Tell-tale heartbreaker
Ravens backup QB Huntley leads last-minute drive after Dalton throws for 2 TDs off the bench as Bears lose 5th straight
Subbing for star quarterback Lamar Jackson, Tyler Huntley led a winning drive capped by Devonta Freeman’s 3-yard run with 22 seconds remaining, and the Baltimore Ravens beat the Bears 16-13 on Sunday.
Jackson was sidelined by illness for the AFC North-leading Ravens (7-3), who ruled him out 90 minutes before kickoff after he took some throws on the field. The 2019 MVP was a full participant in practice Friday after being held out the previous two days. Coach John Harbaugh said Wednesday the illness was not COVID-19.
Justin Tucker kicked three field goals, and the Ravens came away with the win after losing the previous week at Miami.
Chicago’s Andy Dalton threw two touchdowns, including a 49-yarder to Marquise Goodwin in the closing minutes. Justin Fields had left the game with a rib injury in the third quarter.
The Bears (3-7) lost their fifth straight.
Dalton found Goodwin deep down the middle to cap a 75-yard drive and
put Chicago on top 13-9 with 1:41 remaining. Even though the 2-point conversion pass failed, the Bears appeared to be in good shape.
But the Ravens answered with the 72-yard touchdown drive. Freeman ran it in after Huntley’s 30-yard pass to Sammy Watkins put the ball on the 3.
Huntley completed 26 of 36 passes for 219 yards in his first career start. The second-year pro from Utah also threw an interception and got sacked six times in his fifth pro appearance.
Fields took a big step backward following several promising outings. The rookie was 4 of 11 for 79 yards after throwing for a career-high 291 yards at Pittsburgh two weeks ago.
Dalton, who started the first two games before a knee injury in Week 2 against Cincinnati, came in with 8:46 left in the third quarter and quickly threw a 60-yard touchdown to Darnell Mooney to give the Bears a 7-6 lead. The veteran was 11 for 23 for 201 yards.
Mooney had 121 yards receiving. Goodwin added 104. Robert Quinn had 3 ½ sacks. But the Bears remained winless following byes since 2013.
It didn’t help that they were missing star linebacker Khalil Mack, who is expected to have season-ending foot surgery this week. Defensive tackle Akiem Hicks (ankle) and receiver Allen Robinson (hamstring) were also unavailable.
The Bears had a chance to score on their first possession, only to come away emptyhanded when Cairo Santos missed a 40-yard field goal wide left.
Chicago drove to the Baltimore 36 in the second quarter, but that threat was dashed when Tyus Bowser stripsacked Fields and Calais Campbell recovered for the Ravens. That led to a 35-yard field goal by Tucker for a 3-0 lead with 2:11 left in the half.
Tucker added a 27-yarder in the closing seconds of the half to cap a 55-yard drive that took just over a minute.
Duke Shelley (hamstring) exited after he was hurt covering a fourth-quarter punt.
The Bears next visit Detroit on Thursday.