Chicago Bears (2-2) – Los Angeles Rams (1-3): 24-18
D'Andre Swift silenced the critics (16 races, 93 yards, 1 touchdown). At the best of times, he showed his electrifying abilities to allow the Bears to win. He also allowed Caleb Williams (17/23, 157 yards, 1 touchdown) to free himself during the meeting. If the Chicago “prodigy” is still not perfect, his performance remains interesting.
Los Angeles, still diminished, arrived with a better face than that of the Bears. Among the notable absences, Tutu Atwell, Demarcus Robinson and Jordan Whittington raised their level of play to receive passes from a stammering Matthew Stafford (20/29, 224 yards, 1 interception).
Kyren Williams (19 races, 94 yards, 1 touchdown) tried everything. The runner turned into a ram to tear down the defenses of the Northern Fortress. As usual, the Bears defensive line did a remarkable job even if it suffered against the race, it was able to overplay Matthew Stafford (3 sacks, 1 fumble, 1 interception).
The defenses force their hand
A pattern quickly emerged in this meeting. The attacks of the Bears and the Rams were easily stopped by applied, if not perfect, defenses. On the Chicago side, the inclination was towards the reed technique, which bends but does not break. While relying on the ability of its quarterback hunters to create chaos and turnovers.
The Rams are satisfied with only two field goals to “heighten” the score to 0-6 in the middle of the second quarter. Matthew Stafford was also very happy to see a dodgy interception called back because Jaquan Brisker (S) couldn't get both feet back inside the field before catching the ball.
Nevertheless, Gervon Dexter Sr. and Montez Sweat manage to find the shoulders of the opposing quarterback a couple of times. The last named even makes him let go of the ball, covered by Chicago. Roschon Johnson, well helped by the referees, finished in the goal five minutes from half-time. Without this, the attack of Shane Waldron (OC) would have been fanny, logically as the person responsible for the attack proposed a football mush.
To end the period, Stafford oscillates between laser passes and inaccuracies. Tutu Atwell himself must smash a ball on the ground to prevent his quarterback from an interception. The Rams set up the field goal to take the lead at halftime. It's Karty's kick (4/5) which veers completely to the left of the posts, technical fault from the holder. Caleb Williams and D'Andre Swift change into their university version for 30 seconds, enough to add three points (10-6).
Coal runners or No Kupp, no Nacua… no problems
The third quarter is a carbon copy of the first two. The only difference is that both teams are tired of their passing game and have understood that the crux of the matter is the ground. Kyren Williams and D'Andre Swift wear down defenses. The Rams runner is the most effective but his team, after a long drive of 12 games and 6 minutes, does not manage to break the Bears' lock, simple field goal (10-9). Chicago has more success in the scoring zone. Caleb Williams completed his best pass of the season for DJ Moore's touchdown before the end of the quarter (17-9).
In the Bears' den, Kyren Williams carried the rams on his back. In a drive with more alternation, it was again he who put in the biggest blows. And it was he who logically found the way to the goal, with a powerful run, full axis. The Rams score their first touchdown of the day, and Williams scores for his seventh straight game. At the very start of the last quarter, the counters are almost reset to zero (17-15).
The mano a mano of the runners continues and the game speeds up. D'Andre Swift responded instantly with a touchdown on a long 40-yard run (24-15). Jaquan Brisker joins the party around the opposing quarterback. On a well-felt blitz, he kills a drive. The Rams only added three points midway through the fourth quarter. (24-18)
Defenses adapt. The teams exchange punts. In this little game, the Bears have the advantage of controlling the score and the clock. Jaquan Brisker finally gets his interception to seal the game (24-18). Chicago returns to a balanced record with a victory that resembles it.
