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Sunday Night Football: Rams make it 10-10 before halftime in Chicago

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The Bears took their first lead of Sunday’s game against the Rams with 1:10 remaining in the first half, but they weren’t able to carry the advantage into halftime.

After Cairo Santos’ 48-yard field goal put the Bears on the board, the Rams responded by moving the ball into field goal range. Key passes to tight end Tyler Higbee and running back Kyren Williams set them up for a scoring opportunity. Matthew Stafford attempted three passes to the end zone, but all fell incomplete. Instead, the Rams turned to kicker Harrison Mevis, who successfully made a field goal to tie the game at 10-10 heading into the locker room at Soldier Field.

The Bears managed to score twice during the half; however, two of their drives stalled inside Rams territory, ending without any points. On the team’s first possession, Williams was intercepted on fourth down. Later, back-to-back runs for no gain by D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai resulted in another fourth-down stop by the Rams.

Not all fourth downs went against the Bears, though. Williams connected with wide receiver DJ Moore for a touchdown on a crucial fourth down play. Overall, the Bears quarterback completed 13 of 19 passes for 155 yards in the first half.

The Rams capitalized on an interception by cornerback Cobie Durant, driving down the field for a touchdown. However, their following three drives resulted in punts. Matthew Stafford faced heavy pressure throughout the half, being sacked three times and finishing 12 of 24 for 144 yards.

On the defensive side, Rams cornerback Emmanuel Forbes left the game with a shoulder injury and is currently listed as questionable to return. The Rams will begin the second half with possession, leaving some uncertainty about Forbes’ status as the game progresses.
https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/rams-make-it-10-10-before-halftime-in-chicago

Studs and duds from Bears’ last-second win vs. Vikings

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The Chicago Bears secured a narrow 19-17 victory over the Minnesota Vikings thanks to a last-second 48-yard field goal by kicker Cairo Santos. This win marked the Bears’ third consecutive victory, improving their record to 7-3 overall and earning their first NFC North win of the season at 1-2.

Despite another gritty performance, the Bears’ offense struggled to convert opportunities into touchdowns, settling for field goals multiple times—attempting four before Santos delivered the game-winning kick. Fortunately for Chicago, the Vikings’ offense faced difficulties under the leadership of quarterback J. J. McCarthy, while the Bears’ defense capitalized on two key takeaways.

Though Cairo Santos nearly became the face of the loss after missing a crucial 45-yard field goal earlier in the fourth quarter, he ultimately emerged as the game’s hero, securing the win in dramatic fashion.

Here’s a breakdown of the studs and duds from the Bears’ Week 11 clash with the Vikings:

**Stud: K Cairo Santos**
Cairo Santos seemed destined for a “dud” designation after missing a 45-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter. However, he redeemed himself spectacularly by nailing a 48-yard game-winning field goal as time expired. Santos made 4-of-5 field goals overall, including a season-best 54-yarder, and converted his only extra point attempt. With the Bears’ offense often stalling inside the Vikings’ 40-yard line, Santos’s reliability on kick attempts kept Chicago competitive and ultimately victorious.

**Studs: TEs Cole Kmet and Colston Loveland**
In a game where the wide receivers struggled to make an impact, tight ends Cole Kmet and rookie Colston Loveland stepped up as a dynamic duo. Kmet, usually utilized more as a blocker, led the team with five catches totaling 45 yards, gaining significant yards after contact. Loveland has really come alive recently, hauling in three catches for 40 yards. His key third-and-14 conversion in the fourth quarter, where he broke tackles, was vital in sustaining the Bears’ drive.

**Studs: RBs D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai**
Chicago leaned on its running backs again, as D’Andre Swift and rookie Kyle Monangai played crucial roles. Swift led the team with 90 yards on 21 carries, averaging 4.3 yards per carry, and executed clutch runs late in the game to keep drives alive. Monangai, while not putting up eye-popping numbers with 12 carries for 23 yards, continued to showcase his tough running style and found the end zone with a touchdown.

**Stud: S Kevin Byard**
With cornerback Jaylon Johnson sidelined due to injury, safety Kevin Byard has been a standout defensive back for Chicago. Byard made a huge interception of quarterback J. J. McCarthy late in the second quarter, setting up a Bears field goal that extended the lead to 10-3. He now leads the league with five interceptions this season and has been instrumental in Chicago’s defensive takeaway dominance.

**Stud: KR Devin Duvernay**
Kick returner Devin Duvernay played a pivotal role in the win with a massive 56-yard kickoff return that put the Bears in excellent field-goal range. The offense only needed to move the ball nine yards following that return to set up Cairo Santos’s game-winning kick. Duvernay’s contribution was a game-changer and cannot be overlooked.

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**Dud: LB Noah Sewell**
The Bears defense has been without several key players this season, notably missing linebacker T. J. Edwards, who remains sidelined with hand and hamstring injuries. Noah Sewell, filling in for Edwards, led the team with 10 tackles but struggled for the second straight game. Sewell has been a liability in coverage, and he also committed a holding penalty that extended a promising Vikings drive. The defense hopes for Edwards’s return soon to improve stability and performance.

**Dud: Bears’ Red Zone Offense**
The biggest threat to Chicago’s victory was its continued red zone inefficiency. The Bears were only 1-for-2 inside the red zone, with Kyle Monangai’s touchdown run their lone score from close range. Multiple drives stalled inside or just outside the red zone, forcing the team to settle for field goals instead of touchdowns. At one point, Chicago reached inside Minnesota’s 40-yard line six times but managed just 19 points. Without J. J. McCarthy’s offensive struggles for the Vikings, the Bears’ red zone woes could have cost them the game.

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Chicago once again found a way to prevail in a closely contested game by leaning on strong defense, solid special teams, and clutch kicking. As the Bears improve to 7-3 and hold the top spot in the NFC North, they’ll look to build on this resilience moving forward.
https://sports.yahoo.com/article/studs-duds-bears-last-second-220914166.html