Bears' grades are in. How'd they do against the Lions?
What marks do the Bears get after their 19-16 loss against the Lions in the regular-season finale at Soldier Field?
QUARTERBACK — C-MINUS
Caleb Williams remarked during the week that he wants to be not only the best QB the Bears have had, but the best QB in the NFL. “That starts with consistency,” he surmised. “That starts with me preparing the right way.” Then the Bears took the field and didn’t score until the fourth quarter. Williams led the Bears to a pair of touchdowns and two-point conversions in the fourth to tie it at 16-16, but that doesn’t save him from criticism after a game like this one. His latest slow start arouses concern, as does his inaccuracy on too many makeable throws. His across-the-field heave that was intercepted in the end zone by Avonte Maddox was a no-no.
TIGHT ENDS — A-MINUS
If only Colston Loveland could’ve kept the squeeze on a dropped fourth-down pass late in the first half, he’d have had a dream day. As it was, his 10 catches for 91 yards and a touchdown on 13 targets — 13! — spoke to his glow-up as quite possible the go-to target on this team. Who has Williams’ back more than this guy right now? On the two-point conversion that tied it, Cole Kmet did a great job holding on to the ball while getting hammered by a defender.
DEFENSIVE LINE — C
Montez Sweat and Grady Jarrett whipped their blockers off the snap and combined for an early sack. Austin Booker batted down a Jared Goff pass on what might have been a dangerous fleaflicker. Gervon Dexter and Andrew Billings also had sacks — the Bears totaled three of them — but Billings was flagged for encroachment twice, and they were killer penalties. One came on fourth down at the Lions’ 33-yard line on an obvious attempt to get the Bears to jump, and the extended drive ended in a touchdown.
SECONDARY — C-MINUS
Safety Jaquan Brisker foiled back-to-back plays in the red zone on the Lions’ first possession, forcing a field goal. Later, Brisker diagnosed a trick play and followed Goff — the world’s slowest receiver? — out of the backfield, snuffing out any chance of a pass to him. Brisker also tipped the fourth-quarter pass that safety Kevin Byard III hauled in for his league-leading seventh interception. Oof, though, did corners Jaylon Johnson and Nahshon Wright ever have a hard time staying with receivers on crossing routes. Easy pickings for a talented offense.
COACHING — D
Ben Johnson can be as ticked off at the slow-starting offense as he wants to be — these are supposed to be professionals, after all — but isn’t it the head ball coach’s job to have a team ready to rock and roll? Especially the offense, which is Johnson’s baby? Especially with the No. 2 seed in the NFC at stake? Especially against a division foe? Own it, bub.