need to showcase more discipline.
Quarterback Caleb Williams certainly has to do his part better. He has gone two straight games without a touchdown pass as the Bears have faltered in the red zone.
On Sunday, Williams was 25-of-38 for 285 yards and a costly interception in the fourth quarter on an ill-advised throw. After the game, Williams told reporters he made the right read but executed his throw poorly, but Johnson had said earlier that Williams should've gone to his checkdown option.
Chicago wants nothing more than to see Williams be the reason why the Bears win games. On Sunday, Williams wasn’t the reason for the disappointing result, but he didn’t do enough to win.
The Bears have overachieved to a degree, as they're 4-3 despite often playing a brand of football that isn't crisp. Nobody should apologize for the Bears being 4-3 while winning a few close games, but Sunday was a reminder of the work they still need to do.
Baltimore’s quarterback question
On Friday afternoon, two-time MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson seemed set to return from a hamstring injury for the Ravens. He was listed as a full participant in practice that day, a step forward after two days of being a limited participant.
Jackson was officially listed as questionable to play Sunday. By Saturday, he was ruled out for the game – with an important detail also changed. The Ravens on Saturday altered Jackson’s practice status for Friday, saying he was instead limited in his work.
Jackson worked with the Ravens’ scout team Friday, and Baltimore initially deemed that to be full participation. The change to his status came after an NFL Media report leaked that Jackson had worked with the scout team rather than the starting offense. The Ravens put out the correction following that report.
The NFL is investigating the matter and will likely impose a fine. It’s the type of detail the league doesn’t want wrong. Ravens coach John Harbaugh called it an “honest mistake,” which may have been the case. But the Bears had already spent the week of work largely preparing for Jackson to start.
It will be interesting to see how the NFL handles the matter.
Not enough leg
With no timeouts and the final seconds of the first half ticking away, the Bears' field-goal team rushed onto the field to line up kicker Cairo Santos for a 58-yard attempt. His try came up short.
Santos’ career-long field goal is 55 yards, which he hit two years ago. He simply doesn’t have enough power to convert from beyond that mark. In this age of kickers routinely hitting field goals from close to 60 yards, the Bears are lacking in that department – at least with Santos. Practice squad kicker Jake Moody has a stronger leg, with a career-long field goal of 57 yards.
Sunday marked Santos’ return after he missed two games with a right thigh injury. While Santos connected on field goals from 32, 39 and 47 yards, his inability to kick from deep is a problem.
The Bears have stood by Santos as their kicker, but that long-range miss represented the consequence of relying on him.
Extra points
--- The Bears set the wrong tone on their opening kickoff return, as special teams ace Josh Blackwell was called for holding. That was the first of 11 penalties on the day for the Bears.
--- On their first play from scrimmage, Williams found rookie tight end Colston Loveland for an 18-yard gain. That was supposed to be a tone-setter for Loveland's day. Instead, he had just three catches for 38 yards.
--- Does it make me a curmudgeon for wanting National Tight Ends Day to go away?
--- Maybe it’s a different game if Bears veteran safety Kevin Byard doesn't overrun that likely interception in the fourth quarter. The Ravens punted, backing up the Bears against their own goal line before Williams threw his costly pick.
--- There’s concern for rookie defensive tackle Shemar Turner, who was immediately ruled out after suffering a knee injury Sunday. That’s never a good sign. Meanwhile, rookie receiver Luther Burden III exited with a concussion.
--- The Bears have plenty to clean up this week.
--- As Bill Belichick once famously said: It’s on to Cincinnati.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.