Chicago Bears fans could only point to one play in the Week 13 win over the Philadelphia Eagles that ultimately turned the game.
The Eagles had a third-and-one at the Bears' 12-yard line with over 4:30 to go in the third quarter, and Chicago only had a 10-9 lead. Philly ran their typical Tush Push with Jalen Hurts when all of a sudden, Bears cornerback Nahshon Wright made the play of the game by stripping the football from Hurts and recovering it.
That play sparked the Bears to a 24-15 win over Philadelphia, improving to 9-3 on the season. Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen gave 100% credit to Wright for making the critical play at the perfect moment.
“That was Shonny making a hell of a play. Now, we had seen it earlier here in the season I think against the Giants, and on that particular play they ruled forward progress. But I think Shonny did his job, and then he saw an opportunity to go make a play and he did it. So, that was really all him."
Wright made the most important play of the game
Chicago's defense was humming in that game, allowing only 62 yards on the first six drives against the Eagles. Philly's touchdown drive to make it 10-9 changed things a bit, but the Bears' defense held their own, allowing 317 yards total for the game and creating two Hurts turnovers.
Wright's performance not only in that Eagles game but really throughout most of the season has been spectacular and given the Bears the spark they needed after losing Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon for more than half of the season. The NFL ended up honoring Wright with the NFC Defensive Player of the Month award for November after three interceptions, two fumble recoveries, and one forced fumble for the month.
Not only did the Bears provide the blueprint for stopping the Tush Push, but they now control their own destiny for the playoffs. Chicago has a 9-3 record, is in first place in the NFC North, and holds the NFC's number one seed.
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The Bears can only hope they can recapture some of that magic for their upcoming Week 14 showdown against the Green Bay Packers as they try to cushion the lead in the division and conference.