The Chicago Bears fell short of the top spot in the NFC after their devastating loss at the hands of the 49ers.
All is not lost for this Bears team, but hopes of achieving a post-season bye have left the building. With key receiving options ruled out for the Bears, multiple rookie receivers stepped up and delivered, despite a final score that left a sour taste.
Rookie Pass Catchers Answer the Call
Wide receiver Luther Burden III was outstanding for primetime football, logging eight receptions for 138 yards. Those eight receptions came on nine targets, an excellent stat line for the young receiver. With reliable receivers such as Rome Odunze and Olamide Zaccheaus ruled out before the game, Burden found himself set to stand in as a top target for Caleb Williams.
Tight end Colston Loveland took home the number two spot with six receptions on ten targets for a total of 94 yards. You know an offense is performing well when your top two targets combine for over 200 yards.
Loveland has become a fan favorite during his first campaign, and you don't need to look deep to understand why. Loveland has posted over 600 yards this season and has become a reliable target for Caleb Williams. Their bond is increasingly evident when you note that Loveland has posted 48 catches on 69 targets, just under a 70% catch rate.
Kyle Monangai, the seventh-round running back out of Rutgers, and the Bears' biggest surprise of the draft shifted more into a support role in Week 17, posting only 38 yards on eight carries. It's not surprising that head coach Ben Johnson would choose to go with a pass-heavy offense against the 49ers when you take into consideration that the 49ers are 26th in the league against the pass. Unfortunately for Chicago, Christian McCaffrey was across the sidelines waiting for his turn to run the ball.
With the final week of the regular season upon us, it's worth noting that the Bears have had an extraordinary season, and the 2025 rookie class certainly played its part to get here. Though they've performed admirably, they're not perfect. Loveland dropped a pass late in the fourth quarter that cost the Bears momentum, a rare miss for the young tight end.
The need to improve resides in all of these players, but for those in question, this is a final chance to make a mark in their rookie season. Week 18 is usually filled to the brim with resting starters, teams that were eliminated weeks ago, and teams that are totally not tanking.
Read more: Ben Johnson's 6-word answer is exactly what Bears fans wanted to hear for Week 18
With the NFC such a tightly contested race, this final matchup against Detroit should prove to be otherwise.