When Ben Johnson first took over as head coach of the Chicago Bears almost a 12 months in the past, he set out immediately to ascertain an id centered round quarterback Caleb Williams.
“We’re ripping this factor right down to the studs, and we’re going to construct it up with him [Williams] firstly,” Johnson mentioned in January 2024.
Quick ahead to the current, and the identical tenacity that Johnson spoke of has now been established because the id of the NFC North champions.
Led by Johnson and a resurgent Williams, Chicago set an NFL report this previous season after they got here from behind to win seven video games during which they had been trailing within the ultimate two minutes.
“I feel there’s a perception that they’ve established,” Rams head coach Sean McVay mentioned of the Bears.” I feel when you’ve got these kinds of profitable outcomes, no completely different than Matthew the opposite day… I feel he had full expectation to steer us down the sector. I really feel that after I watch Caleb, I watch that staff. There’s a perception that they’ll discover methods to complete, and that’s why they’re on this scenario. He’s going to be a nightmare to defend.
Sooner or later, it’s anticipated that the Bears’ luck will run out, but when the current previous is any indication, Chicago is simply getting higher and bolder. Their most high-profile wins got here within the two largest video games of the season, each towards Inexperienced Bay.
In Week 16, Chicago trailed 16-6 with 5:49 left. After a discipline purpose made it a one-score recreation, the Bears recovered an onside kick earlier than Williams threw a landing go on fourth right down to drive extra time. He then sealed the victory with a 46-yard walk-off landing go.
Final week within the Wild Card spherical, Chicago trailed the Packers 21-6 to begin the fourth quarter — together with an 11-point deficit with 6:36 remaining — however rallied with 25 factors within the ultimate quarter to get the 31-27 victory and advance to the Divisional Spherical towards the Rams on Sunday.
“Yeah, I imply, I feel it’s our id right here at this level,” Johnson mentioned after the Inexperienced Bay recreation. “Some individuals say it’s not sustainable. I don’t know. The takeaways are that’s who we’re on protection and on offense. It’s explosive performs. That’s type of what we’ve completed all 12 months lengthy, and developing in large moments. As a staff, it’s simply resiliency and understanding that late within the fourth quarter, that’s actually after we’re at our greatest as a soccer staff. We’ll maintain striving to be higher earlier in video games, and beginning quicker and all that, however that offers us one thing to work in direction of. I can’t be any extra happy with that crew than I’m now.”
Listed below are 3 ways McVay, Matt Stafford and the Rams can stop themselves from being one other notch on the “cardiac Bears” belt.
Disciplined Protection
One of many main tendencies in Chicago’s comeback wins has been the power to dial up explosive performs when wanted most.
All of it begins with Williams.
Most frequently, these moments come from Williams’ potential to make use of his legs to maintain performs alive. He’s confirmed he can choose up large chunks on the bottom — as evidenced when he ran for 52 yards within the fourth quarter within the Bears’ come-from-behind win over Cincinnati in week 9 — or navigate life exterior the pocket to purchase time for his receivers.
For Los Angeles to restrict the explosive performs, Chris Shula’s protection have to be disciplined on the line of scrimmage. They have to keep of their gaps, the place preserving Williams within the pocket is rather more efficient than letting him improvise exterior the tackles.
“His playmaking potential, explosive performs,” McVay mentioned of Williams in late recreation sitiuations.” Once you take a look at it, the opposite day… he was making some essential performs off-schedule. His potential to have the ability to make performs inside the pocket, drive the ball to all components of the sector, however then be capable of prolong performs, maintain his eyes down the sector, and be capable of make unbelievable throws off-platform or create together with his legs. He’s an explosive play ready to occur. It’s why they’ll get again in video games and end the way in which that they’ve.”
Particular Groups Miscues
A midseason signee, Rams kicker Harrison Mevis may play the most important function come Sunday. With inclement climate anticipated to make scoring a premium, Mevis’s potential to drive the ball by the wind will play an element.
It will likely be important for the Rams to repeatedly put factors on the board, whether or not it comes from a landing or a discipline purpose, by no means permitting Chicago or its crowd to feed off miscues.
Other than the kicking recreation, Los Angeles should ensure to execute each different a part of the kicking recreation. From the onside kick staff to punt formation, errors have to be nonexistent late within the recreation.
Lengthy Drives
One of the simplest ways to interrupt an opponent’s spirit late within the recreation is to have lengthy sustained drives that eat up the clock. If the Rams discover themselves with the lead and the ball late within the recreation, establishing a rhythm on offense might be important.
The offensive line have to be bodily and set up its dominance towards an aggressive Bears protection. Opening up working lanes for continued four-yard positive aspects will play an enormous function, particularly as a result of it’ll open up the passing lanes on play motion with the linebackers crashing.
That’s the place Stafford and his dynamic duo of Puka Nacua and Davante Adams can actually shine, the place they thrive in yards after the catch.
