In the minutes after the Bears’ loss to the Ravens on Sunday, quarterback Caleb Williams insisted that he made the right read when he threw an interception in Rome Odunze’s direction while down by three in the middle of the fourth quarter.
His coach said otherwise, insisting Sunday — and then again Monday — that Williams should have checked the ball down to running back Kyle Monangai in the right flat rather than trying to throw to Odunze on a crossing pattern, where Ravens cornerback Nate Wiggins undercut the route.
Upon further review, Williams concurred with his coach. Speaking after practice Wednesday, Williams said the running back was open.
“At that time obviously right after the game, I didn’t get a chance to look over the film,” he said. “There was, I think it was Kyle, open in the flat. I think that was a good rep for me to bank, just being able to see ahead of where I was throwing and didn’t see the corner fall off. …
“In that situation, just understand it — go get Kyle the ball as fast as possible and then let him go make a great play for us. Ten — maybe plus — yards.”
The interception was a crushing blow to the Bears, who went from trailing by three to 10 two plays later. They lost 30-16 to the Ravens.
Williams conceded that coach Ben Johnson was right about his interception being more than merely a bad throw. It was a bad idea. He called it a good play to learn from.
Those four and starting running back D’Andre Swift didn’t practice Wednesday, and top cornerback Tyrique Stevenson was limited.
Already down Joe Burrow, the Bengals are hopeful Flacco can play. If not, they’ll start backup Jake Browning.
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