The Chicago Bears’ winning streak came to an end on Sunday in a hard-fought 30-16 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Facing a Ravens squad without star quarterback Lamar Jackson, Chicago had a solid chance to extend their winning run to five games. However, despite a competitive effort, the Bears fell short in a game that was closer than the final score might suggest.
Much of the blame for the defeat falls on quarterback Caleb Williams. Williams threw for 285 yards but failed to reach the end zone, both through the air and on the ground. Perhaps his most critical error came in the fourth quarter, delivering the play that ultimately sealed the Bears’ fate.
Late in the game, facing a 2nd-and-9 from their own four-yard line, head coach Ben Johnson called a risky play-action pass designed for Williams. The Bears’ offensive line executed the block well, giving Williams time to make a throw. Unfortunately, Williams ended up throwing a costly interception to Nate Wiggins, handing the Ravens prime field position inside the red zone.
Just two plays later, Baltimore capitalized with a touchdown on a Jonathan Kolar catch, pushing the score to 23-13. That interception proved to be the decisive turning point, as the Bears were unable to respond with a touchdown for the remainder of the game.
What’s particularly interesting about the play is the apparent disconnect between Williams and Coach Johnson. Williams maintains that he made the right read but failed to deliver an accurate pass, crediting Wiggins for making a great play. “It was a good read: Rome man-to-man with the guy that caught the pick,” Williams said, per Adam Jahns. “I just didn’t give a good ball to Rome.”
Johnson, on the other hand, disagrees. “Just in my mind, there might have been another option that we could have gotten to,” the Bears coach explained.
When watching the play back, it seems both perspectives hold some truth. Williams could have located the ball better to receiver Rome Odunze, which might have prevented Wiggins from undercutting the route. Still, even a perfect throw could have been disrupted by nearby Ravens defender Marlon Humphrey. Additionally, running back Kyle Monongai was coming open after the play-action, likely the alternative option Johnson was referring to.
This difference of opinion will surely be addressed during the Bears’ upcoming film study session. With a 4-3 record, Chicago remains in a decent position, but yesterday’s missed opportunity was a chance to further solidify their place in the NFC North title race.
The Bears will look to regroup quickly as they aim to bounce back and continue competing in what promises to be a tightly contested division battle.
https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/chicago-bears/bears-news-ben-johnson-disagrees-caleb-williams-killer-interception-ravens