Not pleased with his performance a week earlier against the Colts, Bears punter Tory Taylor rebounded in a huge way Sunday versus the Rams.

The rookie fourth-round pick from Iowa averaged 55.4 yards on five punts, the third highest average by a Bears punter in a game since at least 1960 with a minimum of four punts. Taylor landed three punts inside-the-20, forcing the Rams to start possessions at their own 5-, 8- and 8-yard lines.

It was a major improvement from a week earlier when Taylor posted a 42.3-yard gross average and 36.0-yard net average in Indianapolis, both season lows.

"Last week wasn't me," Taylor said. "It wasn't good enough. It's not who I am or anything like that. Last week I wasn't hitting the ball the way I wanted to because I just wasn't being my aggressive self, where as this week I was kind of like no matter what happens, I just want to be me, go out there and be my aggressive self because I know the rest of it will take care of itself."

Taylor played a key role in Sunday's win. With the Bears protecting a 24-18 lead midway through the fourth quarter, he followed a three-and-out with a booming 66-yard punt that bounced out of bounds at the Los Angeles 8.

Taylor was called upon again with 1:13 to play and delivered with a 35-yard punt that was again downed at the 8. On the next snap, Jaquan Brisker intercepted a Matthew Stafford pass to seal the victory.

"I haven't been that pumped up for a punt in a long time," said cornerback Jaylon Johnson. "[Taylor] is definitely special, definitely just giving us some punt and pins, giving them bad field position and giving us some good field position for us to be able to pin our ears back and go out there and hunt."

Outstanding outing

Brisker did the hunting late in the fourth quarter, capping an impressive performance in which he recorded a team-high 12 tackles, one sack that forced the Rams to settle for a field goal and the game-clinching interception. The only other player in Bears history to compile double-digit tackles with a sack and interception in a game was Roquan Smith in 2022.

"Jaquan was outstanding today," said coach Matt Eberflus. "He really is a passionate guy, and that's why he's one of our first draft picks. It was Kyler [Gordon] and him (both selected in the second round in 2022). Those two guys embody who we want to be as Chicago Bears: passion, tough, come to work every day, and those guys are workers."

Brisker thought he had an interception early in the second quarter in the end zone. But he had stepped out of bounds and did not re-establish himself in-bounds before making the catch. When a second opportunity came late in the game, he knew he had to seize it, both figuratively and literally.

"I was like, 'Again? I've got to get it this time. I've got to make them pay,'" Brisker said. "The first time it didn't count. I was kind of surprised. But this time I had to make it count and I did."

A perfect fit

Defensive end Darrell Taylor deserved an assist on Brisker's interception. The fourth-year pro spun around left guard Logan Bruss at the line of scrimmage and hit Stafford as he threw the ball.

The Bears acquired Taylor Aug. 23 from the Seahawks in exchange for a 2025 sixth-round pick. The 6-4, 267-pounder registered 21.5 sacks in three seasons with Seattle and recorded 2.0 sacks in the Bears' season-opening win over the Titans.

Taylor contributed to Sunday's victory after not practicing Wednesday or Thursday due to an illness.

"The passion he brings, that's why we got him," Eberflus said. "We got him because he fits right in. When he walked into the room, he fit. The way he practices, the way he plays. So he brings it. He just has to learn our system. He's doing that and doing a good job with that. Credit to him.

"You saw the injury report. He was ill for two days and then came in on Friday. Again, Travis Smith [Bryan] Bing, our defensive line (coaches), did a heck of a job getting him ready to play and execute in the game in a short period of time."