Thank god the defibrillator I ordered from Amazon arrived in time for today's Bears game. Once again, they strained my heart very near its breaking point. But just to add some variety and spice it up a bit, this time they decided have their defense on the field while I swore and paced around my living room.
There was a ton of good news today. First, the Chicago Bears beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 31 to 28 at a home field that sure sounded like it had a ton of Steeler fans who flew in for the game. Second, the Bears managed to pull out a win despite the fact that they were missing all three of starting linebackers. technically, they typically line up in the nickel so they really only start two linebackers, but both were out as well as their number one backup. And then a few plays into the game, rookie linebacker Rueben Hyppolite got hurt so they were actually down to their fourth and fifth string linebackers. This doesn't even include the fact that they have been missing their best two coverage corner backs pretty much all year. So any victory under those conditions is reason enough to celebrate.
In addition to overcoming those challenges, second year quarter back (although since last year was such a train wreck he really is a rookie) Caleb Williams completed some of his finest passes of the year on his way to throwing three touchdown passes. he did exactly what he was supposed to do on all three of those passes. First, he chose the correct receiver. Second, he got rid of the ball very quickly. Third he threw accurate missiles that allowed his receivers to score. Doing these three things consistently is really all Caleb Williams needs to prove at this point. He's incredibly athletic and can make every throw on the field. So mastering those three skills can make him a superstar.
But... and you knew there was a big but coming (after all, I love big butts and I cannot lie) Williams still made some horrendous mistakes. Luckily the Bears have found ways to overcome Williams' mistakes all year. Actually, he has found ways to overcome them. He isn't quite the Russel Westbrook of football because Williams does make more good plays than bad ones, but man he still makes some really foolish plays. And that is usually what his mistakes are. They aren't physical. they are mental... and they are brutal.
the most obvious mistake he made was the one he committed first. Early in the second quarter with the game tied seven to seven, Williams lined up at about the Bears five yard line. As he dropped back to pass, elite pass rusher TJ Watt blew past his "blocker" and was in Williams face. I'm not sure if Williams knows who TJ Watt is... but he should. Watt does not get faked out. Watt crushes people. He's a terminator and all he does is attack quarterbacks. It can't be bargained with, it can't be reasoned with, it doesn't feel pity or remorse or fear, and it absolutely will not stop. so as soon as Williams saw Watt, he had two choices, throw the ball away if at all possible, or cover it up and pray. Instead Williams tried his little spinorama move. It then appeared like he tried to fling the ball while he was already in Watt's grasp. That shit does not work and Williams fumbled the ball in his own end zone. Of course a Steeler recovered it for a very easy touchdown. Williams simply cannot do that shit inside his own five yard line. He should know that by now.
His second mistake may not have looked as big, but it honestly might be worse than giving up one touchdown. For the first 20 something games of his career, Williams had a horrible habit, of running toward the sideline, slowing down before he gets out of bounds and getting completely crushed by a defender who was licking his chops as Williams kept his feet in bounds long enough for the defender to crush him. Over the past few weeks, Williams seemed to have broken the habit. He was running out of bounds at full speed and not inviting a defender to destroy him. Even with his growing pains, Williams is the only hope the Bears have at winning a playoff game. he needs to stay healthy. In order to do this, he must be smart and get the Hell out of bounds!
The last mistake could have killed the Bears. The only thing that saved them was that a Steeler got hurt on the play in question. With about 100 seconds left in the game, the Bears decided to pass to try and pick up a first and seven at their own 40 yard line. Williams rolled out and was under pressure. Considering the Bears have an elite punter and they were at their own forty yard line, Williams should have simply slid to the ground to force the Steelers to take their final timeout. Instead, he threw the ball out of bounds. This stopped the clock with about a minute and thirty five seconds left on the clock. As I was screaming at my TV, I saw a Steeler who could not get off the field. When this happens in the last two minutes of the game, the injured player's team needs to spend a timeout. So luckily for the Bears, Williams blunder did not really cost them.
The Bears punted. After giving up a few too many yards for my liking, the Bears defense stood tall. On a Fourth and six yards to go with about 30 seconds to go and the clock running, the Bears blitzed Steelers' QB Mason Rudolph. One of the few healthy starters on the field, Jaquan Brisker, tipped the pass that would have given the Steelers a first down and a shot at a game tying field goal. As the ball tumbled to the ground, my wife rushed in with the shiny new defibrillator. Turns out I didn't need it this week... but the next game is only five days away.