The Chicago Bears have shown an ability to win in the final seconds.
The Bears (3-2) will try to win their fourth game in a row Sunday when they host the New Orleans Saints (1-5), who have been unable to win games that have been decided late.
Chicago has won its last two matchups by identical 25-24 scores after clutch efforts in the final seconds.
The Bears won at Washington on Monday night when Jake Moody kicked a 38-yard field goal as time expired. Two weeks earlier, before their bye week, Chicago prevailed in Las Vegas by scoring a touchdown with 1:34 left and blocking a Raiders field goal with 38 seconds left.
Second-year quarterback Caleb Williams led an 11-play, 69-yard drive that ended with D’Andre Swift’s 2-yard run in Las Vegas, and Williams led a nine-play, 36-yard winning drive in Washington.
“I think he’s done a heck of a job just controlling his emotions in those situations,” Chicago coach Ben Johnson said of Williams. “It seems like he really just comes to life and he meets that moment based on that, is who he is and who he has always been.”
Bears first-year defensive coordinator Dennis Allen will be facing a franchise with whom he spent the majority of his NFL coaching career. Allen was a New Orleans assistant for five seasons in his first tenure and 6 1/2 seasons to start his second tenure before being promoted to head coach in 2022.
Allen, who also was head coach of the Raiders from 2012-14, had an 18-25 record when he was fired by the Saints after a 2-7 start last season.
“(Allen) has been a godsend to me,” said Johnson, in his first season as a head coach, “not just for coordinating the defense but he’s helped me every step of the way.”
The Bears lead the NFL with an average of 2.4 takeaways per game after posting three against the Commanders.
“Their defense is playing fast,” New Orleans first-year head coach Kellen Moore said. “They’re physical. The turnover thing is real. They’re doing a great job of attacking the football. They’re playing a very confident brand of football.”
The Saints have turned the ball over just four times, seventh fewest in the league.
“We’ve got to be on our ‘A’ game protecting the ball,” quarterback Spencer Rattler said.
The Saints-Allen connection isn’t the only significant one in this matchup. Williams was backing up Rattler at Oklahoma when Rattler struggled against Texas, and Williams replaced him and rallied the Sooners from a 35-17 deficit to a 55-48 victory in 2021.
Williams remained the starter before finishing his career at USC while Rattler left for South Carolina. Williams was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and Rattler was selected in the fifth round.
The Saints pulled within six early in the fourth quarter last week, but their last two possessions ended with a fumble and a punt in a 25-19 home loss to New England. New Orleans has had two other one-score losses in which it had an opportunity to tie or take the lead in the fourth quarter.
“We acknowledge that we’re right there,” Moore said. “It starts with having opportunities to win games, then you have to take advantage of those opportunities. We’ve got to keep growing.”
Two New Orleans starters missed practice Wednesday. Running back Alvin Kamara (ankle) played against the Patriots and Moore said he’s likely to be available this week. Cornerback Isaac Yiadom (hamstring) has missed the last two games. Receiver Chris Olave (hip) and cornerback Alontae Taylor (knee) were limited.
The Bears held a walk-through and estimated that four starters would not have practiced – right guard Jonah Jackson (ankle), defensive lineman Grady Jarrett (knee), wide receiver DJ Moore (hip/groin) and kicker Cairo Santos (thigh). Linebacker Noah Sewell (concussion) also would not have practiced.
–Field Level Media
