Bears 26-14 Victory Won’t Win Style Points; Why It Bodes Well For Future

The Bears’ perseverance through terrible officiating continued against the Saints.  The most appalling example occurred when tight end Colston Loveland received a pass interference penalty for standing and having a defender run into him. It took away a 15-yard gain and turned it into a 10-yard loss. It stilted Chicago’s scoring momentum. There were many more that could be chosen from, but the key is instead of letting the calls cause a snowball effect, the Bears kept playing. They limited the damage and found a way to get a victory.

Williams Struggles

Quarterback Caleb Williams put up his ugliest stat line of the season.  He went 15 for 26 with 172 yards passing. He threw zero touchdowns with an interception and contributed a paltry negative two yards rushing. He looked uncomfortable in the pocket against the New Orleans pressure, and his progression, which seemed on fire just a few weeks ago, looked stilted on Sunday.

Williams immediately following the game expressed disappointment in his play and praised the running game and the defense. He stepped up as a leader and took the mantle to put greater expectations upon himself. Bears enthusiasts who want to tear Williams down for such a performance would be wise to review the Lions’ quarterback, Jared Goff’s, first season under Ben Johnson. It took Goff nearly half a season to get comfortable and provide consistent momentum. Ultimately, fans should be most encouraged by how the other Chicago pieces stepped up against the Saints.

Running Game Excels

Going into the bye week, the Bears’ running game was the worry of many. Calls to bring in help by the trade deadline were plentiful; Chicago ranked 31st in rushing yards, and Williams needed to carry the offense on his back. Since the bye, the running attack results have been extraordinary.

Running back De’Andre Swift was the biggest reason for the nail-biting victory over Washington. He exploded for 175 combined yards, which included a touchdown reception that flipped the game back into the Bears’ favor. His excellence continued against the Saints as he rushed for 124 yards and a touchdown. He contributed a 14-yard reception as well, showing off his greatest attribute, his versatility.

The running game wasn’t all Swift; Kyle Monangai chipped in with his greatest pro performance. Monangai rushed for 81 yards on 13 carries and a score. He made two receptions for 13 yards and helped the Bears command the clock. On the day, Chicago ran for 222 yards on 40 carries with two touchdowns, an extraordinary swing over the last two weeks. What looked like one of the worst running attacks has become one of the best. Johnson deserves much praise for many things; this turnaround may be his most extraordinary accomplishment.

Defense Carries The Day

The Bears’ defense, especially its pass rush, was much maligned following the fourth-quarter collapse against Minnesota and the meltdown against Detroit. Since then, though, there has been steady improvement. The defense hasn’t been great, but it has provided opportunity for the offense to break through late in games. Defensive Coordinator Dennis Allen came to Chicago with a stellar reputation, and he has solidified it by coaching this unit up.

On Sunday, needing to step up for Williams, the defensive corps provided its best performance. It forced three interceptions of New Orleans quarterback Spencer Rattler as well as a fumble. It made him uncomfortable throughout the afternoon, with by far its season-best pressure, sacking Rattler four times. The defense played excellently on third downs, holding the Saints to a 30% conversion rate. While it did have a couple of hiccups against New Orleans’ top wide receiver Chris Olave, allowing nearly 100 yards and two scores, it contained the Saints’ passing attack for the most part. Against the run, the defensive line was stellar, holding New Orleans to 44 yards and a paltry 2.6 yards per carry.

End Of My Chicago Bears Rant

Johnson drew praise for the coaching staff he put together in the offseason, and it has worked wonders by creating steady improvement in the defense and the running game. If anything, the rushing attack has blossomed over the last few weeks. These, along with the continued team perseverance, are the greatest positives to take away from Sunday’s game.

Johnson’s work with this team has shown that the magnified hype of his hiring should have been even greater. The Bears could have easily fallen off the rails after the 0-2 start; teams in the past sure would have. Instead, he has Chicago on a four-game winning streak and has done remarkable work reviving the likes of Swift.

For the first time in ages, Bears enthusiasts can be confident they have coaching with a clue. Yes, Williams stumbled today, but what was the result? A victory. The team is getting coached up, and fans should take hope that the Johnson/Williams partnership will only continue to get better. Johnson took half a season to connect with Goff and turned him from a bust to one of the game’s most prolific quarterbacks. He will do the same with Williams; there have already been glimpses of it.

The team needed to prove it could step up when Williams is down. It did that today, which bodes well for upcoming challenges. Next week, especially, will be a stiff test going on the road against a rested and angry 1-5 Baltimore Ravens team. There is no doubt that there will be moments when the refs make terrible calls, and the pressure magnifies on Williams. He knows he can take a deep breath and trust in his teammates and coaching to help him through.