Ugly Wins and Hard Lessons: Inside the Bears’ Wild Week of Football: Season 2 Episode 14

Welcome to season two, episode fourteen of The Shawn Mackey Show. First off, you’re welcome. Last episode was recorded poolside in Cabo San Lucas, and I left my shirt on for you — nobody needed that image of me shirtless at a resort. If you follow me on social media — @ShawnPMackey on Facebook, ShawnMackey96 on YouTube, and everywhere else — you’ve seen I use short video clips to promote the show. So again, you’re welcome for keeping things tasteful.

We went on vacation, so things got neglected around the house, and we took a week off. I didn’t even do an episode dedicated solely to the Bears vs. Ravens game. Quite honestly, after watching that mess, I was speechless. Caleb Williams regressed again — this kid is so up and down. But I’m not giving up on him yet. Ben Johnson just needs to mold him a little more, tighten that Play-Doh, and get him to show that brilliance every week.

The Bears’ mistakes against the Ravens were endless. Ben Johnson said, “It’s hard to win a football game when you play ugly football like that.” No kidding. Caleb ended up 25-for-38 with 285 yards, but he was bailed out by DJ Moore’s one-handed catch and Roma Dunze’s clutch plays. Even so, the team fell short due to turnovers and lack of discipline. Injuries haven’t helped either — this roster’s been decimated.

The offensive line looked bad. The run game was nearly nonexistent — DeAndre Swift only had 45 yards. I couldn’t even come up with “greats and ain’ts” for that game. I might change the segment name to “champs and chumps,” or maybe “studs and duds,” but I don’t want to steal anyone’s terminology. Either way, that was an ugly game from start to finish.

Then came the Bears vs. Bengals — a wild one. The kind of game that could send fans to the ER. The Bears started strong, with Kyle Monangai rushing for 100 yards in the first half of his first start. But the defense was shaky. Coverage broke down often, special teams gave up a 98-yard kickoff return, and missed field goals didn’t help. At one point, I thought the Bears had it sealed at 41–27 with under two minutes left — I literally went outside to rake leaves. When I checked my phone again, the Bears had won 47–42. Absolute chaos.

Kyle Monangai was a monster with 176 rushing yards and 22 receiving yards. The O-line deserves credit for opening up holes and grading out among the best units in that game. DJ Moore contributed in every way — throwing for a touchdown, catching three passes for 58 yards, and scoring on a big play after a replay reversal. Colston Loveland was another standout, hauling in six catches for 118 yards and the game-winning TD.

The “chumps” of the game? Special teams for sure — between the kickoff return, the failed onside recovery, and the missed field goal, they were brutal. Caleb Williams was shaky in the first half, missing checkdowns and throwing behind receivers, but he adjusted well later. The secondary, particularly Naishon Wright and Tyreek Stevenson, allowed Joe Flacco to torch them for 470 yards. Injuries and poor depth hurt the team, and Ryan Poles’ roster construction is showing cracks. The Bears’ backups would be third-stringers on most teams.

Dennis Allen’s defense remains inconsistent. There’s little pressure, poor coverage, and questionable play-calling — especially in prevent defenses. When you have success bringing pressure, keep bringing it. Instead, the Bears let good quarterbacks tear them apart in zone coverage.

Ryan Poles made a minor trade for Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, but it’s a low-impact move. The defense still lacks depth and star power. The “down by contact” rule also made a controversial appearance, wiping out a Tremaine Edmunds pick-six due to a fingertip graze — an absurd call, even if it technically followed the rulebook.

That’s all for this episode. Next time, I’ll start a new segment called Forgotten NFL Legends — players remembered not just for what they did on the field, but for their off-field impact too. Some names you’ll recognize, others you might not, but they all deserve recognition. Stay tuned — things are heating up on The Shawn Mackey Show. Peace out.

10 Key Takeaways

1. Caleb Williams remains inconsistent but shows signs of growth.

2. DJ Moore continues to be the Bears’ most reliable playmaker.

3. Kyle Monangai’s breakout game may earn him a bigger role.

4. The offensive line graded out as one of the best this season.

5. Special teams errors nearly cost the Bears the Bengals game.

6. The Bears’ defensive depth is a major concern.

7. Dennis Allen’s play-calling remains too conservative.

8. Ryan Poles needs to address roster depth and secondary issues.

9. The “down by contact” rule continues to frustrate players and fans.

10. Forgotten NFL Legends will be a new segment spotlighting underappreciated players.