The defense allowed only one touchdown and running back D'Andre Swift generated 165 yards from scrimmage and a TD in leading the Bears to a 24-18 win over the Los Angeles Rams Sunday at Soldier Field.
The defense forced the Rams to settle for three field goals, while Swift rushed for 93 yards on 16 carries and caught seven passes for 72 yards. After opening the game with three straight punts, the offense scored three TDs and one field goal on its next four possessions.
Caleb Williams completed 17 of 23 passes for 157 yards with one touchdown, no turnovers and a career-high 106.6 passer rating.
The Rams took a 3-0 lead on Joshua Karty's 46-yard field goal with 4:01 left in the first quarter, capping a 13-play, 68-yard drive that burned 7:23 off the clock. Los Angeles settled for the field goal after Gervon Dexter Sr. sacked Matthew Stafford, who completed 5 of 6 passes for 50 yards on the possession.
Karty's 37-yard field goal gave the Rams a 6-0 lead early in the second quarter.
Later in the period, Montez Sweat sacked Stafford, causing a fumble that was recovered by Kyler Gordon at the Rams' 16.
On third-and-9 from the 15, Keenan Allen drew a pass interference penalty on cornerback Tre'Davious White in the end zone, giving the Bears first-and-goal at the 1.
With Williams under center and Doug Kramer Jr. at fullback, Roschon Johnson thundered up the middle for a 1-yard touchdown run that gave the Bears a 7-6 lead with 5:42 remaining in the second quarter.
The Rams were in position to retake the lead, but Karty's 43-yard field goal attempt sailed wide left with 1:01 to play in the first half.
The Bears answered as Cairo Santos' 40-yard field goal made it 10-6 with :09 left. The kick came after Swift turned a screen pass into a 27-yard gain.
The Rams marched the length of the field on the opening possession of the second half, but the Bears defense stiffened inside the 10, forcing Los Angeles to settle for Karty's 25-yard field goal, closing the gap to 10-9.
The Bears offense followed with its best drive of the game, covering 74 yards in 12 plays, capped by Williams' 9-yard touchdown pass to DJ Moore on third-and-5. The TD increased the Bears' lead to 17-9 with 2:37 remaining in the third quarter.
The Rams responded with a six-play, 70-yard drive that culminated in running back Kyren Williams' 3-yard touchdown run. But Stafford was unable to complete the subsequent two-point conversion pass, preserving the Bears' 17-15 lead.
The Bears followed with their second straight touchdown on Swift's 36-yard scamper up the middle, widening the margin to 24-15 with 12:26 to play.
Karty then made it a one-score game at 24-18 with a 52-yard field goal with 8:47 remaining. The Bears went three-and-out, but Tory Taylor boomed a 66-yard punt that bounced out of bounds at the Los Angeles 8. After the defense forced a three-and-out of their own, the offense advanced to the Rams 43 before punting the ball back to the Los Angeles with 1:03 remaining. On the first play of the drive, Stafford was intercepted by safety Jaquan Brisker, sealing the win.
With the victory, the Bears improved to 2-2 on the season. They'll be back at Soldier Field next Sunday to face the Carolina Panthers.
