THE DEFENSE BESTS
Bears shut down Rams’ potent offense in dominant display
The game Sunday night was a measuring stick for the Bears, and not just because the Rams entered the game 11-1 and were considered the class of the NFL.
They are what the Bears want to be.
“I think we look at them as a way to do things,” Bears general manager Ryan Pace said on the team’s official pregame show on WBBMAM (780) in an interview that aired Sunday.
Like the Rams, the Bears hired a young playcaller as their coach. Like
Sean McVay did with
Wade Phillips, Matt Nagy paired up with Vic Fangio, a veteran defensive coordinator.
Both teams were built around a young quarterback and buttressed with high-profile trades and freeagent signings.
“I have a ton respect for Les Snead, their general manager, and you pair him with McVay, and they’re in a great position,” Pace said. “You watch their franchise and how they operate — they’re not afraid to be aggressive and make moves. That’s what they’ve done, especially the last two offseasons. And you see it paying dividends.”
Fake!
During the week, Bears specialteams coordinator Chris Tabor said Johnny Hekker, the league’s bestthrowing punter, had “about 35-odd plays that you have to worry about.”
Make that 36
On fourth-and-seven from their 28-yard line in the second quarter, the Rams ran a fake. Hekker caught the snap, ran to his right and threw a pass to tight end Gerald Everett in the flat. Everett was tackled and ruled short of the first-down marker, but the replay showed he made it to the sticks. The call was overturned.
It was Hekker’s 11th career completion on 18 tries. He has thrown for 156 yards and one touchdown.
Smith with a pick
About four minutes into the second quarter, rookie Roquan Smith picked off a pass intended for Robert Woods at the Rams’ 26yard line and returned it 22 yards.
It was the first interception of his career and the Bears’ leagueleading 22nd.
Since 1982, only two other Bears have had at least four sacks and one pick in their rookie seasons: John Roper in 1989 and Hall of Famer Brian Urlacher in 2000.
This and that
Slot cornerback Bryce Callahan, a stalwart for the Bears this season, left the game in the second quarter with a foot injury. In his fourth year, Callahan had never played more than 12 games in a season — until he appeared in his 13th on Sunday night.
♦ Rookie wide receiver Anthony Miller served as the kick returner for the first time this season. Tabor said Thursday that, for the second straight week, he was “disgruntled” with the team’s kick-return performance. Taquan Mizzell had returned kicks in recent weeks.
♦ The Bears usually have three captains. On Sunday night, they brought probably their six most respected players to midfield instead: quarterback Mitch Trubisky, outside linebacker Khalil Mack, defensive lineman Akiem Hicks, safety Eddie Jackson, wide receiver Allen Robinson and left tackle Charles Leno Jr.
♦ Wide receiver Kevin White was a healthy scratch again.