Game Recap: Bears handles Saints for fourth straight win

David Banks - USA Today Sports

Dustin Riese · Senior Writer · 2 hours ago

CHICAGO - The wins keep coming for the Chicago Bears (4-2) as they have now won four consecutive games for the first time since 2018. Their latest win came against the New Orleans Saints (1-6) at a soggy Soldier Field, as the Saints have yet to win a road game this season.

Despite a sloppy second half that saw the Bears only score six points on a pair of Jake Moody field goals, it was the first half that set the tone for Chicago as they scored 20 first-half points to seize control, leading the way for the 26-14 victory. In the process, the Bears have topped the 21-point mark for the sixth time in as many games, the only team in the NFL that can make that claim.

The Bears, riding momentum into Week 7, grabbed the early advantage and never really relinquished it. The game began with Chicago’s defense setting the tone: strong pressure on the Saints’ quarterback Spencer Rattler, resulting in a strip sack fumble from Montez Sweat that helped set the Bears offense up inside the Saints 30. Although the Bears didn't capitalize they way they would've liked, Jake Moody still knocked home a 27 yard field goal to give the Bears a 3-0.

That was the first of four field goals from Moody, who added a second field goal just after the start of the second quarter to give the Bears a 6-0 lead. While Williams didn't put up gaudy passing numbers (172 yards), it was the Bears relying on their running game once again as D'Andre Swift topped the 100-yard mark for the second straight game with 124 yards, including an 11-yard score to extend the Bears' lead to 13-0.

His touchdown came after another Bears forced turnover as Nashon Wright picked off Spencer Rattler and raced down the field for a big return to give the Bears excellent field position once again. As good as the Bears' offense was at times, the first half was all about the Bears' defense as they held the Saints to less than 60 yards for the majority of the half.

That alone gave the Bears plenty of short fields to get the job done, as another first-down run from Swift helped open up the passing game with DJ Moore coming down with 26 of his team-high 43 yards to move the ball into the Saints' Redzone. Another first down reception from Coleston Loveland moved the ball inside the 10 where Kyle Monangai finished things off for his first career NFL touchdown as it was all Chicago at this point 20-0.

For Monangai, this was by far his best game as a pro, coming away with 81 yards rushing on 13 carries and his first career score. Trailing by 20 points late in the first half, Chris Olave began to take over as he hauled in a Rattler bomb for 57 yards to move the ball inside the Bears' 20. Olave may have gotten off to a slow start, but with five catches for 98 yards, he led all receivers in the game as he followed that deep pass with a 12-yard touchdown to put the Saints on the board right before the half, 20-7.

Sometimes, all it takes for an offense to get rolling is one big play, and that passing play seemed to awaken the Saints' offense as they got the ball to start the second half and went right after the Bears' defense. This time, it was Juwan Johnson setting the offense up as he hauled in 79 yards on five receptions. Johnson may have started the drive, but it was Olave finishing it as his 14-yard touchdown was his second score of the game and pulled the Saints within 20-14.

Those were the final points of the day for the Saints' offense as the Bears' defense continued to make plays, which took the pressure off their offense. After watching the Saints score 14 unanswered points to pull within six, the Bears came out firing on their first possession of the second half as Luther Burden started things off with a 22-yard reception before a pair of Swift runs moved the ball inside the 10.

Once again, it was the Bears looking to punch the ball in, but a costly fall start on fourth down nullified a fourth-and-short opportunity as Moody added another field goal to push the Bears' lead to 23-14. That was his third of four field goals, with Moody tacking on one more field goal in the fourth quarter to push the Bears' lead to 26-14 as they would go on to win by that score.

These are the types of wins that give the fans hope for the future, as a lot of people looked at this game as a possible trap game. Had Williams played this poorly early in the season, there is no way the Bears win this game, but with the rushing attack racking up 222 yards and the Bears forcing four turnovers, Williams doesn't have to be at his best, as the Bears have officially climbed out of last place in the NFC North.