These notes/summaries were written during the actual quarters. Hindsight is not allowed.
QUARTER ONE
- A bit surprised to see D’Andre Swift at the starting tailback position to start the game. Not because of his performance but because of the Roschon Johnson media buzz all week.
- 3rd and 4 on first offensive drive. Perfectly called out to Cole Kmet and Rome Odunze blows the block. The play was not only going to be a first down, but it was also going to be a massive gain. The story of this early season hasn’t been scheme, in my mind. It’s been execution.
- 3rd and 5 on first defensive drive. Bears blitz and don’t get home. This is a very good defense but what will keep them from being elite is their inability to harass quarterbacks on pivotal third downs.
- Mark Sanchez does something analysts shouldn’t do, and that’s trying to make broad points on every single down. Some plays are just plays.
- Gervon Dexter Sr. is one hell of a player. When you have a pass rushing force in the middle of your defensive line, it allows so much creativity elsewhere. It will be interesting to see if the Bears start moving him around to create mismatches and complement Sweat.
- I’ve tweeted this a number of times, but I still don’t understand what this new kickoff rule is trying to achieve. Do they want more returns? Why would this increase returns? I just want to understand the logic.
- The “blindside block” rule…what is Braxton Jones supposed to do on that play? He’s directly next to the man. How long does he have to wait?
- Second offensive drive worse than the first. 1st and 25 is manageable, but not when you’re running up the gut on first down. This is the modern NFL, folks. The Bears have to be willing to chuck it down the field on early downs and this coaching staff continues to coach afraid.
- Tory Taylor makes my heart sing. What a weapon.
- Stafford gets Chris Williams to do the unthinkable and jump offsides. Another individual mistake. And fairly or unfairly, that kind of mistake falls on the head coach.
Score: Bears 0, Rams 3.
QUARTER TWO
- Stafford hits Tutu or an easy downfield completion on first down and the Bears commit another idiotic penalty. This time it is Brisker with a late hit.
- There’s a timeout! Where? On the field! Ohhhhhhh…
- Brisker was clearly out of bounds before the reversed interception. Here’s my question: why? Why does this team seem to be completely lacking in awareness through the first month of the season?
- Carter catches kickoff about a foot into the end zone. He still doesn’t return it. I’m so confused by the whole rule change.
- Bears run the ball on first down. Drink.
- Teven Jenkins to the locker room, followed immediately by a Darnell Wright false start. It just isn’t good upfront.
- Nate Davis commits an absurd, away from the play hold, to negate an excellently designed shuffle pass to DJ Moore. Offensive line. Again.
- This is supposed to be the best wide receiving corps in Bears history. Why can’t they get open?
- Chris Shula has Don Shula’s nose.
- Darnell Wright illegal formation negates another positive play. At some point these endless mistakes have to have repercussions.
- Montez Sweat absolutely hammers Stafford, turn over. Bears continue to stay in these games because of their defense. (And probably will all year.)
- Roschon Johnson up the gut. Easy touchdown. (My fantasy team, Jamaal Charles Nelson Reilly, rejoices.)
- 3rd and 3. Just over 4 minutes left. Crucial play. No pass rush. Easy completion. For a ballyhooed secondary, there are a lot of open receivers each week.
- 3rd and 3. Just over 2 minutes left. Crucial play. Easy gain on the ground.
- The stories of this season for the Bears are their most essential strengths in 2023 – running the ball and stopping the run – are now weaknesses. Every prediction about this campaign was predicated on those elements remaining strengths.
- Karty’s 43-yard field goal attempt looks an awful lot like my buddy Paul’s driver when he transitions to a character I call “Pulls McGee.”
- Swift in the passing game. Caleb on the move. This is some of the offense I expected.
- I really like this referee’s communication. Reminds of me rugby referees, explaining everything with clarity.
- Rookie moment for Caleb on second down. Just dump the ball off and let Swift try and make a play.
- Why did DJ Moore slow down on the third down? That throw is perfect. Moore’s play, and attitude, have been perplexing.
Score: Bears 10, Rams 6.
QUARTER THREE
- Rams dominating the Bears at the point of attack in the run game. This has happened multiple weeks this season. Continues to surprise me.
- Sweat knocks down Stafford’s third-and-goal attempt and the defense does their job again.
- At this stage of the game, I am frankly amazed the Bears have a lead. It’s a one-point lead but they could just as easily be down a couple touchdowns. This first drive of the second half can be a trend setter. Go down the field and score a touchdown. Get up 8. Assert your place in this game.
- Carter returns one. Unexciting.
- This is 100% the usage of Swift I expected. And it is coherent!
- That is the kind of drive a team can build on, and the quarterback looked in total control of the offense.
- Rams respond with back-to-back wide-open receivers. No pass rush.
Score: Bears 17, Rams 9.
QUARTER FOUR
- Kyren Williams easily into the end zone. That drive was almost too easy. But Bears hold on the two-point conversation and maintain the lead.
- The offense has arrived! Welcome to 2024, boys. Beautiful hole up the middle from the interior guys.
- Love seeing the enthusiasm from Pryor after the touchdown run from Swift. That will continue with more success.
- Once again, wide open receivers all over the field. And it’s happening weekly. You don’t mind the opponent completing passes, but you’d like the completions to be more contested than this.
- Karty played the wind beautiful on his 52-yard make. Placed that ball right of the uprights and let the wind bring it back to dead center. As a golfer, much respect.
- Cole Kmet with ANOTHER false start on 3rd and 2. What a brutal penalty from a veteran. You just can’t make that kind of mistake.
- Tory. Taylor.
- 3rd and 7. Bears hold. Biggest moment of the game for the defense and they made a play. Brilliant form tackle from Jaylon Johnson to get the unit off the field.
- Bears need a yard. And Roschon gets it. Physical play by a team that had lacked physicality for three weeks.
- 2-minute warning! The Bears should run their best play coming out of the break and not worry about draining another 40 seconds. Let you quarterback go and win this game. Will they?
- They did not.
- So, it’s on the defense. One minute. Can they keep the Rams from getting seven? That’s the scenario Eberflus wanted.
- Tory Taylor. Again.
- Pressure. Pick. Game over.
Final score: Bears 24, Rams 18.
