Bears Have A Bright Future Despite Crushing Loss To Rams

There are truthful galore questions aft what was expected to beryllium a legendary nighttime successful Chicago. And I opportunity legendary because I needed a stronger connection than special, because it was still that—a typical night—despite nan playoff heartbreaker nan Bears suffered successful overtime against nan Rams connected Sunday. 

Let’s get to nan questions, because nan faster Bears fans process those, nan faster they’ll beryllium capable to spot each nan bully that came from a drama-filled 20–17 playoff classical astatine Soldier Field. I’m besides having a difficult clip focusing connected what went incorrect because I conscionable want to item nan Bears’ typical quarterback, who delivered nan astir jaw-dropping throws successful nan clutch nan past 2 weeks.   

But we still person to inquire each nan whys, particularly connected Caleb Williams’s crushing interception that gave nan Rams caller life successful overtime. Why did coach Ben Johnson telephone a changeable play to DJ Moore erstwhile each nan Bears needed was a walk-off section extremity successful overtime? Why didn’t Williams spell distant from nan telephone pinch Moore being defended by Rams information Kamren Curl? And for nan biggest question: Why didn’t Moore complete nan resistance route? Did he not cognize nan play? Did he misjudge really adjacent Curl was to nan ball? Why did Curl show much effort than Moore connected nan game-changing interception?

Who knows what went done Moore’s mind, but if it was for a deficiency of effort, this costly play will instrumentality pinch him for a agelong time, akin to Cam Newton not jumping connected nan shot against nan Broncos during Super Bowl 50.   

As for 1 much question: Why didn’t Johnson telephone much plays that featured Williams’s strengths distant from nan pocket? But that last “why” needs to beryllium flipped into a “how,” because if Johnson tin fig retired really to utilize Williams’s gifts distant from nan pocket—especially erstwhile they’re not trailing—they’ll beryllium backmost successful this position quickly, possibly arsenic soon arsenic adjacent twelvemonth and for galore Januarys to come. 

Again, Williams is special. What Williams has done successful this postseason hasn’t been seen since a premier Aaron Rodgers. This nonaccomplishment must beryllium devastating for Bears fans, but they tin astatine slightest return solace successful knowing that their backmost is being compared to Rodgers. There are a fewer quarterbacks who person nan elite accomplishment group that Williams has, but he mightiness beryllium nan only 1 tin of utilizing his erratic ways to his advantage, someway slowing down nan crippled successful nan biggest moments to make never-seen-before throws.

Williams unleashed an absurd game-tying touchdown explosive connected fourth-and-4 successful nan last 18 seconds of regulation, which was much of a fourth-and-45 play. The Bears’ second-year backmost ran backwards adjacent to midfield earlier delivering nan filthy “14-yard” onslaught to tight extremity Cole Kmet that traveled 51 yards successful nan air. It wasn’t rather a legendary nighttime successful Chicago, but only those destined for legendary position tin make those kinds of throws. 

I don’t attraction if I’m getting measurement excessively up of myself. I can’t beryllium called a captive of nan infinitesimal erstwhile Williams topped his fourth-and-8 jumpman walk to Rome Odunze successful nan thrilling come-from-behind wild-card triumph against nan Packers past week. Sunday’s propulsion to Kmet was amended than nan 2 game-winners to Moore against nan Packers combined. And you tin somewhat understand Johnson’s reasoning connected nan downfield curl way to Moore because Chicago didn’t settee for a section extremity to hit Green Bay successful Week 16—Moore had a walk-off 46-yard touchdown drawback successful overtime. 

But Johnson will person to unrecorded pinch that determination to spell for much erstwhile it was each group up for nan Bears to nutrient different comeback triumph successful this typical 2025 season. He besides had a chance to spell for much adjacent nan extremity of regulation, but Johnson passed connected nan two-point conversion and settled for overtime aft Williams’s game-tying heroics. 

Overall, it was a unsmooth first postseason for Johnson arsenic a caput coach, which wouldn’t person gotten to nan 2nd information if it weren’t for Williams’s heroics against Green Bay. It seems nan Bears’ discourtesy is astatine its champion erstwhile playing from behind, because that’s erstwhile Williams has nan greenish ray to spell disconnected book and thin connected his beardown arm. Johnson’s productivity seldom appeared connected nan fistful of head-scratching fourth-down decisions, including connected fourth-and-goal from L.A.’s 2-yard statement successful nan 4th quarter.  

It’s baffling that Johnson didn’t spot Williams’s sensational capacity against nan Packers and deliberation that he needed his young backmost to beryllium connected nan move much against nan Rams. Williams didn’t commencement utilizing his legs until nan last 4th pinch a seven-point deficit. Yes, going distant from nan pouch leads to a higher chance of turnovers, but Williams still threw 3 interceptions pinch nan crippled scheme that kept him successful nan pocket. He vanished 23-of-42 for 257 yards and 2 touchdowns, and added 5 carries for 40 yards.

But nan bully from Johnson passim his first play successful Chicago has this squad successful position to beryllium a perennial playoff contender. Rams coach Sean McVay had a speedy playoff exit successful his first twelvemonth successful Los Angeles, losing to nan Falcons successful nan wild-card information earlier coming backmost nan pursuing twelvemonth to beforehand to a Super Bowl pinch Jared Goff.

And speaking of mind-melting throws, we’ve grown accustomed to Matthew Stafford’s no-look passes that curve for illustration a baseball—he had a special propulsion to Davante Adams successful overtime. For a moment, it appeared Williams was going to outplay nan front-runner for MVP and 1 of nan champion quarterbacks of nan past 5 years. 

Perhaps this heartbreaking nighttime successful Chicago tin beryllium remembered arsenic nan nighttime Williams kept gait pinch a early Hall of Famer. Patrick Mahomes mislaid to Tom Brady successful overtime of nan AFC title crippled during his first postseason. This could beryllium nan nighttime that made nan Bears want more, and not conscionable connected nan curl way to Moore. 

The Bears should usage this gut-wrenching overtime nonaccomplishment arsenic substance to build disconnected thing special, because that’s what this 2025 play was—special. 

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