‘He’s capable of being a big-time player’ — Ben Johnson gave his flowers to a young defender who sparked the Bears’ defense in Week 3
Well earned recognition.
The Chicago Bears dominating win over the Dallas Cowboys was a proof of concept that what head coach Ben Johnson has been preaching to the players is achievable and the message was sent at the right time and pressed all the right buttons.
Lost in the celebration of the trick plays, long drives, and outstanding performance from quarterback Caleb Williams was the play of Dennis Allen’s defense, one week removed from a 52-point outing.
Chicago held Dallas’ usually high-scoring offense to just 14 points, albeit without star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, who was injured early in the game. At the same time, Chicago was dealing with injuries of their own that forced other players to step up and lead in Week 3.
“That’s why we do what we do, that’s why we’re at the highest level of this profession, is to figure out solutions, figure out ways to get the job done,” defensive coordinator Dennis Allen said during the week. “Really, 90% of the world doesn’t give a care about your problems; the other 10% are glad you got them. So, we just come in every night and go to work, try to put a good plan together, try to utilize our guys the best we can, put them in good positions to make plays.”
That’s exactly what the Bears did on Sunday at Soldier Field and one player in particular more than earned his flowers for the way he bounced back in Week 3.
Tyrique Stevenson’s resiliency fueled the charge for a rebounding Bears’ defense
When the Chicago Bears’ defense took the field on the first drive, many inside Soldier Field held their breath after seeing how the unit performed a week prior in Detroit. Two plays into the drive, things seemed to be heading the same direction after Cowboys running back Javonte Williams rushed for seven yards, followed by a breakaway 22-yard carry down the sideline with Bears defenders giving chase.
But, before Williams was brought to the ground, cornerback Tyrique Stevenson rushed from behind and pried the ball out of Williams’ hands for a turnover.
“He changed the game very early,” safety Jaquan Brisker said of the play. “It was a good run by them… it was an explosive play. The next thing you know, the ball was out. We got the ball back and we scored. Tyrique definitely changed the game.”
It was the first of four turnovers on the afternoon for Allen’s defensive unit and the first big play made by Stevenson, who Brisker added “was locked in” going into the game.
“I thought Tyrique in general had a really nice bounce-back game,” head coach Ben Johnson explained. “He’s one of those guys, like a lot of us, we haven’t started the season the way we wanted to yet. He’s capable of being a big-time player in this league, and I thought he played that way today.”
During the Week 2 humiliation by the Detroit Lions, Stevenson was a frequent player to attack in the secondary. The third-year defensive back was targeted five times in the loss, allowing five receptions for 97 yards and a touchdown.
“That’s the beautiful thing about that position is, you have to have a short memory within a game, because you’re going to get beat and then you’re going to have to turn the page real quick,” Johnson said of Stevenson earlier in the week. “He’s not a guy that lacks for confidence. I know he’s going to come up, he’s going to press, he’s going to challenge, and he’s going to get right back on that horse.”
On the second defensive drive of the game, quarterback Dak Prescott was finding more success leading the offense down the field completing four consecutive passes. Prescott’s first incompletion of the game came with Stevenson in tight coverage. Two plays later, Dallas settled for a field goal.
Then came Stevenson’s second best play of the game on the Cowboys’ third offensive possession. Again, Prescott was driving his unit down the field with completion after completion. Faced with a third-and-eight inside the red zone, Prescott tried to force the ball to wide receiver George Pickens on a slant. Stevenson broke on the ball in front of Pickens to force an incompletion and another field goal.
“Listen, Tyrique is a big-time player,” veteran safety and team captain Kevin Byard said, via Brad Biggs. “I know he’s had his ups and downs in the past three years. But he’s a big-time talent and just myself as a leader, I am always making sure I am reminding him how talented he is.
“As long as he stays locked in with his technique and fundamentals, he can be one of the better cornerbacks in this league and I think he showed that today. He just has to play like that consistently and I think he can. His play sparked the entire team.”
That stop allowed Chicago to take a 14-6 lead and set the tone for the fire the Bears’ defense aimed to play with. Linebacker Tremaine Edmunds snagged two interceptions and a final pick by Byard sealed the win. Chicago ended up holding Dallas scoreless in the second-half.
“[The Cowboys] were able to run the ball a little bit on our defense and we knew that. We knew that they were going to be able to move the ball. It’s a very explosive offense,” Johnson added. “…I thought we came through with timely plays when we needed it.”
Much like with the offense, the coaching staff knew the defensive players had it in them to play up to the standard and move on from the performance a week ago. All it takes is a few well-timed big plays to build some confidence and energy back into the entire locker room. Chicago, as a whole, learned that important lesson in Week 3.
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Ben Johnson’s fiery postgame reaction reflects the energy the Bears need to continue to have following the first win of the season
A moment this team won’t forget anytime soon.
