RECAP – Week 7: Bears Secure Ugly 26-14 Win Against New Orleans
It doesn’t matter if it’s pretty, ugly, or whatever – it all counts the same.
The Chicago Bears took care of business at Soldier Field on Sunday against a sub-par New Orleans Saints squad with a 26-14 win.
This Bears defense, led by Dennis Allen, is giving some serious 2018 flashbacks—producing four turnovers, including three interceptions by Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler. They also sacked Rattler four times, totaling 24 yards in losses. Safety Kevin Byard III is having an All-Pro level season at 32 years old. Montez Sweat is BALLING.
Before we get into some of the frustrating aspects of this game, there are some bright spots on the offense that deserve to get their time in the sun. D’Andre Swift has completely reinvented the narrative with his performances over the last two weeks, as this Bears running game has been ON IT. Against the Saints, Swift finished with 19 carries for 124 yards and a touchdown. Rookie Kyle Monangai had the best game of his young career, finishing with 13 carries for 81 yards and his first career touchdown.
Caleb Williams wasn’t great (and that’s being nice), finishing 15/26 for 172 yards and an interception. The offense as a whole wasn’t exactly helping Caleb, however—snap issues from center Drew Dalman and pre-snap penalties have continued to plague this Bears offense through the first six games of the season. Collectively, the Bears finished with 10 (accepted) penalties totaling up to 92 yards.
In fairness, some of the penalties were definitely ticky tacky; tight end Colston Loveland got called for another offensive pass interference (for the third week in a row!) that can only accurately be described as garbage. Kyler Gordon was called for unnecessary roughness for hitting a guy in the shoulder too hard, and Jaquan Brisker was called for roughing the passer when he hit Spencer Rattler in the arm while he was throwing the football.
Again – it wasn’t pretty, but a win is a win. The Chicago Bears have won four in a row for the first time since 2018, sit at 4-2, and are NOT last in the NFC North. Progress people. Progress.
The Bears will have a tough test next week against a 1-5 Baltimore Ravens team that is set to get quarterback Lamar Jackson and former Bear Roquan Smith back from injury. Ravens head coach John Harbaugh knows what is at stake not only for his job, but for the aspirations of this Ravens team this year.
The Ravens are going to be in desperation mode to save their season – losing to the Chicago Bears and falling to 1-6 in the AFC might not be something they can come back from.
Wouldn’t it be great to play spoiler this early in the season for a team that was one of the Super Bowl favorites heading into the year?
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