The Bears’ playoff run came to a heartbreaking end on Sunday, falling 20-17 in overtime to the Los Angeles Rams. And while there’s never one single play that defines a season, a crucial miscue between quarterback Caleb Williams and wide receiver DJ Moore in the extra period loomed large in how this one finished.
It was 2nd & 8 in overtime when Williams dropped back and looked Moore’s way. The rookie QB fired a pass underneath Rams safety Kam Curl, while Moore took his route vertical - right behind Curl.
The result? Curl stepped in front of the throw for the game-sealing interception, sending the Rams on to the NFC Championship and the Bears into the offseason with questions about what could’ve been.
After the game, Williams owned the miscommunication.
“I’ve got to go back and watch it, obviously haven’t seen it,” Williams said. “Had DJ going over the top over all of it.
Just a miscommunication between him and I. Tried to flatten him off under the safety and he kept it vertical, from what I saw in the moment.”
It’s the kind of mistake that happens when a rookie quarterback and a veteran receiver are still building chemistry - and unfortunately for Chicago, it came at the worst possible time. Williams was trying to anticipate Moore adjusting his route underneath the coverage, but Moore stayed true to the vertical concept. That split-second disconnect was all Curl needed to make the play.
Despite the miscue, Moore had a solid outing. He was targeted eight times, catching five passes for 52 yards and a touchdown.
He also added eight yards on the ground. Williams, meanwhile, finished 23-of-42 for 257 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions, plus 40 rushing yards on five carries.
The interception was Williams’ third of the day - a tough stat line for the No. 1 overall pick in his playoff debut. Still, it’s worth remembering the bigger picture here. Moore and Williams were instrumental in Chicago’s turnaround season, helping the Bears capture the NFC North title and engineer a dramatic comeback win over the Packers in the wild-card round.
This ending will sting - no doubt about it. But for a team that’s been searching for a franchise quarterback and a true No. 1 wideout for years, the Williams-Moore connection showed real promise this season.
Sunday’s miscommunication? It’s part of the growing pains.
But if this duo continues to build on what they’ve started, the Bears might just be getting warmed up.