Hail Mary Crushes Caleb Williams' Hometown Comeback

Good morning Chicago fans! That Bears loss stings more than most…

It was a nightmare before Halloween and a great reminder to stay focused until the final whistle. You can’t give up before it’s over!

RESULTS

L - Commanders 18, Bears 15: Unfathomable heartbreak in DC

• Jayden Daniels launched a Hail Mary about 65 yards in the air after scrambling for over 12 seconds, and the tipped ball was caught by Noah Brown for the game-winning touchdown

• Tyrique Stevenson was taunting the crowd DURING the Hail Mary play. The ball was live! The game wasn’t over! Instead of ending up in position, he tipped the ball up into the air to make it catchable…that capped off his inexcusable day that included an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and getting burned for a big gain down the sideline. To his credit, he apologized on X after the game.

• Now 7/7 in slow starts this season. The coaching staff needs to put an end to this. The offense was brutal for almost 3 whole quarters, and the defense started the game by allowing a 9 play, 56 yard FG drive and a 12 play, 79 yard FG drive 🤢

• Caleb Williams (10/24, 131 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT) was significantly outplayed by Daniels (21/38, 326 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT) in his return to his hometown. After a string of impressive games, Caleb and the offense reverted back to the historically low production we saw in the first two games of the season.

• Caleb took a 15 yard sack on a play from the Commanders 25 yard line before halftime that pushed the Bears out of field goal range

• The defense perfected the “bend, don’t break” approach as they held the Commanders to 4 field goals all game long. Points were kept off the board, but they gave up 481 total yards and didn’t take the ball away. 😬

• Montez Sweat made a couple big plays in his return to DC!

• Caleb led two game-winning touchdown drives: the first was spoiled by a fumble on a handoff to C/FB Doug Kramer on the 1-yard line, and the other gave the Bears the lead before the Hail Mary

• The offensive line was a carousel. Braxton Jones, Teven Jenkins, and Bill Murray all left the game due to injury. Kiran Amegadjie and Kramer slotted in at LT and LG for a good portion of the game.

• Tensions were high between teams as the Bears struggled

• Caleb ran the ball 10 times, including two consecutive designed keepers on their final red zone trip. Can we stop with this?!?

• Maybe nobody should have mentioned Caleb’s championship-winning Hail Mary in high school leading into this game…

• It’s ridiculous the Bears can play so poorly and still be one play away from victory. Every loss this season has been close. Only up from here 📈

SEASON RECORD: 4-3 (4th place, 2 GB)

⭐ STAR OF THE WEEK ⭐

D’Andre Swift

Swift put the offense on his back to close out the game!

18 carries, 129 yards, 1 TD (56 yard TD for their first score)

🎥 PLAY OF THE WEEK 🎥

D’Andre Swift TD run

NEWS & NOTES

Released Khari Blasingame and waived Velus Jones Jr. (Velus can be claimed by another team and may end up back on the practice squad. The running back development arc may not be over.)

Larry Borom and Travis Homer started their 21-day practice window as they return from injuries. Activated Homer and DE Jacob Martin from IR

Signed TE Joel Wilson to the practice squad, placed TE Tommy Sweeney on the practice squad/injured list

No changes to the takeaway meter this week…

Next up ➡ 4-4 Cardinals. A team with firepower that has played a ton of close games. Might be a another intense matchup!

TROPHY TRACKER (6/10 ➡ 🏆)

RESULTS

L - Canucks 6, Blackhawks 3: Sloppy effort and sloppy refereeing

• The refs handed 2 bonus goals to the Canucks by missing a SEVEN men on the ice penalty and not overturning a controversial offsides decision

• Turnovers, missed assignments, and failed zone exits killed the Hawks on defense

• Connor Bedard broke his stick in frustration as he was held pointless with 6 shots and a ton of great scoring opportunities

L - Predators 3, Blackhawks 2: Choked it away against a bad Predators team

• A supposed 3-0 Blackhawks lead was overturned due to offsides, and the Predators quickly stormed back with 3 goals

• Craig Smith and Bedard scored goals

L - Stars 4, Blackhawks 2: Outmatched and outworked in Dallas

• A 3rd period flurry almost brought the Hawks back from a 3-0 deficit

• Pat Maroon had 2 assists, including a sweet stretch pass to Bedard to set up a goal

SEASON RECORD: 2-6-1 (5 points)

⭐ STAR OF THE WEEK ⭐

Connor Bedard

The breakthrough was inevitable! 2 goals on 13 shots this week

🎥 PLAY OF THE WEEK 🎥

Petr Mrazek stick save

NEWS & NOTES

Activated Artyom Levshunov from the injured non-roster list and assigned him to the AHL. His debut was Saturday and he recorded an assist!

Recalled G Drew Commesso from the AHL, assigned D Isaak Phillips to the AHL

Philipp Kurashev was a healthy scratch for the Canucks game due to poor performance

Lukas Reichel got time on the 1st line with Bedard and Teuvo in the Stars game 👀

Multiple reports stated the Hawks’ desire to add a young center to fill their 2C spot. This is surprising to me, and I doubt anything happens. They should be in the market for a long-term building block, and those types of players are hardly available. With Kurashev holding down that spot this season, Frank Nazar waiting in the wings, and a ton of center prospects who could ascend, I don’t think it’s the time to add a center.

