CHICAGO — With two minutes and 14 seconds remaining in a horrendous sport towards the Seattle Seahawks, the followers seated within the United Membership of Soldier Subject began to chant.
“Promote the staff!”
“Promote the staff!”
“Promote the staff!”
The Chicago Bears determined to punt after fourth-and-inches from their very own 39 became fourth-and-5 following offensive lineman fill-in Jake Curhan’s false begin.
“Promote the staff!”
“Promote the staff!”
However wait … the Bears referred to as a timeout. They modified their thoughts. They wished to go for it.
In any case, what did the Bears need to lose however one other sport in one other misplaced season for the NFL’s constitution franchise?
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The chants, although, began once more.
And so they unfold.
“Promote the staff!”
The one factor that appeared to cease them was what quarterback Caleb Williams did within the sport’s waning moments amidst extra clock mismanagement by the Bears.
On fourth-and-5, Williams escaped an all-out blitz from the Seahawks and linked with receiver DJ Moore over the center for a 14-yard achieve. Three performs in a while third-and-14, Williams eluded extra stress from Seattle, took a success to his throat from linebacker Boye Mafe and accomplished a 15-yard go to rookie receiver Rome Odunze.
However the chants would return.
Williams threw an interception over the center on the Bears’ remaining offensive play towards one other all-out blitz by Seattle. Quarterback Geno Smith then took a knee for a 6-3 win for the Seahawks on “Thursday Evening Soccer.”
“SELL THE TEAM!” chants broke out from Bears followers at Soldier Subject tonight.
🎥 @jacobinfante24 pic.twitter.com/ErHL3deV9X
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) December 27, 2024
The followers who determined to stay out such an unsightly sport the day after Christmas let chairman George McCaskey and his household hear it once more. Their chants grew louder — angrier.
“Promote the staff!”
“Promote the staff!”
“Promote the staff!”
As all the time, issues can and can worsen for the Bears. Followers have gone from chanting “Fireplace Nagy” to “Fireplace Flus” to “Promote the staff,” which, in accordance with some longtime observers, is a brand new one from the house crowd. The Bears’ shedding streak stretched to 10 video games. The one factor lacking is the Inexperienced Bay Packers’ annual pummeling of the Bears.
And that possible comes within the season finale at Lambeau Subject.
Williams tried responsible himself for what transpired towards the Seahawks. He’s proper in pondering that he can play higher, particularly with the Bears protection delivering its finest sport because the dismissal of coach Matt Eberflus. Williams was 16-for-28 passing for 122 yards. He was sacked seven instances. His interception-free streak ended along with his remaining throw. It was certainly one of his worst video games this season and it got here on nationwide tv.
“I didn’t play properly sufficient,” Williams stated. “I didn’t assist put the staff in an excellent place to win, a greater place to win, and that’s what it’s.”
Williams pointed to the “silly” sacks he took towards the Seahawks. He’s been sacked a league-high 67 instances this season.
“I’ll positively take the warmth for this one due to a number of the conditions that I put us in,” he stated.
Caleb Williams didn’t full a single go past 6 yards downfield till the ultimate drive of regulation within the Bears’ TNF loss to the Seahawks.
🔸 Below 10 AY: 15/17, 107 yards (+4.5% CPOE)
🔸 Over 10 AY: 1/9, 15 yards, INT (-27.2% CPOE)#SEAvsCHI | #DaBears pic.twitter.com/4pr4JU2jsm— Subsequent Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) December 27, 2024
But it surely’s nonetheless unfair to anticipate the rookie quarterback to beat the whole lot this calamitous season has offered. He must play higher, however he’s attempting to tug himself out of a gap he didn’t dig. His first NFL offensive coordinator and head coach had been fired in the course of the season, which is one thing the Bears had by no means carried out earlier than this 12 months. The staff will probably be looking for its sixth head coach beneath McCaskey quickly sufficient.
The “promote the staff” chants Thursday at Soldier Subject got here simply 4 days after Detroit Lions followers crammed Soldier Subject of their Honolulu blue and watched their staff roll to a 34-17 win. A day later, Packers followers chanted “The Bears nonetheless suck” on “Monday Evening Soccer” as their favourite staff routed the New Orleans Saints at Lambeau Subject.
Williams was requested in regards to the followers’ chants and frustrations.
“That is my first 12 months,” he stated. “Their frustrations go means longer again than I’ve been right here. My job is to go on the market and win video games. We don’t deal with the skin noise. Followers, they’re going to cheer and perhaps boo generally. You’ll be able to’t react to that. It’s not one thing we react to. Now we have a job to do. And generally you don’t accomplish that properly on the job some days and a few days you’re fairly constant, some days you play a fantastic sport.”
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Williams’ finest play Thursday night time was negated by a penalty within the second quarter. On third-and-10 from the Seahawks’ 17, Williams scrambled to his left and fired a landing go to Odunze in the long run zone. Curhan, who performed rather than injured starter Teven Jenkins, was penalized for holding. The Bears settled for a 42-yard area purpose by Cairo Santos.
They by no means scored once more.
Williams stays probably the most interesting factor in regards to the Bears, however he desperately wants assistance on and off the sector with teaching. His growth can’t be derailed by this abysmal season.
And the Bears, being the Bears, haven’t damaged him — but.
“Irritating, irritated, however studying, I might say,” Williams stated. “I positively assume that that is going to be good for me. Enthusiastic about this final sport after which excited in regards to the future.”
(Photograph: Michael Reaves / Getty Photographs)