Bears' offense awakens in win over Rams
League: NFL
Posted on: 29 Sep, 2024 at 09:17 PM
Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
D'Andre Swift rushed for 93 yards, 36 of which came on a fourth-quarter touchdown carry, and Jaquan Brisker's interception of Matthew Stafford in the final minutes preserved a 24-18 Chicago Bears home win over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday.
The offensive woes that vexed Chicago (2-2) in two road losses ahead of Sunday's contest continued early against Los Angeles (1-3). The Bears did not run an offensive play in Rams territory until midway through the second quarter.
A fumble forced by Montez Sweat on his sack of Stafford and recovered by Kyler Gordon deep in Los Angeles territory, however, kick-started the Chicago offense.
The Bears capitalized on the favorable field position down 6-0 when Roschon Johnson punched in a 1-yard touchdown to give Chicago a lead it never relinquished.
Johnson's touchdown kicked off a stretch in which the Bears scored on four consecutive possessions, including a pair of second-half touchdowns. Quarterback Caleb Williams found DJ Moore in the back of the end zone for a 9-yard strike to open up a 17-9 Chicago lead with 2:37 left in the third quarter.
Los Angeles answered when Kyren Williams capped a six-play, 70-yard Rams drive with a 3-yard touchdown run. Los Angeles' game-tying two-point conversion attempt failed, and Chicago extended its advantage to two possessions on the ensuing drive.
Swift broke free for a 36-yard touchdown run, putting an exclamation point on an afternoon in which he led the Bears in both rushing and receiving. Swift caught seven passes for 72 yards.
Williams went 17-of-23 passing for 157 yards. Stafford went 20-of-29 for 224 yards, Williams carried 19 times for 94 yards and Tutu Atwell caught four passes for a team-high 82 yards.
Atwell led the way for a Rams receiving corps still without Puka Nacua, who sustained a Week 1 knee injury, and Cooper Kupp. Kupp was scratched due to an ankle injury.
Brisker was electric for the Chicago defense, racking up a game-high 12 tackles with two for loss, including a sack. His game-sealing interception came one play after punter Troy Taylor pinned Los Angeles at its own 8-yard line with 1:03 left.
Joshua Karty, who went 4-for-5 on field goal attempts, made field goals from 46 and 37 yards to give the Rams a 6-0 lead.
-- Field Level Media