The Chicago Bears improved to 2-2 on the season with a 24-18 victory over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, September 29, at Soldier Field.
According to the Bears, the team was led by the defensive effort of DB Jaquan Brisker, who finished with a team high 12 tackles (eight solo) and a quarterback sack. Brisker closed out the game in stunning fashion, earning a huge interception to close out the win.
“Field position played a factor into it for sure because they were there on the plus side. So we wanted to do a good job of knocking them back. We did but didn’t do a good enough job of keeping them there because they kicked the field goal,” said coach Matt Eberflus about the Brisker sack. “Jaquan was outstanding today. He had the near interception on the one third down and then obviously the big sack and the pick at the end. So, he really is a passionate guy, and that’s why he’s one of our first draft picks.“
The Bears said Brisker joined Roquan Smith (2022, Week 7) as the only Bears defenders since at least 1948 to register double-digit tackles, one sack and one interception in a single game, and is the first defensive back to do so in the NFL since former Giants defender Landon Collins did so in 2016.
On the opening defensive drive, DL Gervon Dexter Sr. dropped Rams QB Matthew Stafford to register his third sack of the season, sharing the NFL lead for most sacks by an interior defensive lineman through the first four weeks of the season, added the Bears.
The Bears said DL Montez Sweat collected his first strip-sack of the season, marking his second sack in as many weeks and first forced fumble of the season. The strip-sack marked the ninth of Sweat’s career, as he registered his 11th career forced fumble.
In addition to the defense, the Bears special teams unit contributed in a big way in Sunday’s victory over Los Angeles. Punter Tory Taylor punted five times, registering a career-high 55.4-yard gross average, registering the third-highest punt average in a single game by a Bears punter since at least 1960 (min. four punts).
Out of Taylor’s five punt attempts, three were downed inside of Los Angeles’ 20-yard line, including a career-long 65 plus-yard punt in the fourth quarter. Taylor’s nine punts inside of the opponent’s 20-yard line are tied for third-most in the NFL through the first four weeks, the Bears said.
Final Score: Chicago 24, Los Angeles 18
With the victory, the Bears are now at .500 and will play their next game on Sunday versus the Carolina Panthers. Game time 12 p.m.
Joseph Phillips is the Sports Editor for the Chicago Crusader Newspaper. He is a Chicago native, who has been a sports writer for over 17 years. He also hosts the SC Media News and Sports Network Q&A radio show on WHPK 88.5 FM Chicago.