TROPHY TRACKER (2/10 ➡ 🏆)

RESULTS

L - Pelicans 123, Bulls 111: Started the season the Bulls way 😴

• Despite Zach LaVine sinking his first five 3s, the Bulls shot 29.4% on only 34 attempted 3s. There go the preseason trends…

• Pelicans scored 30 points off of 21 Bulls turnovers

• Brandon Ingram dictated play for the Pelicans with 33 points

W - Bulls 133, Bucks 122: 3-point party in Milwaukee!!!

• Talk about flipping the switch! The Bulls shot 44.7% on 47 attempted 3s and only turned it over 10 times. 💡

• Coby White had a crazy night (35p/6r/5a/4s and 7-13 from 3)

• Giannis Antetokounmpo tried to do it all for the Bucks (38p/11r)

L - Thunder 114, Bulls 95: Giddey/Caruso Remix game ended as expected

• The Bulls got blown out at home against a team that shot 20% from 3 (8-40) 🤢

• The pendulum swings…28.3% on 53 attempted 3s and 26 turnovers

• Patrick Williams had 3 points, LaVine had 7 turnovers for the SECOND time in 3 games, and Coby laid a goose egg (0-9) from 3

SEASON RECORD: 1-2 (T/7th place in East)

⭐ STAR OF THE WEEK ⭐

Nikola Vucevic

Auto double-double quietly had a great start to the season!

3 double-doubles in 3 games, 23p/11r per game, 7-13 from 3

🎥 PLAY OF THE WEEK 🎥

Lonzo Ball alley oop to Zach LaVine

NEWS & NOTES

Here is the roster to start the season:

The Bulls did not sign Josh Giddey to a rookie contract extension before the deadline last Monday. Waiting until rookie contracts expire to agree on a deal matches their recent history (Patrick Williams for example), but I’m sure evaluation is also a factor. They’ll want to see how the season plays out and how Giddey fits with the young roster.

Billy Donovan is sticking to a 10-man rotation that has looked slightly different each night. Lonzo Ball did not play in Milwaukee and will miss games throughout the year, so that will be a factor. Matas Buzelis, THT, and Dalen Terry are fighting for playing time so far.

TROPHY TRACKER (1/10 ➡ 🏆)

NEWS & NOTES

Nico Hoerner had right flexor tendon surgery on October 11th and does not have a set timeline for recovery. Every report seemed to leave the door open regarding Nico missing the start of next season 😬

That means Nico AND Dansby played through injuries for a large portion of the season and underperformed when not 100%. The changing of the guard on the strength staff may have been necessary after all!

Moisés Ballesteros and Brandon Birdsell were named Minor League Player and Pitcher of the Year in the Cubs organization!

OFFSEASON THOUGHTS (PART 3)

Since we are in the midst of the World Series:

The best part of this year’s Dodgers/Yankees matchup is evidence that you need superstars and a high payroll. I know Jed Hoyer is watching. 3 of the 4 final teams that were in the playoffs have massive payrolls. All 4 had superstars.

Shohei Ohtani/Mookie Betts/Freddie Freeman

vs.

Aaron Judge/Juan Soto

Those players are about 4 tiers higher than anyone the Cubs have on their roster.

As much as I hate both teams, this series is great for baseball. The household names, dramatic moments, and epic finishes can all draw people to the game.

It’s also great for the Cubs as a reminder of the standard. Offer a big contract to Juan Soto. Pull off an unexpected blockbuster trade. Do something to get there!

TROPHY TRACKER (5/10 ➡ 🏆)

Darrell Taylor

The recently acquired defensive end acted quickly to serve the community in Chicago.

He lost his mom to breast cancer when he was 16 and was able to share his story at a Bears Care luncheon with cancer survivors. His empathy shines, and I’m sure he’ll continue to care for that community during his time here.

Watch more here:

The Doug Kramer goal line play was not a bad call.

Did everyone forget about The Fridge? Or even Akiem Hicks?

Handing the ball off to a big man at the goal line is stitched into the fabric of Chicago Bears football.

After the disastrous speed option play in Indianapolis, everyone has celebrated heavy personnel packages in short yardage situations. “Run the ball up the gut.” “Don’t overthink it.”

Since the ‘handoff to Roschon Johnson behind Kramer’ into the end zone has been called quite a few times, doesn’t it make sense to have other options on the play sheet? Defenses adjust in the NFL.

If the transfer of the football is successful, they score the touchdown.

Plus, it didn’t even matter. The Bears got the football back, drove down the field AGAIN, and punched it in. Having 25 seconds left on the clock after taking the lead is probably more favorable anyways…

Fumbles happen. They’re unacceptable and definitely despised in the HITS philosophy, but they’re part of the game.

I hope Gervon Dexter gets a goal line carry later in the year!

Scott Powers - Blackhawks prospect watch (The Athletic)

John Keim and Courtney Cronin - Inside the Commanders’ last-second finish (ESPN)

Julia Poe - Talen Horton-Tucker makes the opening roster (Chicago Tribune)

Jon Greenberg - Caleb Williams coming home to Washington DC (The Athletic)

Frank Seravalli - Taylor Hall wants to be a part of the Blackhawks build (Daily Faceoff)

Patrick Mooney - What the Cubs are looking for in free agents (The Athletic)

Ben Pope - Blackhawks enjoying a collective baby boom (Chicago Sun-Times)

Scott Powers - How Blackhawks plan to develop Frank Nazar (The Athletic)

Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma - Changes are coming to Craig Counsell’s coaching staff (The Athletic)

Thanks for reading! Have a great Halloween! Luckily, the Blackhawks play on Halloween night, so you can enjoy the scariest movie on TV called Chicago Sports.

If you enjoyed this newsletter, forward it to a friend! If you are the friend, you can subscribe here: