The Chicago Bears return this week to the scene of last year's infamous Hail Mary fail in Washington. They don't want to talk about it.
New coach Ben Johnson dismissed questions about last year's loss, when the Bears allowed Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels to get in position and then heave a 52-yard prayer at the buzzer that jump-started the organizational disaster of a season.
"You'd have to talk to those guys about it," Johnson said Tuesday of players on the team last year, via SI.com. "We're a new team and we're just focused on winning this game this week."
To recap: In Week 8, 2024, Caleb Williams led a touchdown drive to put the Bears up, 15-12, with 23 seconds remaining. Former Chicago coach Matt Eberflus set his defense awkwardly, allowing Daniels to complete two passes, including one that got out of bounds, to set up a midfield heave.
On the Hail Mary attempt, Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson was seen taunting Commanders fans on the snap, attempted to rush into the play, but arrived late as the ball caromed to Noah Brown -- for whom Stevenson was responsible.
The flub turned a big road win into a loss and was the initial salvo in the sinking ship that cost Eberflus his job. It was the first defeat of 10 straight for Chicago.
Perhaps the reality that maybe Johnson isn't manning the sideline in Chicago if that Hail Mary turns out differently is reason enough for him not to talk about it. But no one in the locker room wants to discuss the elephant.
"I think everybody's just on the hush now and just ready to attack this game and not let that happen again," receiver D.J. Moore said.
Added corner Kyler Gordon: "Honestly, there hasn't been a ton of talk as far as like what happened last season on. I don't think like anyone is really focused on that except for like going out there and winning. I wasn't even there last year so to me it's like go with everybody and change the narrative."
Stevenson avoided questions about his blunder, exiting the locker room this week before reporters could pose their queries, per the Chicago Sun-Times.
The corner has had an up-and-down season, getting picked on through the first two weeks before settling down in wins over Dallas and Las Vegas.
"I think Tyrique's gotten better each game," Johnson said. "Prior to the bye week, that was his best game against the Raiders to date, and I think he's doing a good job of compartmentalizing everything and hitting the reset button going into each week."
This week, Stevenson has to compartmentalize a mistake that nearly cost him his job last season.
