Is Chicago having a sports moment?
Because with the reigning AFC champion Patriots on the lakefront Thursday for a prime-time game against the Bears — with the Bears in the role of favorites — it sure felt so.
The White Sox and Cubs just made the playoffs. The Blackhawks’ Connor Bedard is back on the ice and skating with Patrick Kane. The Bulls have rookie Caleb Wilson, who already is proving this town is big enough for two stars with that first name. Start with all that, amplify it with a Bears team that more than occasionally looks good enough to beat any opponent not from the NFC North, throw in Mike Ditka-inspired fake mustaches for as far as the eye can see and what do you have?
A moment, indeed.
Every major sports market has its heydays, Chicago included, though the truth is they’ve been few and far between. Boston, for one, has the Patriots coming off a Super Bowl appearance and the Red Sox, Celtics and Bruins all in winning windows, too. Do we have it that good here? Well, maybe we’re getting there.
The Bears, of course, are the key to the whole operation. If Caleb Williams is spraying the ball around to Luther Burden and Colston Loveland and the team is winning, every game day is a holiday. If the defense is giving up ridiculous Hail Marys and the team is losing, an entire city scowls into its soup. When the Bears are good, man, this place is on fire. But without them leading the way, it’s Sleepy City.
It was a bit funny to look back at the last time the Bears beat the Patriots at Soldier Field, in 2000. That’s so long ago that Tom Brady was a rookie riding the bench. That December day, the Bears had Shane Matthews at quarterback, James Allen carrying the ball 37 times, passes being caught by guys named Kaseem Sinceno, Scott Dragos and Macey Brooks. Those Bears, bound for a 5-11 finish, had to be one of the most who’s-who of ‘‘who?’’ Bears teams ever, so different from this one right down to the coaches — stoic Dick Jauron vs. incandescent Ben Johnson.
The Bears went 0-5 against the great Pats teams quarterbacked by Brady, giving up an average of 35 points and losing by an average of just more than 14. On one side, the most successful team in sports. On the other, rarely the cause of much excitement.
Win or lose, it felt so different this time, and that felt like something. It felt good.
TOMORROW’S HEADLINES
• Caleb Williams Takes Next Step: Maybe some people were too quick to anoint him a superstar, but the quarterback’s play the last two games essentially has been coach Ben Johnson’s dream come true. Be very excited.
• The ‘Problem Child’ Is Exploding: That’s how Williams refers to Luther Burden — as in, the second-year wide receiver is a problem for anybody trying to stop this offense — which is just perfect. What a weapon.
• What’s Wrong With Jaylon Johnson? The cornerback is playing like the weak link of the defense. Can’t cover, can’t tackle, can’t seem to run well. Is he hurt? Is he unmotivated? Answers must come.Williams Takes Next Step: Maybe some people were too quick to anoint him a superstar, but the quarterback’s play the last two games has essentially been Ben Johnson’s dream come true. Be very excited.
