ATLANTA — It ended up being a footnote on the Bears’ 31-23 win over the Falcons on Sunday, but they piled up an absurd 133 yards in penalties — their most in a decade.
At the center of that mess was wide receiver Jahdae Walker, who had as bad of a game as possible in that department and eventually was ejected.
Walker committed an egregious error early in the third quarter with an obvious running-into-the punter penalty that allowed the Falcons to keep the ball after the Bears’ defense had gotten a stop on third-and-three. Coach Ben Johnson just stared at the roof as the official announced the penalty
Instead of punting, they got a first down at the Bears’ 35-yard line. Walker was fortunate the defense bailed him out with a fourth-down stop a few plays later.
No one could help Walker, however, when he messed up again at the start of the fourth quarter. After a Bears kickoff, Walker got into it with Falcons wide receiver Chris Blair and headbutted him. That drew a 15-yard penalty and an ejection, and when the official explained that one to Johnson, the coach appeared to say, “Yep,” and moved on.
The penalty yardage total was the Bears’ highest since a 2016 loss to the Lions and among the 20 highest in franchise history.
Bears tight end Colston Loveland got flagged for offensive pass interference penalty in the third quarter and wiped out a would-be fourth-down conversion. Loveland appeared to make minimal contact with safety Xavier Watts as he ran for a 10-yard catch.
Johnson was frustrated because he said the scouting report he gave the players on that officiating crew’s tendencies held true.
“We’ve got to be more aware of it and play cleaner football,” he said. “We had penalty issues early in the season and cleaned those up. I’m not going to let one poor game of that define us. You’ve got to see a streak of that before you do anything rash.”
Trapilo returns
There was a big moment for the Bears late in the second quarter as left tackle Ozzy Trapilo got back on the field for the first time since suffering a ruptured patellar tendon in his knee last season in the playoffs.
“You’re always going to be nervous, but then that first play happens and it all washes away,” he said.
Trapilo subbed in for starter Theo Benedet for one series and did fine until he committed a costly holding penalty. The Bears converted on third-and-seven on a 24-yard pass from Caleb Williams to Rome Odunze, but it was negated by the hold.
Trapilo also got some snaps late in the game.
Lesson learned
Backup running back Roschon Johnson rushed for a career-high 51 yards and scored a touchdown, but also nearly blew the game with a fourth-quarter fumble.
He had a chance to score again in the final minute as the Bears were killing clock, but though better of it and slid at the 4-yard line to end the game.
“Coming off the fumble, I’m like, ‘I have to do what’s right,’” he said.
Notes
• The game was delayed 15 minutes or so in the third quarter when Falcons linebacker Kendal Daniels hurt his neck tackling Loveland. He was immobilized and taken off on a stretcher, but was doing well and walking around the locker room after the game.
• Wide receiver Luther Burden led the Bears with eight catches for 95 yards.
• With defensive end Montez Sweat out, longtime special teamer Daniel Hardy played that position off the bench and got his first career sack. He called it “awesome” and admitted, “It’s been five years, and there were times when I thought it wasn’t coming.”
• Bears kicker Cairo Santos missed a 56-yard field goal wide left, but hit a 50-yarder in the fourth quarter.