Chicago Bears running back D’Andre Swift heads to the end zone for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) Chicago Bears defensive end Austin Booker (94) pressures Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley) Los Angeles Rams tight end Colby Parkinson carries the ball and is tackled by Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams carries the ball as Chicago Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson makes the tackle during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) Los Angeles Rams linebacker Byron Young (0) celebrates his sack of Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford looks downfield to pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley) Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams passes during the first half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams carries the ball as Chicago Bears linebacker Tremaine Edmunds makes the tackle during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley) Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams passes during the first half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) Show Caption1 of 9Chicago Bears running back D’Andre Swift heads to the end zone for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) Expand CHICAGO – Three hundred and twenty-two yards. That’s how far the Rams’ offense traveled on Sunday, the most they have since Week 1, when the unit was mostly intact. Fifty-eight more than the opposing Chicago Bears. But the Rams could turn that mileage into four field goals and a touchdown, nothing more. And that was not enough in a 24-18 loss to the Bears. There was no expectation that this version of the Rams (1-3) would be the high-powered offense that was expected coming into the season. Not while missing their top two receivers and two starting interior linemen. But the Rams were able to move the ball across the grass at Soldier Field. Tutu Atwell had four catches for over 17 yards each, and Demarcus Robinson added two more. Those type of chunk plays usually lead to touchdowns. But the Rams quickly found themselves leaving points on the field, squandering a 13-play opening drive and settling for a field goal after a first-down sack at the Chicago 30. “There were some good things, but there were some really uncharacteristic mistakes that we made as a team in regards to just some mental errors where we left people free,” head coach Sean McVay said. “And you can’t do that if you’re going to be a good offense and consistently execute.” Stafford was sacked two more times in the game, each one a killer in its own right. The third came in the fourth quarter, with the Rams down two scores. Instead of taking a shot at the end zone, Karty came out for a 52-yard field goal, the last points of the game. But the second was more costly. After field goals on each of the first two drives, the Rams got the ball back in the second quarter at their own 20. Dialing up a passing play, receiver Jordan Whittington pulled to help tight end Colby Parkinson blocking Pro Bowl defensive end Montez Sweat. Sweat pushed his way through both of them to strip-sack Stafford, with the Bears recovering at the Rams 16. “That should not occur on that protection,” McVay said. “That’s something that just can’t happen, and it did.” The Rams almost got away with it, forcing the Bears into a third down. But cornerback Tre’Davious White was called for defensive pass interference in the end zone, and Roschon Johnson ran the ball in for a touchdown on the next play. White stayed on the field after the extra point to plead his case with the official, who felt like White had turned Keenan Allen’s body before the ball arrived. “I told him I didn’t stop his progress or anything,” White said. “And just told him, let the players decide the game and let us play.” That was one of three penalties by the Rams secondary in the second quarter, which certainly helped turn the tide of the game. But the defense held tight for most of the second half. They gave up two touchdowns, but made the Bears work for each one. And with the game on the line, they forced two punts in the fourth quarter to give the Rams, down six, a chance to win. But the Rams countered a Bears three-and-out with one of their own, then, with 92 yards to go and down six with 1:03 to play, Stafford was hit as he released the ball. Jaquan Brisker intercepted it, and, out of timeouts, the game was over but for two kneel downs. Stafford appeared upset in the moment about the hit he took to the head on the play, but had a more introspective outlook after the game. “Obviously one I wish I had back and could step through it a little bit more,” he said, “something just to even sail it out of bounds, keep us alive.” That’s the approach the Rams will have to take this week, looking inward to figure out why the offense stalled with one touchdown in four red-zone appearances. Former USC quarterback Caleb Williams directed the Bears (2-2) to their second win since his arrival as the No. 1 pick in the draft. He completed 17 of 23 passes for 157 yards and a touchdown. The Rams only pointed with their thumbs at themselves, rather than fingers at each other, after the game. Running back Kyren Williams had an efficient 94 yards on 19 carries, but felt like he didn’t take advantage of the holes his line created for him. Stafford blamed the red-zone shortcomings on execution, not play calls or design. “Field gets smaller, windows get tighter, blocking assignments, all that kind of stuff,” he said. Just everything kind of condenses down. You just gotta be that much better.” McVay, however, was not willing to give himself a pass. “Some of it was definitely where I’ve got to do a better job of it,” McVay said. “And then there’s some times where we can execute collectively better in terms of our overall techniques, fundamentals and ability to fight through the down based on what the defense presents.” Related Articles Los Angeles Rams | Rams QB Matthew Stafford moves into NFL’s top 10 in passing yards Los Angeles Rams | Rams’ offense looks to build on first win with continuity Los Angeles Rams | Rams at Chicago Bears: Who has the edge? Los Angeles Rams | Rams WR Tutu Atwell earning trust and opportunities Los Angeles Rams | Rams’ pass rush looking to close the deal against Caleb Williams With just next weekend’s home game against the Green Bay Packers standing between the Rams and their bye, corrections have to be made soon to avoid the sense of a lost season in early October. “What I’m not going to do is ride the emotional rollercoaster that this season will take you on. What an amazing, traumatic turn of events from week to week, and we just saw that,” McVay said. “The energy was there, there was a good edge, but we were lacking in the consistent execution throughout. And that’s what we have to be able to do, and that’s what we’ll continue to strive to do.”