What marks do the Bears get after their ugly 30-16 loss to the Lamar Jackson-less Ravens in Baltimore?
QUARTERBACK — F
There’s no choice but to fail Caleb Williams after he couldn’t complete passes in the red zone, threw a really bad interception — it’s called double coverage for a reason, dude — intentionally grounded the ball twice, mismanaged the clock in the final throes and took an ‘‘L’’ against a 1-5 team quarterbacked by the great Tyler Huntley (who, again?). For what it’s worth, Williams did show good recognition on a 22-yard run, audible into a third-down screen to D’Andre Swift that set up a touchdown and deliver a couple of eye-popping throws, one to Rome Odunze and the other to DJ Moore. It’s not all on him, that’s for sure, but being drafted No. 1 overall brings expectations that simply aren’t being met.
TIGHT ENDS — C
There’s nothing really wrong with what rookie first-round pick Colston Loveland is doing (though his false-start penalty didn’t help). It’s more what he isn’t doing, which is coming anywhere close to justifying his selection with cold, hard receiving production. With veteran Cole Kmet out, Loveland caught an 18-yard pass on the Bears’ first play from scrimmage. Two catches for 20 yards later — and still no touchdowns — he was hitting the showers. It’s nice if he’s blocking well on running plays, but that’s not what first-rounders are for.
DEFENSIVE LINE — C-MINUS
Montez Sweat, Grady Jarrett and Gervon Dexter each had a moment or two — Sweat’s recent play has been more encouraging than not — and the Bears did a decent job, for the most part, of keeping star running back Derrick Henry in check. There wasn’t enough pressure on Huntley, who rarely seemed under stress, and linemen clearly tired late after Dominique Robinson and Shemar Turner were hurt early. Andrew Billings’ encroachment penalty that essentially cost the Bears their last shred of hope was amateur-hour stuff.
SECONDARY — D
It was bound to be a rough go with cornerbacks Kyler Gordon and Tyrique Stevenson out, and it was. Corner Nick McCloud negated a third-down stop with a pass-interference penalty and lost contact with the Ravens’ Rashod Bateman on a 36-yard play to begin the second half. Corner Nahshon Wright gave up a key first down late while defending against DeAndre Hopkins, who — yes — could’ve been called for offensive pass interference on the play, but that’s the way it goes.
SPECIAL TEAMS — F
Tory Taylor’s picture-perfect punt downed at the 1 was called back because D’Marco Jackson lined up wrong. Cairo Santos didn’t have the leg for a 58-yard field-goal attempt. Josh Blackwell fumbled a kickoff return, nearly a disaster. Noah Sewell was called for a personal foul for a low block on a kick return. Needing to pin the Ravens deep in the fourth quarter, the Bears allowed kick returns of 39 and 34 yards. In all: Oof.
RYAN POLES AND BEN JOHNSON — F
Eleven more penalties? A quarterback with everything riding on his development who doesn’t appear to be, ahem, developing? A rookie class that is making a modest-at-best impact? The guys in charge must wear this one, too. Come to think of it, most of all.