No comeback this time as Bears’ defense stops Rams’ momentum
CHICAGO — So much for that confidence boost.
And the apparently imagined newfound continuity.
A week after a dramatic comeback victory, the Rams could not maintain any momentum Sunday against the Chicago Bears, once again putting themselves on the brink of possibly falling out of the playoff race before it starts.
A 24-18 defeat before 59,074 at Soldier Field dropped their record to 1-3 going into next Sunday’s game against the Green Bay Packers at SoFi Stadium.
Yes, it’s still early. The Rams proved last season that a poor first half of the season does not portend disaster.
Matthew Stafford sees the skills of No. 1 draft pick Caleb Williams of the Bears, the Rams’ next opponent, but as a former top pick he also knows the pitfalls.
Seven days after they experienced the ecstasy of a dramatic win over the San Francisco 49ers, however, the Rams fell short against Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams and a stout Bears defense.
“What an amazing traumatic turn of events from week to week,” Rams coach Sean McVay said, “and we just saw that.”
McVay is becoming accustomed to experiencing trauma in Chicago.
In 2018, during the Rams’ last trip to Soldier Field, the Rams managed only two field goals in a defeat that remains fresh in McVay’s instant-recall memory. He joked last week that he wakes up in sweats each night thinking about it.
So he won’t forget Sunday’s missed opportunity to win two games in a row.
Unfortunately for the still injury-depleted Rams, they cannot count on quarterback Matthew Stafford to provide a miracle every game.
Stafford had brought back the Rams against the 49ers.
On a day when Stafford moved into 10th place on the NFL’s career passing yardage list, he could not repeat the feat against a Bears team led by the top pick in the NFL draft.
Stafford completed 20 of 29 passes for 224 yards. He lost a fumble on a sack, and a potential comeback ended when defensive back Jaquan Brisker intercepted a pass with less than a minute left.
So moving past Eli Manning on the NFL’s all-time list was not top of mind.
“Tough to think about at the moment, obviously, after a loss,” Stafford said.
One thing McVay, Stafford and other Rams players said they were not pondering: The possibility of a 1-4 start going into an off week if they lose to the Packers.
Check out the game summary from the Rams’ loss Sunday.
“There’s a lot of things that are frustrating about losses and they eat at us,” Stafford said, “but come Monday, time to move on and find a way to get a win.”
Kobie Turner said he was “lucky and blessed” to have gone through last season, when the Rams started 3-6 before their off week, and then returned and won seven of eight games to finish 10-7 and reach the playoffs.
“I don’t know how far we were down, but it never mattered,” he said. “Each week we’re going to come out and put ourselves in the best position to go and pick up wins. And once it gets rollin’, it’ll start rollin’.
“Right now, it’s just back to the drawing board, getting ready for Green Bay.”
Cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon, who played Sunday for the first time since he was signed to the practice squad a few weeks ago, also referenced 2023 for not looking too far ahead.
“We didn’t really realize the climate of our season,” he said. “We were kind of just like a horse in blinders, just trying to get better each day. And then wins started going up and the games got more important and you just kind of keep applying that same focus.”
The Rams must concentrate on eliminating “self-inflicted” mistakes, veteran offensive lineman Rob Havenstein said.
“Whether we’re 1-4, 4-0, 3-1, 1-3 — whatever it is, you’ve just got to continue to play better football throughout the season,” Havenstein said, “and that’s something I hope will start clicking as we get more consistent.”
The return of injured starters also would help, but there is no guarantee that will occur any time soon.
Cornerback Darious Williams is eligible to return from injured reserve to play against the Packers, but McVay has given no indication that Williams would be ready.
Receiver Cooper Kupp remains sidelined and receiver Puka Nacua and offensive linemen Steve Avila and Joe Noteboom are on injured reserve and cannot return until after the game against the Packers. Whether they will be healed enough to come back at that time is still to be determined.
The Rams had some highlights as a team and individually, but the visitors settled for too many field goals in a 24-18 loss to the Bears at Soldier Field.
Offensive lineman Jonah Jackson and safety John Johnson III cannot return from injured reserve until after the Rams play the Las Vegas Raiders on Oct. 20.
In the meantime, the Rams must start scoring touchdowns instead of field goals.
In the first half against the Bears, Josh Karty kicked two field goals, but he missed a 43-yard attempt, his first miss of the season.
One play after the Rams sacked Williams and forced and recovered a fumble, they blew a protection that enabled Montez Sweat to sack Stafford and force a fumble that led to an eventual touchdown.
“That was a killer,” McVay said.
To keep alive their playoff hopes, the Rams must recover quickly.
Go beyond the scoreboard
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