CHICAGO – Fight and belief are the calling cards for these inconsistent Bears. They have continued to fight despite hardships and adversity.
The Bears rebounded from the collapse in Cleveland by defeating the Cardinals 27-16 on Sunday at Soldier Field. Three times this season, the Bears blew a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter and lost, only to come back the next week and win each time.
After building a 21-0 lead against the Cardinals, the Bears suffered a late disaster before securing the victory.
Here are five takeaways from Christmas Eve at Soldier Field.
1. Whatever you need
As 39-year-old Marcedes Lewis returned to the home sideline along the west side of Soldier Field, his Bears teammates let out a howl.
Lewis, an 18-year veteran, is one of the most respected players in the league, and his passion and workmanlike demeanor have made him an important player for the Bears all season.
Lewis’ teammates were thrilled when he completed his first touchdown pass of the 18-year NFL season in the second quarter. For Lewis, what mattered most was the final score.
“Honestly, I’m really happy to win,” Lewis said. “I’m glad we won. We put in a lot of effort. This season didn’t go the way we wanted. It’s just learning how to finish and learning how to win on the day. I’m really glad that I was able to contribute and get a “W”. ”
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Lewis signed a one-year contract with the Bears in August because he feels he can still play at a high level in this game. So did general manager Ryan Pauls, who knew Lewis’ veteran leadership could have a significant impact inside the locker room.
Lewis is the last active player from the 2006 NFL Draft, which also included Jay Cutler, Devin Hester and Brandon Marshall.
Lewis practices long hours every day at Halas Hall to prepare his body for the demands of a long, grueling season. That’s especially difficult for a guy who’s been in this league for 18 seasons.
“The players love him for who he is,” head coach Matt Eberflus said. “He’s a special, special person.”
Quarterback Justin Fields scanned coverage and found Lewis open in the back of the end zone after finding top target DJ Moore in tight coverage. The play was designed with Lewis as the first reading. In the end, he was left alone while the defense deceived Fields’ running threat.
It was Lewis’ 40th career touchdown in his 266th game. Peyton Manning and Julius Peppers each played in 266 games during their Hall of Fame careers.
Lewis may not end up in the Hall of Fame, but he has such respect from his peers. It depends on how he spends his days.
Lewis provided an important example for the Bears during this important season. They came out of rebuilding mode this season to be competitive. This is an important sign of progress that we had to find in 2023.
Despite their struggles this season, the Bears never quit Eberflus or each other. They have stayed the course and fought for wins like this.
Sunday’s result was certainly not satisfying, but it was a victory for a day of hard work. No one in the winning locker room knows that more than Lewis.
“We got a ‘W’,” Lewis said. “That’s what matters.”
2. Points remaining in the field
The goal he has set for Fields and the Bears is to score 28 points in each game. On Sunday, they finished just short with 27 points on the scoreboard.
The Bears jumped out to a 21-0 lead early in the game and appeared to be on track to eliminate the struggling Cardinals. Instead, the offense failed and the game became too close for comfort. Chicago had 420 yards of offense, including 250 yards rushing, but once again suffered from inconsistency.
“We definitely had to work on maintaining that firepower,” Fields said. “We were able to get 21 points so we had to keep going. We felt like we could have gotten at least 35, 40 points so we have to stay on top and not be complacent. As we have discovered in the past, you never know what will happen.”
Fields finished Sunday’s game 15-of-27 for 170 yards, one passing touchdown and one rushing touchdown, earning a 71.5 rating. He gained 97 yards on nine carries and also recorded a rushing score. This is part of a balanced attack guided by his dual-threat abilities.
But Fields also made a costly interception in the fourth quarter, targeting running back Khalil Herbert in the corner of the end zone. Safety Jaylen Thompson read the route and brought in the pass, marking Fields’ ninth interception of the season.
Fields continues to fight for his future with the Bears, but Sunday wasn’t the winning performance that could have been against the struggling Cardinals.
But Fields downplayed his performance and focused on what was most important in his mind.
“It doesn’t matter what happens as long as we win the game,” Fields said. “To tell you the truth. Shoot, if we had 100 passing yards, no touchdowns or anything, and we won, I’d be fine with that. I know people love statistics.
“As long as we win. I’m not very good with numbers. All I know is one win went up in the win column today and that’s all I care about.”
3. Cairo contract
Cairo Santos has become an NFL journeyman after six dismal seasons in the league and five different teams during that time.
Santos only became a kicker on the team’s emergency contact list, a player called up as a backup plan. Then came the opportunity to redefine his career. It was August 2020, and the Bears lost kicker Eddie Pinheiro (who had won the team’s kicking battle the previous summer) to a groin injury.
Santos’ career was given new life by this opportunity in Chicago. Once a struggling kicker who averaged 80.6 percent, Santos has been a model of stability over the past four seasons. That’s why the Bears signed him to a four-year contract extension on Saturday, worth up to $16 million with $9.5 million guaranteed.
Santos hit a 29-yard field goal with 1:05 left to seal the victory and cap off a special weekend.
“I’m very excited to spend another four years in the place I now call home,” Santos said. “My family is very excited. We love it here and we love the people here that we are blessed to work with.
“I am who I am today because I went through some tough moments to get here.”
4. Christmas Call
Every time Cole Kmet collapsed after a reception on Sunday, he struggled to get up. His pain was much more evident.
Kmet played Sunday while dealing with a quadriceps injury. He then left with a knee injury late in the first half. However, once Kmet was able to play, he had four receptions for a career-best 107 yards.
“Let’s see where it is,” Eberflus said. “It’s the knee. Let’s see what happens. It looks positive, but we’ll know more tomorrow.”
Kmet, 24, has never missed a game in his four-year NFL career. That streak continued Sunday, but his status next week will be closely watched.
Kmet had a strong season, recording 70 receptions for 678 yards and six touchdowns. He has emerged as a reliable target for Justin Fields in the passing game.
Kmet played through pain Sunday, reminding himself in more ways than one why he’s so important to the Bears.
5. Solve this problem
The Bears’ ability to play this late December game without any noticeable impact on the standings is a reminder of their goals for 2024 and beyond. This period should become important again.
The Bears have made the playoffs only twice since the 2010 season, without winning a postseason game. But they barely played in the high-stakes late-season games in January. This is a clear indictment of this franchise’s inability to maintain its presence over the long haul of the season.
The Lions completed an upset on Sunday by defeating the Vikings 30-24 at U.S. Bank Stadium to win the NFC North championship. Coach Dan Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes led Detroit from 3-13-1 in 2021 to 9-8 last season and now 11-4 atop the division.
But on the other end of the spectrum, the Panthers lost to the Packers 33-30 in Carolina on Sunday, dropping to 2-13. In doing so, they helped the Bears, who currently own the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
The Bears have spent the last two years developing young talent, amassing draft capital and positioning themselves for the future. Now they must turn it into lasting success.
The December game at Soldier Field should mean a lot to the Bears.