CHICAGO – It was seven days ago Sunday that D’Andre Swift apologized to the Bears defense on behalf of the offense. DJ Moore expressed a similar sentiment in softer tones, saying that the offense had to get it together fast and stop wasting excellent defensive performances.

Now fast forward from that losing locker room in Indianapolis to the Solider Field celebration following a 24-18 victory over the Los Angeles Rams. The feeling couldn’t have been more different.

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That’s because this wasn’t just a defensive showcase. It was a true team win, with valuable contributions from the offense, defense and special teams. Each phase played a major role in the result and left the locker room with heads held high.

“We talk about playing complementary football all the time,” offensive lineman Matt Pryor said. “For us to put it on tape, it starts putting confidence in the guys that, as a unit, we can go out and get help each other out and the job done.”

Let’s go back to Indianapolis one last time, to Kevin Byard iii’s postgame talk with the media. The veteran safety lamented the lack of complementary football between phases. He wasn’t doing so to criticize the offense, but to emphasize its importance in winning games the right way.

That’s exactly how the Bears operated against L.A.. The defense held strong early in this game, limiting the Rams to field goals on most occasions, and helped the offense weather a slow start. And, in a tight second-half game, the Bears run game got going and the offense was able to score touchdowns on consecutive drives to give Chicago the lead.

Punter Tory Taylor was instrumental in holding it, with two excellent punts down the stretch that created long fields for the Rams. The defense had a stop late in the fourth quarter and then Jaquan Brisker’s interception with less than a minute left formally sealed the victory.

Swift got cranked up in a big way, Caleb Williams was efficient and smart with the football, allowing the Bears to win the turnover battle.

That’s complementary football, right there. It was also a positive response a rough result versus the Colts that prompted Bears player leadership to take an active role in improving the team overall.

Offensive leaders met with coordinator Shane Waldron during the week, as Marcedes Lewis said on Thursday. Caleb Williams preached the need for in-depth communication at all times.  

Captains also emphasized the need to get things going, and fast.

“Getting the urgency across to everybody in the building, from players, coaches – there’s a strong urgency right now,” cornerback and Bears captain Jaylon Johnson said. “We can’t wait and say that we have time and things like that. Nah. We’ll never get this team like this again. I think we need to take advantage of the opportunities, get on the same page, have eye-to-eye communication and figure out ways to win. I think we did that today.”

Johnson was quick to point out that doing so on Sunday doesn’t guarantee this type of all-around effort each week. External factors will weigh into how every game goes, but the right effort and mindset will go a long way in playing the right way.

“There are still steps we can take to get better,” Johnson said. “This is just one week, but, overall, I think taking steps in the right direction is all you can ask for.”

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