Chicago beat Los Angeles 24 to 18 at Soldier Field on September 29, 2024. D’Andre Swift racked up 165 combined yards and scored once while Jaquan Brisker intercepted Matthew Stafford with 1:03 remaining to clinch the win. The Bears moved to 2-2 behind Caleb Williams’ first turnover-free outing, while the Rams fell to 1-3 despite Kyren Williams rushing for 94 yards and scoring for the seventh straight game.
Table of Contents
Team Statistics
| Category | Los Angeles Rams | Chicago Bears |
|---|---|---|
| Final Score | 18 | 24 |
| Total Yards | 322 | 264 |
| First Downs | 21 | 17 |
| Passing Yards | 203 | 133 |
| Rushing Yards | 119 | 131 |
| Time of Possession | 31:02 | 28:58 |
| Third Down Efficiency | 5/11 (45%) | 3/9 (33%) |
| Red Zone Scoring | 1/4 (25%) | 2/4 (50%) |
| Penalties | 6 for 44 yards | 10 for 84 yards |
| Turnovers | 2 | 0 |
Los Angeles outgained Chicago 322 to 264 in total yards but couldn’t capitalize when it mattered. The Rams drove inside the 20-yard line four times and came away with just one touchdown. Joshua Karty kicked three field goals on those drives.
Quarterback Statistical Breakdown
| Quarterback | Team | Comp/Att | Yards | TD | INT | Sacks | Rating | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matthew Stafford | LAR | 20/29 | 224 | 0 | 1 | 3 for 21 | 77.4 | 25 |
| Caleb Williams | CHI | 17/23 | 157 | 1 | 0 | 3 for 24 | 106.6 | 27 |
Stafford passed Eli Manning for 10th place on the NFL’s career passing yards list during this contest, reaching 57,025 yards according to Pro Football Reference. The 16-year veteran completed 69% of his throws but made a critical mistake late. His interception with 1:03 remaining ended any chance of a comeback.
Williams posted a career-best 106.6 passer rating while completing nearly 74% of his attempts. The rookie avoided costly mistakes for the first time as a pro after throwing four picks in his first three games. His 9-yard touchdown toss to DJ Moore in the third quarter gave Chicago a 17-9 advantage they protected the rest of the way.
The rookie’s success came from smart decisions under pressure. Williams completed 8 of 9 passes when blitzed and recorded a 124.5 passer rating when facing pressure, according to Bears Wire. His quick release neutralized Chicago’s offensive line issues and kept drives alive when protection broke down.
Ground Game Production
Swift delivered his best performance since signing with Chicago in March. He became the first Bears player since Jeremy Langford in 2015 to top 70 rushing yards and 70 receiving yards in the same game.
| Running Back | Team | Carries | Yards | Average | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kyren Williams | LAR | 19 | 94 | 4.9 | 1 | 14 |
| D’Andre Swift | CHI | 16 | 93 | 5.8 | 1 | 36 |
| Roschon Johnson | CHI | 7 | 26 | 3.7 | 1 | 8 |
| Ronnie Rivers | LAR | 6 | 26 | 4.3 | 0 | 11 |
Swift’s 36-yard touchdown run marked the longest scoring rush by a Bears running back since David Montgomery’s 80-yarder on December 13, 2020, according to chicagobears.com. The former Eagle averaged 5.8 yards per carry and showed why the Bears invested in him as a dual-threat weapon. Late in the second quarter, Swift caught a 27-yard pass over the middle and followed it with an 8-yard reception down the sideline. Those plays set up Cairo Santos’ 40-yard field goal before halftime, giving Chicago a 10-6 lead.
“That’s what I think about every single day, every time I step on the field,” Swift told reporters postgame. “God allowed me to do so, so that’s my mentality every day.”
The Rams entered Week 4 ranked 31st in rushing at just 72.7 yards per game, but their offensive line showed improvement with continuity. Los Angeles started the same five linemen for the second consecutive week, the first time that happened this season. Kyren Williams averaged 4.9 yards per carry and scored for the seventh consecutive game, tying Marshall Faulk for the second-longest streak in franchise history since 2000. His 3-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter cut the deficit to 17-15, but the failed two-point conversion kept Chicago ahead.
