Bears Beat Saints 26–14: Caleb Williams’ Struggles, Moody’s Rise, and NFL Officiating Outrage: Season 2 Episode 13

 Welcome to Season Two, Episode 13 of The Shawn Mackey Show, coming to you live—well, live as I record it, but not when you’re hearing it—from a beautiful resort here in Cabo San Lucas. For those of you watching the video version, enjoy the view. I can now officially say I’ve not only listened to The Shawn Mackey Show in Cabo, but also recorded an episode here.

This week, we’re talking about the Chicago Bears vs. New Orleans Saints, where the Bears beat the Saints 26–14 on Sunday.

At one point, the Bears led 20–0, and it looked like it would be a complete blowout. But by the time the final whistle blew, it was only a 26–14 win. Yes, the defense played solid, but this game should’ve had a much different outcome.

Now, about Caleb Williams—I’m still not ready to jump on the bandwagon. He looked like he regressed again last week. I don’t know what’s going on with this kid. He acts like his talent is so superior that he doesn’t need to work as hard. His body language, that nonchalant, pouty demeanor—it’s frustrating to watch.

Last week, after Troy Aikman’s brutal Monday Night Football commentary, I compared their first 22-game stats. Caleb’s stats were actually better, and I posed the question: could Caleb be a Hall of Famer like Aikman someday? But if he doesn’t get his head straight, those numbers will continue to fall.


🔥 The Greats

DeAndre Swift – Another 100+ yard performance, finishing with 124 yards and a touchdown.
Kyle Menangai – 13 carries, 81 yards, and a touchdown.
Offensive Line – Another dominant run-blocking effort. They opened lanes all day long.
DJ Moore – Spent the night in the hospital earlier in the week for a groin injury but still suited up and performed.
Jake Moody – Four-for-four on field goals; eight out of nine since joining the Bears. The question now: what happens when Cairo Santos returns? Moody’s younger and has a stronger leg, so we’ll see.
Kyler Gordon – Huge improvement from last week. Recorded a sack, a tackle for loss, and four total tackles.
Bears Defense – Four sacks, three interceptions, one fumble recovery, and held the Saints to just 44 rushing yards. That’s dominance.

💩 The Ain’ts

Coaching Staff & Discipline – Ten penalties for 92 yards. That’s unacceptable.
Caleb Williams – Only 172 passing yards, one interception, two fumbles, no rushing yards, and a QB rating of 19.8. Not good.
Jonathan Owens – Two straight invisible performances.
Red Zone Offense – Still awful. The Bears have been one of the worst teams in converting red zone trips into touchdowns.

⚙️ Caleb Williams’ Cadence Problem

Williams’ inconsistent cadence caused multiple issues with center Drew Dahlman, leading to two penalties and two bad snaps. On one play, Dahlman hesitated, unsure if the ball should be snapped. Williams stumbled, nearly caused a fumble, and the Bears had to settle for a field goal instead of a touchdown. This is purely a quarterback issue—lack of rhythm and consistency.

🏈 Around the NFL

The New York Jets finally benched Justin Fields. Before his benching, Fields was 6-of-12 for 46 yards with three sacks. The week prior, he threw for 45 yards and got sacked nine times, finishing with negative passing yards. Owner Woody Johnson publicly criticized him despite giving Fields $40 million—$30 million guaranteed.

At this point, Fields needs to swallow his pride and convert to wide receiver. The Jets even worked him out at that position in London. His athleticism could thrive there, but as a quarterback? He’s done.

🏈 NCAA Week 8: Chaos and Upsets

Another wild weekend in college football:

  • Louisville (unranked) upset #2 Miami.

  • #9 Georgia upset #5 Ole Miss.

  • Arizona State beat #7 Texas Tech.

  • #17 Vanderbilt dropped #10 LSU.

AP Top 25 Highlights:

  1. Ohio State

  2. Indiana (Kurt Signetti rewarded with a huge extension)

  3. Texas A&M

  4. Alabama

  5. Georgia

  6. Oregon

  7. Georgia Tech

  8. Ole Miss

  9. Miami

  10. Vanderbilt

Texas is back in at #22, Illinois at #23, and Michigan rounds out the top 25.

🚨 Officiating Rant

Officiating in the NFL and MLB has become atrocious. Replay has made referees lazy—they know bad calls will get overturned. In that Chiefs vs. Lions game, Kansas City didn’t get called for a single penalty, despite clear video evidence of multiple missed calls.

Officials no longer fear accountability. The same thing happened in the Bears-Saints game—Colston Loveland called for a bogus pass interference. Across the league, it’s gotten pathetic. Replay has compromised the integrity of officiating, and I believe games should go back to being called from the field—no challenges, no replays. Just play the damn game.

🌴 Closing Thoughts

I’m recording this one with my toes in the sand, drink in hand, and my wife beside me reading a book. I wanted to get an episode out while enjoying Cabo San Lucas. Next week, we’ll be back home and diving even deeper into the Bears’ next matchup.

Until then, peace out—I’ll see you on the flip side.

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