Bears play complementary football in win over Rams

Joshua Karty field goals of 46 and 37 yards on the Rams’ first two possessions of the game gave them a 6-0 lead. Los Angeles settled for the first kick after Gervon Dexter Sr. sacked Stafford for an eight-yard loss.

Stafford completed 20 of 29 passes for 224 yards but committed two turnovers. The first was instrumental in giving the Bears a lead they would not relinquish.

Late in the first quarter, Montez Sweat sacked Stafford, causing a fumble that was recovered by Kyler Gordon at the Rams’ 16.

On third-and-9 from the 15, Keenan Allen drew a pass interference penalty on cornerback Tre’Davious White in the end zone, giving the Bears the ball at the 1.

With Williams under center and reserve center Doug Kramer Jr. lined up at fullback, Roschon Johnson thundered up the middle for a 1-yard touchdown run that gave the Bears a 7-6 lead with 5:42 remaining in the second quarter.

The Rams were in position to retake the lead, but Karty’s 43-yard field goal attempt sailed wide left with 1:01 to play in the first half.

Swift then turned a screen pass into a 27-yard gain, setting up Cairo Santos‘ 40-yard field goal, which increased the Bears’ lead to 10-6 with :09 left in the half.

The Rams marched the length of the field on the opening possession of the second half, but the Bears defense stiffened inside the 10, forcing Los Angeles to settle for Karty’s 25-yard field goal, closing the gap to 10-9.

The Bears offense followed with its best drive of the game, covering 74 yards in 12 plays, capped by Williams’ 9-yard TD strike to DJ Moore on third-and-5. The score increased the Bears’ lead to 17-9 with 2:37 remaining in the third quarter.

The Rams responded with a six-play, 70-yard drive that culminated in running back Kyren Williams’ 3-yard touchdown run. But Stafford was unable to complete the subsequent two-point conversion pass, preserving the Bears’ 17-15 lead.

The Bears followed with their second straight touchdown on Swift’s 36-yard scamper up the middle, widening the margin to 24-15 with 12:26 to play.

Karty then made it a one-score game at 24-18 with a 52-yard field goal with 8:47 remaining. But the Rams never threatened again, with Taylor’s pinpoint punts and Brisker’s late interception clinching the victory.

With the win, the Bears improved to 2-2 and will host the Panthers next Sunday at Soldier Field. Carolina fell to 1-3 with Sunday’s 34-24 home loss to the Bengals.