Even with Caleb Williams as the top overall pick in the draft, the Chicago Bears find themselves in a familiar position as they approach November: sitting at the bottom of the NFC North standings.
Unlike other teams struggling in the league, the Bears maintain a record above .500, currently 4-3, despite suffering one of the most heartbreaking losses in recent memory.
Chicago has a challenging schedule ahead, facing the toughest run in the league, which includes all six games against divisional rivals—who collectively hold a strong 17-5 record—as well as matchups against the 49ers, Cardinals, and Seahawks, all vying for supremacy in the NFC West with records of 4-4.
The Bears seemed poised to claim their fourth consecutive win when they took a 15-12 lead against the Commanders, courtesy of Roschon Johnson’s 1-yard touchdown run and a successful 2-point conversion with only 25 seconds left in the game on Sunday at Washington.
However, Commanders rookie Jayden Daniels, who was drafted just after Williams and was playing through rib pain, quickly moved his team down the field, completing passes to Zach Ertz and Terry McLaurin to set up a desperate Hail Mary attempt from midfield.
In a moment captured on social media, Chicago cornerback Tyrique Stevenson was seen facing the stands, absorbed in celebrating with fans when the play snapped with just two seconds remaining.
Once he recognized what was unfolding, Stevenson dashed back toward the play, but Bears coach Matt Eberflus indicated that he needed to block Noah Brown.
Despite the situation, Stevenson had ample time to fulfill his role as Daniels evaded pressure for nearly 13 seconds. Instead of focusing on his assignment, he reached up for a pass that was deflected into Brown’s hands, who found himself unguarded in the end zone.
This 52-yard throw marked the longest Hail Mary by a rookie quarterback in over two decades and resulted in a heartbreaking 18-15 defeat for the Bears—a loss that may linger in their memories.
Afterward, Stevenson publicly apologized, sharing his regrets on social media about his lack of focus and awareness during the critical moment, noting, “The game isn’t over until the clock hits zero. Can’t take anything for granted. Notes taken, improvement will happen.”
On Monday, he extended his apologies to his teammates, vowing that he would not allow such a lapse to happen again: “I allowed the moment to overwhelm me, and it’s something that can’t happen again.”
The fallout from this error might haunt the Bears, who have not participated in the playoffs since 2019, and their only matchup against a team with a losing record remains against New England (2-6) in two weeks.
In another part of the league, the New England Patriots edged out the New York Jets 25-22, marking Aaron Rodgers’ fifth consecutive loss, yielding the worst start of his two-decade NFL career at 2-6.
ESPN analyst and former quarterback Dan Orlovsky highlighted that teams scoring 20 points or more without a turnover while limiting their opponents to under 250 yards historically have a remarkable record of 750 wins to just one loss—this lone defeat being suffered by the Jets on Sunday.
Interim Jets coach Jeff Ulbrich, who has yet to win since taking over for the dismissed Robert Saleh, labeled the recent loss as a “moment of darkness,” with Rodgers agreeing he has known such adversity.
“I’ve experienced the darkness,” remarked Rodgers, referencing a previous four-day retreat he took in 2023 to reflect on his career. “You have to confront it and find acceptance.”
Rodgers has only lost five straight games once before, during his last season with Green Bay before moving to the Jets and suffering an Achilles injury just a few plays into the following season.
While he technically got credit for a win in the last game, it was Zach Wilson who played the key role in a 22-16 victory over Buffalo, which stands as a high point for New York that season.
In overall terms, Rodgers has a 3-6 record with the Jets, significantly lower than his 158-85-1 record, which reflects a .650 winning percentage with the Packers.
Historically, Peyton Manning had a more successful tenure in Denver, finishing with a mark of 50-15 for a .770 winning percentage, surpassing his .660 in Indianapolis.
Tom Brady also posted a strong performance at Tampa Bay, ending with a 37-20 record (.649) after an impressive 219-64 (.768) with New England. While both quarterbacks found success on their new teams, they achieved championships in their first seasons apart from coaching great Bill Belichick.
Russell Wilson has faced challenges since his departure from Seattle, currently holding a record of 13-19 (.406). However, he has started strong in Pittsburgh, leading the Steelers to victory over the Giants 26-18 on Monday Night, wrapping up an eventful Week 8.