The Chicago Bears overcame a 10-point deficit late in the fourth quarter on Saturday night to defeat the Green Bay Packers, 22-16 in overtime. It was one of the wildest games we’ve seen this season as Chicago entered at a disadvantage, playing without two of their starting wide receivers in Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III.
Without those two guys on the field, it opened the door for rookie wide receiver Jahdae Walker, who fans have been clamoring for, to make an impact, and he did so during the biggest moment of the game.
With 24 seconds left in the game, the Packers sent an all-out blitz at quarterback Caleb Williams on fourth down at the Packers’ six-yard line, and he somehow got the ball out of his hand and floated it to the back of the end zone, where it found Walker to tie up the ball game.
It was truly one of those “I can’t believe what I saw” moments, and for the rookie wide receiver, he was at the right place and right time. Before that catch, Walker only had one reception for 15 yards. But the fact that he showed he could come up in the clutch like that should put pressure on veteran WR Olamide Zaccheaus.
Olamide Zaccheaus Officially Put on Notice After Jahdae Walker’s Week 16 Surprise
With the Bears not having Odunze and Burden III, many Bears fans thought that DJ Moore and Zaccheaus would be the obvious answers to step up. Moore held up his end of the bargain as he had five receptions (seven targets) for 97 yards and the game-winning touchdown in overtime. Meanwhile, Zaccheaus had a pedestrian two catches (five targets) for 33 yards.
The veteran receiver also had a key drop on 2nd and 10 late in the fourth quarter, where the ball hit him squarely in his hands in stride. For a vet like Zaccheaus, who is on a one-year deal, you can’t afford to have those blunders in key moments.
Before Saturday night’s clash against the Packers, Zaccheaus wasn’t doing much of anything on offense, despite playing 47.6% of offensive snaps over his last six games. During that stretch, he had a dismal six receptions (14 targets) for 37 yards and a score.
For the season, Zaccheaus has 39 receptions (65 targets) for 313 yards and two touchdowns, which isn’t horrible when you look at the other WRs on this team in front of him. However, if you are a Bears fan, you likely want to see even more of Walker over Zaccheaus, as the former just finds a way to make plays.
Zaccheaus was already on thin ice, being that he was only signed for the 2025 campaign. When you toss in the factor of Burden's emergence, it makes the 28-year-old wideout expendable this offseason.
Nonetheless, head coach Ben Johnson & Co. might’ve found a gem in Walker. If he can build off of his moment in Week 16, then that will only make this Bears’ offense more dangerous this year, while likely forcing Zaccheaus to look for his next contract elsewhere