Sometimes, your stereotypical postgame coach speak is just that, coach speak. But, after the Chicago Bears dropped a heartbreaker to the Green Bay Packers, it's the smallest admission that hits the hardest for a lot of fans.
Head coach Ben Johnson spoke to the media following a crushing loss at Lambeau, and, for some reason, these often-heard and straightforward sentiments just seemed to cut that much deeper.
“Give credit to Green Bay. They made more plays than us."
Give credit to Green Bay? After what Bears fans just had to endure on the final offensive play? That's the last thing this fan base wants to do, to be quite frank.
The Packers officially made one more play than the Bears, and that was the difference
On that final play by the Bears' offense, you could make an argument that Keisean Nixon doesn't even deserve the credit for his interception. By now, fans have rewatched that play countless times.
Each time, we all see the same thing. It was blatant. Caleb Williams had Cole Kmet wide open for a game-tying score. All he had to do was lead Kmet a little bit rather than throw it up for grabs.
Unfortunately, Williams just threw a bad ball. Any professional defensive back would have caught that football which landed right in NIxon's hands. It was a piece of cake. It was a victory handed over to Green Bay on a silver platter.
So, yes. You can say that Green Bay made more plays than the Bears. In reality, it was just one more play, and that play happened to be the difference in the game.
A loss like this stings more than any other the Bears could endure this year. A last-second loss to the Bears' most-hated rival ... and a rivalry that goes back further than any other rivalry in the league ... there are just no words.
It was crushing. It was devastating. And, Johnson's admission might not have been too far off. It was the God's-honest truth. Yes, the Packers made more plays.
We can admit it. Fine.
Hopefully, Johnson and Williams can quickly forget all of this and move on. There are some massive games ahead, including one more against these very same Packers, but at Soldier Field.
Read more: Ben Johnson gives Bears a brutal reality check after loss to Packers
It stings. Oh, it stings badly. But, it'll be interesting to see how Johnson's able to clear his players' heads, gear them up going forward, and help get their mind and game right.