Bears fall to the Cardinals in Arizona

The Cardinals took a 7-0 lead on tight end Trey McBride’s 2-yard touchdown run on a jet sweep with 46 minutes left in the first quarter. The score fell one play after McBride’s 15-yard reception from Kyler Murray on third-and-1 and was set up by Greg Dortch’s 27-yard punt return to the Bears’ 41.

The Bears cut the deficit to 7-3 on their next possession with Santos’ 29-yard field goal. The kick was set up by Williams’ 44-yard completion to a wide-open Rome Odunze to the Arizona 23. The Bears reached the 11 but settled for the field goal after three consecutive incompletions.

The defense then gained a decisive advantage when undrafted rookie Reddy Steward Peanut knocked the ball away from receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. after a 21-yard reception. Elijah Hicks returned the fumble seven yards to Arizona’s 46.

The Bears converted the loss into a 53-yard field goal from Santos to close the deficit to 7-6 with 9:10 left in the second quarter.

But the Cardinals answered as running back Trey Benson’s 1-yard touchdown run extended the lead to 14-6 with 3:14 left to play in the first half. It appeared the Bears had forced Arizona to settle for Chad Ryland’s 32-yard field goal, but a leverage penalty on Gervon Dexter Sr. gave the Cardinals an automatic first down.

Santos’ 53-yard field goal brought the Bears within 14-9 with :26 minutes left in the half.

The Cardinals called a tying play on third-and-5 from their own 47 yards with :12 to play in the half – and running back Emari Demercado proceeded to run 53 yards for a touchdown to push Arizona’s lead to 21-9 expand.

After the Bears opened the second half with a three-and-out, the Cardinals marched to the Chicago 7. The red zone defense forced Arizona to settle for Ryland’s 29-yard field goal, making it 24-9 led.

The Bears turned the ball over on downs on the first play of the fourth quarter when Williams was sacked for a 16-yard loss on fourth-and-10 play from the Arizona 44.

The Cardinals failed to gain a first down, but extended their lead to 27-9 on Ryland’s 55-yard field goal.

Arizona later made the score 29-9 when D’Andre Swift was penalized for a chop block in the end zone, which led to a safety and tied the score with 7:54 to play.

With their second straight loss, the Bears fell to 4-4. They return home next Sunday to host the New England Patriots at Soldier Field.

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