SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The game couldn't have started better for the Chicago Bears after they got a pick-6 in Game 1.
The ending couldn't have been more devastating as a potential game-winning pass from the 2-yard line failed as the Bears failed to complete a record seventh comeback late in the game.
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Caleb Williams missed a final pass to Jade Walker in the end zone Sunday night, sending the Bears into a tight end. loss with a score of 42-38 San Francisco 49ers, costing them a chance to earn the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs.
“It's frustrating,” Williams said. “You can't lose a single game. Besides, in this position, a shot at the end is all you can ask for at this point. But overall we have to do better.”
Williams and the Bears (11-5) have risen to the occasion in those late-game situations, posting an NFL-record six wins from behind in the final two minutes of regulation, including last week's comeback win over the Green Bay Packers.
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Williams moved Chicago 63 yards with 2:11 remaining, converting a fourth-and-5 and then getting the ball to the two with a hook-and-ladder pass to Colston Loveland, who passed to D'Andre Swift.
After time stood still, the Bears struggled to line up correctly on the final play. Williams was then knocked out of the pocket by Bryce Huff and his throw into the end zone beat Walker.
“In this situation, we just had to try to make something out of nothing, and then, like I said, we had a chance,” Williams said. “Even though all this was going on, the clock was ticking, we had a throw. I just have to give my guys a chance in that situation. I ended up getting the ball dirty, I didn't get my feet on it. In that situation, I just kicked the ball into the end zone. I can't get the ball dirty.”
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The loss ended the Bears' hopes of a No. 1 seed and a first-round bye. Chicago has already clinched the NFC North title and can earn second place by beating Detroit next Sunday or if Philadelphia loses to Washington.
Williams threw for 330 yards and two touchdowns, Swift scored two times, rookies Luther Burden and Loveland combined for 14 catches for 232 yards and two touchdowns, and TJ Edwards scored on a 34-yard pick-6 on the first play from scrimmage.
But the defense struggled to get any stops, allowing Brock Purdy and the 49ers to score six touchdowns in the third game this season in which Chicago scored at least 42 points.
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For a team built on a stout defense and an inconsistent offense, the way the Bears lost was especially stunning. They became the second team in the Super Bowl era to lose a regular season or playoff game when they scored at least 35 points, scored a defensive touchdown and did not turn the ball over.
In this scenario, teams were 286–1, and the only losing team was Denver, which lost 41–36 to the St. Louis Rams in the 2000 season opener.
“When you're up against a fast-paced offense like that, you talk about being able to scrimmage with them and sometimes we can answer that call,” coach Ben Johnson said. “They just played more games than us.”
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Josh Dubow, Associated Press
