QUARTERBACK — C
For a second consecutive game, Caleb Williams had to do way too much himself. He threw a 44-yard pass to a wide-open Rome Odunze in the second quarter, but that was a rare instance in which a downfield receiver was open at all. With the Bears unable to fend off increasing pressure, Williams was sacked six times and wasn’t much better than last week — 22-for-41 for 217 yards with no touchdown passes and no interceptions for a 68.9 passer rating.
DEFENSIVE LINE — D
The absence of injured defensive end Montez Sweat figured to impair the Bears’ pass rush, but it was their run defense that fell apart without their star. The Cardinals rushed for 213 yards on 34 carries (6.3 average), including a disastrous 53-yard touchdown by backup Emari Demercado with four seconds left in the first half. Chris Williams and Jacob Martin had sacks. Defensive tackle Andrew Billings left in the third quarter with a chest injury and did not return.
SECONDARY — D
Cornerback Terell Smith started for Tyrique Stevenson and had a pass breakup that forced a punt on the first series but suffered an ankle injury in the second quarter and did not return. Stevenson (seven tackles) returned for the third series and had a pass breakup in the end zone. Reddy Steward — just promoted from the practice squad — forced a fumble by Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., with Elijah Hicks (seven tackles) recovering. But Jaylon Johnson and Hicks were among several helpless defenders on Demercado’s crushing touchdown run at the end of the first half.
SPECIAL TEAMS — C
Cairo Santos was 3-for-3 on field goals, including two from 53 yards, but that was a rare highlight. The Bears allowed Greg Dortch’s 27-yard punt return that set up a short field for the Cardinals at the Bears’ 41. Gervon Dexter was called for a rare leverage penalty on a made field goal that led to a Cardinals touchdown.
COACHING — F
After inartfully handling a difficult week following the loss to the Commanders, the short-handed Bears had a chance to make amends with a solid performance against a beatable opponent but came up short in all three phases. And for a team that values responding to adversity, the Bears didn’t do that, either — withering on offense and defense after falling behind. A bigger step backward than last week in the big picture.
