The Chicago Bears and Caleb Williams need to ensure that one tough loss doesn’t derail their entire season.
A team that entered the bye on a three-game winning streak is now facing challenges after a dramatic 18-15 loss on Sunday to Washington, decided by a last-minute Hail Mary touchdown.
The offense struggled to gain momentum until late in the game, confusing play calls surfaced, and cornerback Tyrique Stevenson’s late-game error contributed to a challenging afternoon.
“When you lose, your initial reaction is to deflect blame or point fingers,” said tight end Cole Kmet on Monday. “But after watching the tape five or six times, it’s clear that we as players didn’t perform well.”
Williams and the offense faced difficulty establishing a rhythm early on, adding pressure to the coaching staff as play-calling missteps were scrutinized.
Trailing 12-7 in the fourth, the Bears reached Washington’s 1-yard line, opting for a handoff to offensive lineman Doug Kramer, who fumbled, allowing Washington to recover.
Chicago briefly took the lead on their next drive with Roschon Johnson’s 1-yard score, leaving only 25 seconds on the clock. Yet, instead of securing a tight win, they ended with a disappointing loss.
Stevenson became a social media topic after he gestured to the crowd and turned his back during Washington’s snap, which led to Jayden Daniels’ Hail Mary to Noah Brown.
In the final moments, with only 6 seconds remaining and Washington on its own 35, the Bears’ defense opted not to guard the sidelines, allowing Terry McLaurin to stop the clock with a 13-yard gain.
“If you defend the sideline, they might switch to a Hail Mary and run everyone up the sideline,” Coach Eberflus explained. “We wanted to limit their options downfield, which got them to the 48 and set up for the Hail Mary.”
