Another week, another loss
There was a moment on Sunday when I let the thought creep into my head.
Could this happen?
I told myself it was too remote. It was too far-fetched; there was still a lot of game left.
But it was there, deep in the recesses of my mind. Getting louder.
Could this actually happen? They’re leading, they might actually…
Then, the final minutes ticked by. The Chicago Bears once again mismanaged a late-game situation.
By the time there was 40 seconds left, I got a text from my Green Bay Packers fan brother.
Him: Lol not interested in maybe 10 more yards?
Me: I’m going to be so mad when they miss this.
I hate it when I’m right.
It was just as we all expected right? It’s always the Bears hanging around just long enough to make you want to believe before they yank defeat from the jaws of victory.
Stock up
Thomas Brown, OC – With just a couple of days to prepare, Brown put together a game plan that made a lot more sense and had a lot more answers than anything we had seen from Shane Waldron over the last month. It wasn’t perfect, but it was a marked improvement and made things so much better and easier for Caleb Williams. Keep it up.
Caleb Williams, QB – Speaking of, Williams turned in his best game since before the bye. Sure there were no touchdowns, but he got the ball out quick and completed over 65 percent of his passes. And most importantly, he once again showed an ability to make plays in late game situations and on third down.
Terrell Smith, CB – Smith continues to platoon with Tyrique Stevenson at the cornerback spot opposite Jaylon Johnson. Smith, in some ways is playing better just by playing smarter. Smith had his first career interception Sunday.
Stock down
Cairo Santos, K – Look, this loss is on coaching more than Santos. But man, you couldn’t get just a little more air under this one? Maybe I’m just taking my frustration out on the wrong guy.
Montez Sweat, DE – Sweat has notched just two tackles in the last two games. No QB hits, no sacks. I know it’s easy for offensive lines to double-team and focus on Sweat because there is such little help around him, but I would hope he could get out for a couple of pressures.
Elijah Hicks, S – Hicks has been mostly OK filling in for Jaquan Brisker. But on Sunday, he was bested a couple of times by Christian Watson. Kyler Gordon and Hicks each got lost or let Watson get between their zones. But I am putting Hicks here before on Watson’s last catch, the big one that set up the winning score, Hicks had a chance to make a tackle after Jaylon Johnson slipped. But he missed, and Watson got an extra few yards.
Who do you have up and down this week? What were the bright spots in this week’s game?