The Chicago Bears' season would come down to another nail-biter of a game, and in the NFC's Divisional Round no less. In what ended in a narrow loss to the Los Angeles Rams, one key play stood out as the single reason Chicago's season concluded.
After the Bears got a stop in overtime, all they needed was a field goal to win it. Quarterback Caleb Williams dropped back at the Rams' 48-yard line to deliver a strike to wide receiver D.J. Moore. The problem was, it appeared as though Moore stopped on the route and wasn't expecting the pass. The ball was picked off by Kam Curl and, from there, the Rams drove down and hit a game-winning field goal of their own.
On the broadcast, NBC broadcaster Cris Collinsworth took a look at the replay and saw what every other Bears fan saw:
"I’m not sure that DJ Moore ever got his head turned around, ever had any idea they might throw him the ball. And for whatever reason you have to assume it’s coming to you…You’ve got to look back at the quarterback, but the ball is already in air. Kam Curl is breaking on it and DJ Moore just never did."
Go ahead and take a look at the replay, yourself, if you haven't seen it yet. You can clearly see Moore start to jog and look completely unaware toward the end of his route. He wasn't expecting the ball, so he stopped.
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This feels harsh to point out, but it's reality. Moore did stop on the route and, although he has had an incredible second half of the season for this offense, the playoff exit will be remembered on the heels of that play.
Collinsworth acknowledged Moore's strong end to the year while still assessing his play:
“DJ Moore has had such a sensational run here over the last month, but I don’t really know what happened as he ran across the field here. Kam Curl is going to jump the route and play the ball while it’s in the air."
It is a tough way for this Bears team to go out, especially since the offense was a unit which looked so good under pressure over the course of the year. Heck, Williams provided Soldier Field with just a little more magic in this one. He has made the unbelievable happen time and time again, this year.
And, like Collinsworth referenced, Moore has been such an integral part of it.
Moore was the guy who ripped the heart out of Green Bay Packers fans -- twice -- this year. He is still a hero. But, it was excruciating to see him give up on that final play. At least, that's how it looked in real time and from the replay.
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Maybe, there's a better explanation coming. Hopefully.