Rookie Caleb Williams was sacked only twice and standing at the end — that’s about all the Bears’ offense got out of this game. Williams put up good numbers — he completed 26 of 40 passes for 334 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions for a 107.7 passer rating. But most of that was done after the Bears fell behind 20-0 (he was 20 of 28 for 260 yards and two touchdowns for a 124.1 rating in that span). Still Williams’ 45-yard touchdown pass to Keenan Allen in the final minute of the first half was a meaningful indicator regardless of the situation.
Quickly becoming the second biggest knock on general manager Ryan Poles after the hiring of Matt Eberflus, the line was an indicator of just how disappointing the Bears have been this season. Kiran Amegadjie, who started in place of Braxton Jones last week, was inactive Sunday. Jones and Teven Jenkins, who were questionable going in, started but could not finish. Jenkins left in the second quarter with a recurring calf injury, replaced by Jake Curhan. Jones left the field on a cart in the second quarter after suffering an ankle injury. When Larry Borom replaced Jones, it marked the 21st different offensive line combination this season — just one symptom of the Bears issues on the offensive line.
Rookie Rome Odunze had four receptions for 77 yards, but also botched a handoff on a sweep in the first quarter, with the Lions recovering for an early tone-setter. Odunze fumbled after a 19-yard reception later in the first quarter, with Lions linebacker Jack Campbell recovering. Keenan Allen had his biggest game of the season — nine receptions for 140 yards and the 45-yard touchdown. Cole Kmet (2-8) had a one-yard touchdown.
Cornerback Tyrique Stevenson goaded Lions receiver Jameson Williams into an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for taunting on the Lions’ second play from scrimmage, but Williams gained revenge in a big way, running past Stevenson and safety Jonathan Owens for an 82-yard touchdown early in the second quarter that gave the Lions a 20-0 lead. Jaylon Johnson wasn’t good enough in run (or after-the-catch) support.
Thomas Brown was put in a tough spot as the offensive coordinator and interim head coach, but the Bears haven’t shown even modest improvement. They’ve been outscored 37-0 in the first quarter and 64-7 in the first half of Brown’s three games an interim head coach.
