A pair of No. 1 overall picks faced off on Sunday afternoon in Illinois when Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams took on 2024 top pick Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears, with both looking to move to .500.
The Rams remained without a significant portion of their offensive attack, down three offensive linemen and both of their top receivers in Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp.
And while Stafford did all he could to keep the Rams afloat, he couldn’t piece together a game-winning drive, resulting in a 24-18 loss in Chicago.
The story of the first half was difficulty in the red zone for Stafford and the Rams offense. Three of the team’s four first-half drives stalled within the 30 of the Bears, leading to field goal attempts for Joshua Karty. The rookie nailed his first two attempts, but had his first miss of the season to end the half.
The Rams trailed 10-6 at the half after allowing a short-field touchdown after a fumble and a last-second field goal. But the defense looked significantly sharper than it did in the first half of their Week 3 victory against the San Francisco 49ers.
Braden Fiske had the first sack of his young career at the 7:39 mark of the second quarter on a drive that saw Fiske and Jared Verse combine for 2.5 sacks. The Bears were ultimately forced to punt after gaining just nine yards in eight plays thanks to the three sacks.
Williams, though, had one of his best halves as a pro up to this point after the halftime break. He led back-to-back touchdown drives including a gorgeous scoring pass to DJ Moore in the third quarter. Stafford and Kyren Williams were able to respond and keep the game within one score.
Stafford had a chance to lead the Rams on another game-winning drive, but threw an interception on the first play with a controversial hit by the Bears defense.
Braden Fiske's first career strip sack!
(via @NFL) pic.twitter.com/cvdFeDVAka
— Rams Newswire (@RamsNewswire) September 29, 2024
All Kyren Williams does is score touchdowns.
(via @RamsNFL) pic.twitter.com/zJPMcJjQku
— Rams Newswire (@RamsNewswire) September 29, 2024
Stafford finished 20-for-29 with 224 yards and the interception. Williams had 104 yards from scrimmage — 94 rushing — with a touchdown on the ground, the Rams’ lone touchdown of the day. Karty went 4-for-5 on field goals with a new career long of 52.
Williams went 17-of-23 for 157 yards and a touchdown for the Bears while D’Andre Swift was the star of the day with 93 yards on the ground, 72 yards through the air and a touchdown.
What’s Next for the Rams
The 1-3 Rams are likely to remain shorthanded, but they return home for a Week 5 matchup against Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers. The Packers have been uneven thus far this season especially with an injury to Love, but have looked like the class of the NFC at moments.
