I don’t know about all of you, but I’m having a tough time observing the 24-hour rule this weekend after Saturday night’s win. Yesterday, I spent most of the day consuming Bears-Packers content. Today, I woke up still on a high from the win. Luckily, I’m sure Ben Johnson has fully turned the page for him and his team as they prepare to host the Los Angeles Rams at Soldier Field on Sunday.
Let’s try to do the same, shall we? It’s time to react one final time (well, for now at least) to the Bears ending the Green Bay Packers’ season in the Wild Card Round on Saturday night with a stunning comeback at Soldier Field.
Mandatory Credit: David Banks – Imagn ImagesBears 24 Hour Rule
Let’s go in chronological order, at least to start. Because, for as good as things ended, it was about as rough a beginning as you could have drawn up. The offense went on a great opening drive, but stalled and had to settle for a field goal. Then, Green Bay went down and easily scored a touchdown. From that point on, Chicago’s offense looked rattled, panicked, and like they were pressing, and the defense just sat back in man coverage and made no adjustments. We’ll get to the defense shortly because ultimately their first-half performance led to the offensive implosion early. But let’s begin with the offensive side of the ball. I love Ben Johnson. He’s the reason we’re here. Without him, none of this happens. Having said that, there’s no denying he got a little restless and somewhat panicked in the first half. I have no problems being aggressive on fourth downs in certain situations, but he let the moment get to him a bit. It happens. Learn from it (which he did) and move on. But you could also tell that panic and frustration trickled down to Caleb Williams and the offense. I’ve said countless times that players take on the mentality of their coaches, and I think we saw that play out all game long, for better and for worse.CHECK OUT THE BN BEARS PODCAST: Apple | Spotify | YouTube
Luckily, in the second half and fourth quarter, especially, Ben Johnson put on a masterclass and proved why he gives the Bears a schematic advantage in just about every game they play in. As for the defense, I mean, credit where it’s due for the second-half turnaround and adjustments, but where was that game plan in the first half? Anyone with eyes could tell after the first two drives that Dennis Allen needed to alter his strategy of sending no extra pressure and trying to play man coverage against the Packers’ deep group of receivers. Jaylon Johnson still isn’t totally healthy. Nahshon Wright can’t cover for that long. Nick McCloud was overmatched. If that was going to be your strategy, Tyrique Stevenson and Kyler Gordon needed to be in from the jump! Now, I’m sure Kyler Gordon wasn’t fully healthy. When he played in the second half, he for sure was a step slow, and the Packers picked on him a bit. However, he thrived in the run game and getting after the quarterback. Why he wasn’t part of the game plan early and often, causing havoc in the box is beyond me. But again, at least they learned, adjusted, and figured out the problem eventually. Hopefully, now with another week, Gordon and Johnson can get a little better, and maybe CJ Gardner-Johnson can come back. But Sunday against the Rams, Dennis Allen needs to try and wreak havoc and get aggressive. Mandatory Credit: David Banks – Imagn Images Linebacker D’Marco Jackson was so good in relief of TJ Edwards. It sucks that Edwards went down with that injury, and he’s been a really good Bear, but it feels like Jackson fits what Dennis Allen’s scheme needs a little more. He’s faster and more explosive. He wasn’t the only reason, obviously, for the turnaround on Saturday night, but he played a big part. After everyone not named Austin Booker no-showed the first half, the defensive line also really turned up the heat in the second half. Grady Jarrett turned it on. Montez Sweat looked like his best self. Booker kept playing really well. Gervon Dexter Sr. still wasn’t great, but at least played a little better. Heck, even Dominque Robinson was standing out at times. It was a much-needed turnaround for a group that looked mostly lifeless in the first half. Flipping back to the offense, it was a little disappointing how much the Bears struggled to run the ball early, but the run game did turn around when they needed it most. D’Andre Swift continues to be a consistent, steady, and productive presence in the backfield, while Kyle Monangai still loves running through people. David Banks – Imagn Images Colston Loveland is awesome. The rookie tight end is no longer just a big piece of the offense; it’s gotten to the point where, for the most part, the offense runs through him. He’s the guy defenses game plan around. He’s the guy who opens up certain parts of the field based on where he lines up. He’s the matchup problem for anyone who covers him because he can do it all. I really liked the Loveland pick, and it grew on me as we got closer to opening week. When he started slow, I never lost faith, but I’m also not sure I envisioned him getting 15 targets, 8 receptions, and 137 yards against the Packers in a playoff win. What a football player. That was not Luther Burden III’s best game as a Bear. He’s going to be a great player, and he’s already having a really productive and fantastic season. Having said that, even amidst a tough night, he still made some massive plays in the second half. He had a big catch for a first down, and he made a huge block late that sprung Kyle Monangai for a big gain. Oftentimes, when things are going poorly for receivers, you see them check out a bit. Burden did the opposite on Saturday night. He battled through adversity and found ways to make an impact. DJ Moore is officially a Packers killer. He had one tough drop, but for the most part, he was awesome all night. He was a stabilizing force for an offense that needed to steady itself. And when the lights were brightest, and the Bears had the chance to take a lead, of course, it was DJ Moore who was targeted and gave Chicago the lead for good. Mandatory Credit: David Banks – Imagn Images I saved the best for last. Caleb Williams. I can’t say enough about what he means to this team and city. Haters can complain about his completion percentage all they want. I don’t care. He’s a superstar. He makes throws I’ve never dreamed that a Bears quarterback would be able to make. He’s never out of a football game. The bigger the moment, the better Caleb Williams gets. And, in theory, he’s only getting better. What he did Saturday night was unbelievable. He did to the Packers what Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers had done to us for the last 30 years. Enjoy the ride, Bears fans. We have our quarterback, and he has officially arrived.MORE: Film Room: Caleb Williams’ Wild Card Round Performance
Alright, it’s time to move on to the Rams. They’re a really good team, and the Bears can’t afford to spot them an entire half before figuring it out. The good news is, I think the Bears got their postseason jitters out of the way. Now, just go play football. You get to play at home, in Soldier Field, in potentially some real Bear Weather against a team that hasn’t played in anything like that all year, and who has a quarterback with an injured finger on his throwing hand. Play loose, let it rip, and let’s keep the fun going for another week. Matthew Stafford Injured His Finger in the Rams’ Playoff WinHence then, the article about bears 24 hour rule round 3 goes to chicago was published today ( ) and is available on Bleacher Nation ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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