chicago_suntimes
In a game that was anything but pretty, the Chicago Bears managed to edge the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 27-24 on Sunday, moving their record to 7-2. The victory came despite five turnovers, four of which were interceptions thrown by quarterback Caleb Williams. The Bears also dealt with some concerning injuries, but they'll have a bye week to recover and regroup.
Quarterback: C-Minus
Caleb Williams' performance was a tale of two halves. Early on, NBC's Cris Collinsworth was so impressed that he compared Williams to Joe Montana. But the second quarter brought a harsh reality check. Williams threw three interceptions in that period, each one seemingly worse than the last. He regressed into something resembling Steve DeBerg, Montana's predecessor with the 49ers who threw 60 interceptions in three seasons before Montana took over in 1981. While Williams' deep throws were spectacular, his decision to toss up prayers while backpedaling was baffling. Still, he redeemed himself somewhat by leading the Bears on a game-winning field goal drive, elevating his grade from a D.
Receivers: B-Minus
Luther Burden provided one of the most exciting plays of the day for Bears fans: a routine catch four yards past the line of scrimmage that he turned into a 52-yard touchdown after breaking three tackles. However, Burden also suffered a knockout hit and fumbled late in the fourth quarter, a sight no fan wants to see. Fellow receiver Rome Odunze bobbled a perfect pass in the back of the end zone but later caught a third-down touchdown from the 9-yard line for the Bears' first score. Odunze also earned extra credit for his honorary home-run swing and a "We love you, boy!" message into the camera for injured tight end Cole Kmet. Zavion Thomas hurt the team with a personal foul that pushed the Bears out of the red zone and led to Williams' first interception.
Offensive Line: C-Minus
Williams didn't take many hard hits, but he was under immediate pressure on far too many drop-backs. Left tackle Theo Benedet completely missed a third-down edge rush by Bucs rookie Rueben Bain, forcing Williams to throw the ball into the ground and settle for a 25-yard field goal. The running game was virtually nonexistent.
Run Defense: B
Facing the NFL's top rushing attack, the Bears' run defense was outstanding for most of the game. Linebacker Devin Bush had his best performance as a Bear, repeatedly shooting into gaps to blow up runs. Defensive end Austin Booker also crashed down to snuff out plays before they started. However, Bucky Irving finished strong with 97 yards, two touchdowns, and an average of 4.9 yards per carry.
Pass Defense: A-Minus
Nickel corner Kyler Gordon and rookie safety Dillon Thieneman were beaten on a 58-yard pass from Baker Mayfield to Tez Johnson early in the third quarter, which set up a Buccaneers touchdown that cut the lead to 17-13. But versatile defensive back Cam Lewis jumped a Mayfield pass for an interception, and cornerback Jaylon Johnson finally got to celebrate a 67-yard pick-six. The pass rush came alive late, with Jeffrey Simmons, Shemar Turner, Grady Jarrett, Daniel Hardy, and Booker all recording sacks.
Special Teams: D
Tory Taylor had another punt blocked. A questionable hold on D'Marco Jackson negated a 91-yard kickoff return by Zavion Thomas. Upback Jack Sanborn's false start spoiled a fake punt attempt that likely wouldn't have worked anyway. The Bears always seem on the verge of breaking a big return, but mistakes are piling up. Thank goodness Cairo Santos drilled the walk-off 38-yard field goal.
Tomorrow's Headlines
Bye, Bye, Bears: No game this weekend—a very good thing, as this team needs a break. Many players have mistakes to reflect on and correct. A Confident QB? Caleb Williams is the key to the entire operation, but is he rattled after throwing four interceptions? He'll say no, of course, but it's a legitimate concern. Injury Updates: Getting Kyle Monangai back after the bye would be a godsend. Will Luther Burden miss time? Oh no—Kyler Gordon hurt again?
Originally reported by chicago_suntimes.