5 Chicago Bears takeaways from the Week 11 travesty vs. Detroit

Chicago Bears GM Ryan Poles looked smart on Sunday after Jaylon Johnson’s performance.

2. Jaylon Johnson may have cost the Chicago Bears the football game.

For a man who is reportedly looking to cash in on one of the biggest cornerback paydays in NFL history, Jaylon Johnson sure did seem like he had money on the game.

I say that with jest as well as frustration. While it’s clear how much Johnson loves being a Chicago Bear, he cannot continue to ask for the salary he desires if he misses plays like he did Sunday.

In perhaps the biggest moment of the game despite it being the first half, the Detroit Lions had marched down on the Chicago Bears looking to tie the game at 7.

Jared Goff, who played an absolutely dreadful game until late in the fourth quarter, dropped back to pass and tried to hit his man in the flat for the tying score. Johnson, to his credit, was in a perfect position.

He broke on the ball in perfect fashion, raised his hands, and the ball hit them squarely. For a split second, Jared Goff had thrown his third interception on the day, Jaylon Johnson was breaking clean down the sideline for a touchdown, and the Chicago Bears were in business.

Then, the ball clunked off his hands and hit the ground. The Detroit Lions scored on the very next play.

The enormity of this mistake should not be glossed over. If Jaylon Johnson makes that play, this is an entirely different game. To make matters worse, he seemed to drop another errant pass from Jared Goff in the second half, although that play was much harder to make.

If Johnson wants to be paid like a game-changing cornerback, then he needs to start making these kinds of plays. Otherwise, he needs to reevaluate what he’s worth in this market as a player who has a bad reputation for failing to turn the ball over.

3. Cairo Santos is on his way to becoming Chicago Bears kicker royalty.

I know what you’re thinking: Why are you talking about the kicker? If you think about it though, this is deserved for Chicago Bears kicker Cairo Santos.

Ever since the days of Robbie Gould, the Chicago Bears, and their fans have been through hell when it comes to the kicker position. I won’t go through that brief history as I’d prefer to avoid discussing a particular playoff game that still causes PTSD to this day for Bears Nation.

There isn’t a ton to say about Cairo Santos other than he has been by far the best kicker since the Goulden Age.

On Sunday against the Lions, Santos was perfect on all of his kicks and was nearly the most important player in a landmark win other than Justin Fields.

Thank you for being consistent and reliable, Cairo Santos. I know that Bears Nation appreciates you. I damn sure do.