Receiving Statistics
Los Angeles Receivers
| Receiver | Catches | Targets | Yards | Average | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tutu Atwell | 4 | 6 | 82 | 20.5 | 0 | 25 |
| Jordan Whittington | 6 | 8 | 62 | 10.3 | 0 | 16 |
| Colby Parkinson | 4 | 7 | 33 | 8.3 | 0 | 11 |
| Demarcus Robinson | 2 | 3 | 37 | 18.5 | 0 | 19 |
| Kyren Williams | 4 | 4 | 10 | 2.5 | 0 | 5 |
Chicago Receivers
| Receiver | Catches | Targets | Yards | Average | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D’Andre Swift | 7 | 7 | 72 | 10.3 | 0 | 27 |
| Cole Kmet | 3 | 3 | 34 | 11.3 | 0 | 22 |
| DJ Moore | 3 | 6 | 22 | 7.3 | 1 | 9 |
| Keenan Allen | 3 | 3 | 19 | 6.3 | 0 | 8 |
| Rome Odunze | 1 | 3 | 10 | 10.0 | 0 | 10 |
Cooper Kupp’s ankle injury forced the Rams to lean on Atwell and Whittington. Atwell averaged better than 20 yards per catch and kept Chicago’s secondary from crowding the box. Whittington saw the most targets and provided reliable underneath production when Stafford needed completions.
Moore hauled in the game’s only receiving touchdown on a 9-yard catch from Williams late in the third quarter. The veteran wideout joined an exclusive club as the 16th player in league history to catch touchdown passes from three quarterbacks selected first overall. He previously connected with Cam Newton and Baker Mayfield during his Carolina tenure.
Swift’s perfect 7 for 7 on targets showed developing chemistry with his rookie quarterback. The running back turned those seven receptions into 72 yards, turning short checkdowns into chunk gains when downfield options weren’t available.
Defensive Performance
Chicago Defense
| Player | Position | Tackles | Solo | Sacks | TFL | INT | PD | FF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jaquan Brisker | S | 12 | 8 | 1.0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| T.J. Edwards | LB | 9 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kevin Byard | S | 7 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kyler Gordon | CB | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jaylon Johnson | CB | 5 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tyrique Stevenson | CB | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Montez Sweat | DE | 2 | 2 | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Gervon Dexter | DT | 2 | 1 | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Los Angeles Defense
| Player | Position | Tackles | Solo | Sacks | TFL | INT | PD | FF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christian Rozeboom | LB | 11 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Troy Reeder | LB | 7 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Quentin Lake | S | 6 | 4 | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kamren Curl | S | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jared Verse | OLB | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Braden Fiske | DT | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Brisker dominated defensively. His 12 tackles led all defenders while his fourth-quarter sack forced the Rams into a long field goal attempt instead of a potential touchdown. Then came the biggest play. With just over a minute remaining and Los Angeles driving for a tying score, Brisker jumped Stafford’s route and picked it off at the Rams 18.
The third-year safety became just the second Bears player since 2000 to record double-digit tackles, at least one sack, and one interception in the same contest. Roquan Smith accomplished the same feat in 2022.
“I owed the team one, just get my mind right, stay locked in, stay focused and try to get the ball at some point today,” Brisker said afterward.
He had negated his own first-half interception with an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, making his late takeaway redemptive.
Sweat’s strip-sack of Stafford in the second quarter shifted momentum. The edge rusher beat his blocker and knocked the ball loose. Gordon recovered at the Rams 16, and three plays later Roschon Johnson scored from one yard out to give the Bears their first lead at 7-6. That forced fumble flipped a game Los Angeles had controlled.
Special Teams Battle
Kicking Performance
| Kicker | Team | FG Made/Att | Long | XP Made/Att | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joshua Karty | LAR | 4/5 | 52 | 0/0 | 12 |
| Cairo Santos | CHI | 1/1 | 40 | 3/3 | 6 |
Karty drilled four field goals but missed a crucial 43-yarder just before halftime. Holder Ethan Evans faced the laces toward Karty on the attempt, contributing to the rookie’s first professional miss. Karty bounced back with makes from 25, 52, 46, and 37 yards. His 52-yarder in the fourth quarter brought the Rams within six at 24-18 with 8:47 remaining.
Punting Statistics
| Punter | Team | Punts | Average | Long | Inside 20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tory Taylor | CHI | 5 | 55.4 | 66 | 3 |
| Ethan Evans | LAR | 1 | 67.0 | 67 | 0 |
Taylor’s punting performance ranks as the third-highest single-game average by a Bears punter since 1960 among those with at least four attempts. He dropped three punts inside the 20, forcing Los Angeles to start drives at their own 5, 8, and 8. His 66-yard blast late in the fourth quarter pinned the Rams at their 8-yard line. Two plays later, Brisker intercepted Stafford to end the game.
Week 4 Performance Context
Swift’s 165 combined yards exceeded his total production through the first three games (114 yards). The running back finally delivered on the dual-threat promise that attracted Chicago’s front office during free agency.
Williams’ completion rate of 73.9% ranked as the third-best single-game mark by a Bears rookie quarterback since 1970. More important than the percentage was his zero in the turnover column. After throwing four interceptions in three games, the first overall pick protected the ball and let his defense win the game.
