OFFENSE SMOTHERED IN HUMBLING LOSS IN L.A.
Offense, defense, coaching ... Bears’ flaws exposed in dark comedy against Rams
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — After an uneven performance against the Panthers, left guard Rashaad Coward found a new way to make Bears fans scratch their heads.
After wide receiver Javon Wims was tackled along the right sideline near the first- down marker in the second quarter Monday night, the Rams challenged the spot of the ball.
Officials found Wims to be a halfyard short. Even though the Bears were at their 19-yard line, they decided to go for it.
As Nick Foles took the snap and fell forward for what would’ve been the first down, a flag flew from the umpire standing behind the quarterback. Coward was called for a false start, the Bears punted and the Rams eventually kicked a 22-yard field goal to go up 10-3.
Coward started last week in place of James Daniels (pectoral muscle) after the 2018 second-round pick was lost for the season.
Floyd!
Facing Foles for the fourth time, Rams star defensive tackle Aaron Donald finally sacked him, sharing a takedown with teammate Greg Gaines with about two minutes to go in the first half.
What happened two plays later, though, was more compelling. On thirdand-10 from the Rams’ 43, Foles dropped back looking for a first down or something close to it to set up a field goal. Instead, he was brought down by Leonard Floyd, the 2016 first-round pick the Bears cut in March to make room for Robert Quinn.
Floyd made sure his old bosses noticed, too. He ran toward the Bears’ sideline to celebrate his third sack of the season. Floyd didn’t have more than 4½ sacks in any of his last three years with the Bears.
Pace on Foles
General manager Ryan Pace was thrilled by Foles’ declaration last week that he’d rather win ugly than lose pretty.
“I watched his entire press conference after the [Panthers] game, and I loved it,” Pace said on the team’s official pregame show on WBBM-AM (780). “I think it speaks to the leadership and the passion that he has for this game and for our team. He’s out there and he’s having fun, and it shows.”
This and that
Outside linebacker Khalil Mack missed his first practice of the season Friday with a sore back but was active for the game. So was slot cornerback Buster Skrine, who nursed an ankle injury all week, and Coward, who injured a finger. Safety Deon Bush (hamstring) played for the first time since he was injured against the Colts.
The Bears continue to protest racial injustice during the national anthem. Defensive linemen Akiem Hicks, John Jenkins, Mario Edwards Jr., Bilal Nichols and Brent Urban, linebackers Danny Trevathan and Josh Woods and offensive tackle Bobby Massie all kneeled on the sideline. Outside linebacker James Vaughters and inside linebacker Joel Iyiegbuniwe raised their fists. About half the Bears’ roster heard the anthem from the team’s tunnel.