The Chicago Bears took a gut punch in the form of a Hail Mary that could send lesser teams to the mat.
They're out to prove they're tougher than that in Week 9.
“I mean, Sunday comes fast,” linebacker Tremaine Edmunds said Wednesday, via the Chicago Sun-Times. “As much as you want to … dwell on the past, you’re gonna trip going forward. So we gotta turn the page and get ready for Arizona, because this is another big-time game for us. An NFC game. They’re playing good ball right now, so it’s important that we turn the page and get ready for this game.”
The 4-3 Bears won't get to enjoy the comforts of home after losing to the Washington Commanders on a last-second Jayden Daniels heave to the end zone, but they will need to lock back in quickly. The Cardinals (4-4) are coming off their own thrilling finish, but unlike the Bears, they exited on the winning side and are riding the momentum of two last-second wins in the last two weeks.
In moments of adversity, the contenders separate themselves from those masquerading as such. Few sports test the will of competitors like football, especially given the marathon that is an NFL season. And a moment like Sunday evening's stunning finish can often serve as a turning point.
Just as the Bears felt their own momentum building, it evaporated in the form of one highly unlikely completion. It will be up to them to find it again and ensure they're on a positive path.
“We’re just trying to find ways to move forward … and make sure everybody’s mind is in the right spot to win games,” cornerback Jaylon Johnson said. “The biggest thing is learning from it and then not letting it linger.”
Chicago has been in worse places in recent years. The Bears have wandered in the football abyss for the last three seasons, winning no more than seven games in a year. They haven't seen the playoffs since the 2020 season and haven't been taken seriously until a few weeks ago.
That's what can make a loss like the one they suffered Sunday so painful. But it can also be galvanizing for the right group, provided they don't dwell on the disappointment for too long.
Week 9 will be the first test of the Bears' intestinal fortitude. They're led by a rookie quarterback in Caleb Williams who seems to have more moxie than the average NFL novice, and are carried by a stingy defense. That combination can be enough to push through a painful moment toward prosperity.
Ultimately, though, it will be up to coach Matt Eberflus to ensure they're properly prepared for what lies ahead. The NFL waits for no one.
“I trust those guys. I believe in those guys,” Eberflus said. “We had great conversations. … What I got out of the meeting was belief, trust, determined to have a really good preparation week for this game.”