In a nail-biter against the Washington Commanders, the Chicago Bears offense struggled until late in the fourth quarter, only breaking into the red zone for the first time with the game on the line. Their only points until then came from a spectacular 56-yard touchdown run by running back D’Andre Swift.
Thanks to a resilient defensive effort, which kept the Commanders to just 12 points, the Bears found themselves trailing 12-7 as they approached the red zone, poised to take the lead for the first time.
The Bears moved the ball down to the Commanders’ one-yard line, setting up a pivotal third-and-goal. In a surprising decision, the Bears handed the ball off to center Doug Kramer instead of a more experienced running back. Unfortunately, Kramer fumbled the snap, allowing the Commanders to recover and escape a critical scoring opportunity.
Chatting about the call afterwards, Bears wide receiver DJ Moore expressed his surprise, saying, “I didn’t think we were actually getting it called in a game like this.” He was particularly baffled since he had just exited the medical tent to witness the unexpected play.
Despite the earlier blunder, the Bears eventually surged ahead 15-12. Roschon Johnson found paydirt, but the game wasn’t over; they needed to stifle a late-game rally from the Commanders. Unfortunately, top receiver Terry McLaurin snagged a crucial 13-yard completion that set up an ambitious Hail Mary attempt from Jayden Daniels. In a shocking twist, the pass was tipped but caught by Noah Brown for a win-sealing touchdown.
Some criticism fell on Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson, who was seen taunting fans right before the decisive play, seemingly distracted. Although he later apologized, Moore emphasized that, “That one play doesn’t define him as a player,” during an interview on the “Mully & Haugh Show.”
Moore further noted that team leadership plans to discuss Stevenson’s antics, highlighting the importance of addressing these moments as a unit. “We’ve got to address it as a leadership group in front of the team,” he said, emphasizing the need for accountability moving forward.