Chicago’s offense scored touchdowns on back-to-back second-half possessions after finding the end zone just once in their first 11 quarters of the season. The Bears scored five touchdowns in their last five quarters, showing offensive growth Matt Eberflus had been seeking.
Los Angeles entered this game averaging 3.4 yards per carry, ranked 31st in the NFL. Kyren Williams averaged 4.9 yards per rush, and the Rams finished with 4.6 as a team. The offensive line started the same five players for the second consecutive week, the first time that happened this season, and the continuity showed.
Red Zone Execution Separates Winners from Losers
Los Angeles moved between the 20s but stalled when the field compressed. The Rams reached the red zone four times and scored one touchdown. They settled for field goals after drives died at the Chicago 18, 15, and 7.
“The field gets smaller, windows get tighter, blocking assignments, all that kind of stuff, just everything kind of condenses down,” Stafford explained postgame. “You just got to be that much better.”
Chicago scored touchdowns on half their red zone possessions while Los Angeles converted just 25% of theirs into six-pointers. The Bears didn’t allow the Rams into the end zone until the fourth quarter, forcing field goals on three of four trips inside the 20. Getting seven points instead of three on scoring chances decided this six-point game.
First Half: Momentum Shifts
Los Angeles controlled the opening quarter, building a 6-0 lead on two Karty field goals. Chicago’s offense managed just 51 yards in the first half and couldn’t sustain drives.
Then Sweat flipped everything at 6:51 of the second quarter. His strip-sack set up Johnson’s 1-yard touchdown plunge three plays later. Chicago led 7-6, their first advantage of the day.
Santos added a 40-yard field goal with 13 seconds before halftime after Swift’s two big catches moved the Bears into range. That 10-6 halftime lead gave Chicago momentum despite being outgained 179 to 97 in total yards.
Second Half: Chicago Takes Control
The Bears opened the third quarter with a methodical 12-play drive that ate 6:13 off the clock. Williams completed five passes for 44 yards on the march, capping it with his touchdown throw to Moore for a 17-9 advantage.
Kyren Williams answered with a 3-yard touchdown run to cut it to 17-15, but Stafford’s incomplete pass on the two-point try kept the Bears ahead.
Swift’s 36-yard touchdown run with 12:33 remaining in the fourth quarter gave Chicago control. The back took a handoff up the middle, jumped over a diving defender at the line, and beat everyone to the end zone. That score made it 24-15 and gave the defense enough cushion to protect the lead.
Karty’s 52-yard field goal brought the Rams within six at 24-18 with 8:47 left, but Taylor’s booming punts and Brisker’s interception ended any realistic comeback attempt.
Streaks and Historical Context
The Bears won their seventh straight home game, the longest active run in the NFL. Chicago hasn’t lost at Soldier Field since October 15, 2023. During this seven-game stretch, the Bears haven’t allowed more than 17 points to any opponent.
Williams became just the second quarterback drafted first overall to win his first two career home starts since the common draft era began. The rookie improved to 2-0 at Soldier Field after beating Tennessee 24-17 in Week 1.
Chicago has held 10 consecutive opponents to 21 points or fewer, the longest active streak across the league. The defense’s consistency kept the Bears competitive even when the offense struggled. Their victory over Tennessee demonstrated that, as Chicago won despite scoring zero offensive touchdowns.
The Rams fell to 1-3 after their season-opening overtime loss to Detroit, where they blew a 20-17 fourth-quarter lead. Los Angeles has trailed by at least two touchdowns in all four games this season.
Marcedes Lewis played in his 272nd career game, breaking Jason Witten’s record for most games by a tight end in NFL history. The 40-year-old veteran continues contributing as a blocking specialist for Chicago.
What These Numbers Mean
The red zone disparity decided this contest. Los Angeles kicked field goals on three trips inside the 20. Chicago scored touchdowns on two of four. Converting touchdowns instead of field goals proved decisive in a close game.
Swift’s emergence as a dual-threat weapon gave Chicago an offensive identity they’ve lacked. His 165 combined yards and touchdown provided balance that took pressure off Williams. The rookie quarterback didn’t need to be perfect. He just needed to avoid turnovers and make enough plays, which he did.
The Bears defense continues playing at an elite level. They’ve generated eight takeaways through four games while holding 10 consecutive opponents to 21 points or fewer, the longest active streak in the NFL. That unit’s ability to create turnovers and prevent explosive plays keeps Chicago competitive every week.
The Rams dropped to 1-3 in a competitive NFC West where Seattle started the season 3-0. Los Angeles needs to find answers quickly in a division where every game matters. Swift’s breakout performance and Williams’ turnover-free outing show Chicago’s offense maturing, while the Rams continue searching for red zone solutions and fourth-quarter consistency.
