Chicago Bears Week 9 Notes: Nearly a Bungle in the Jungle

In an offensive shootout that featured eight lead changes and included 31 points in the 4th quarter alone, the Chicago Bears came away with the much-needed victory. Here are my notes.

Offense:

• Kyle Monangai and the run game was easily the highlight in this one. From the offensive tackles mauling defenders in space to the interior OL opening up lanes or Monangai’s vision and power punishing would-be tacklers, the Bears’ run game is back. And they are only getting better. Monangai had 26 carries for 176 yards in this one.
• Caleb appeared a tad off on his timing throws early in this one. But was not helped any by some drops from Rome and Kmet.
• Speaking of Rome, as a pass-catcher, this may have been his worst game as a pro, including a brutal dropped TD. But his run-blocking is reminiscent of another Bear WR who wore #15 – Brandon Marshall. Rome has been an elite run-blocker this season and is absolutely part of the reason the run game has been succeeding.
• DJ Moore was involved early and throughout this one and is always fun to watch when he has room to run. He even threw a TD pass to Caleb to start things off for Chicago.
• That trick play was one of a handful of successful scoring drives within the red zone for the Bears. Tip of the cap to Ben Johnson and the O for bouncing back this week and turning scoring drives into 6 instead of 3.
• Olamide Zaccheus finally found the endzone and looked like another RB after the catch in space.
• Speaking of first TDs of the season, Colston Loveland notched his first career score on a beautiful slant pattern in the red zone, where he made a nice catch and absorbed a tough hit by the safety and held on to the ball. He looked like a matchup problem in this one. More on him later.
• Brittain Brown showing some juice and got himself his first career TD as well. Brown impressed with solid vision and decisiveness in his most extended action of his young career. With D’Andre Swift and Roschon Johnson expected to be back soon and Monangai having a banner day.
• While the run game excelled, the passing game has not yet reached its potential and everyone from the OL to the pass-catchers and especially Caleb Williams are to blame. Some leaky pressure got Caleb off his reads a tad too early and he was forced to pull it down and run often, which is not always a bad thing, but plenty of times this season and against the Bengals were there open receivers he failed to see at all or in time. That said, he continues to improve with his decision making and made a few wow throws in this one.
• And last but not least, the clutch factor with Caleb is real and I am here for it. Despite...