Owens on his pivotal punt return for a touchdown vs. Titans |
CHICAGO - Chicago’s season opener against the Tennessee Titans was a tale of two halves. It was all Tennessee in the first half as they jumped out to a 17-point lead and had a 17-3 lead at halftime. In the second half, the Bears defense shut out the Titans, only allowing 55 yards and generating three turnovers.
Safety Jonathan Owens created the massive momentum shift for the Bears in the third quarter when he returned a blocked punt returned 21 yards for a touchdown. “It’s almost like we were waiting for somebody to make that big play and I was just thankful and blessed that I was able to be the one that made that spark play for the team that helped switch the momentum. After that, (the) defense got rolling, (the) crowd was back into the game and we didn’t look back from there,” Owens said. “I couldn’t explain it man, (it) didn’t feel like real life. It was almost like it was too perfect. Nobody tried to tackle me. That’s why I’m looking around … But, just glad that we were able to go out there and get a team win. That was our big emphasis, a team win - all three phases.” That play marked Owens’ second career touchdown and his first as a Chicago Bear. After that, cornerback Tyrique Stevenson scored Chicago’s other touchdown with a 43-yard pick-six; it was Stevenson’s first NFL touchdown. Pro Bowl cornerback Jaylon Johnson sealed the game with an interception on Tennessee’s last drive of the game. The 17-point comeback sparked by Owens’ touchdown is tied for the fourth-largest comeback in Chicago Bears history. “We just responded. We knew that wasn’t like us,” Johnson said. “We had a few big explosive plays and runs that got away from us, some miscommunication. But overall, we just kept pushing, kept going. We know we’re a dominant defense and that’s what we showed.” Johnson has a bit of a chip on his shoulder. Despite being a Pro Bowler and getting paid a premium salary in the offseason, Johnson was left off the Top 100 players list. Some players do not care about that, but the four-year veteran wants the respect of his fellow players across the league. His interception today should get their attention, despite the fact he could have also had an interception in the first half. “I know I’m not going to get too many opportunities … I was just glad God gave me another opportunity to get one back and just capitalize, close the game out,” Johnson said. “At the end of the day, anybody can win any given Sunday. So, I don’t think it was a scare. They’re a good team too. They went out, got some guys, they revamped, did some good things in the offseason as well. So, to me, it was never just going to be coming here and be (an) easy win. It’s not like we (were) just supposed to blow them out or nothing like that. But, we (are) just going to continue to play our game, continue to go through adversity. Whatever it takes to win, that’s what we’re going to do.” This game was a little worrisome in the first half. While it was the tale of two halves for the defense, that was not so for the offense. Throughout the entire game, they continued to struggle. Chicago’s offense never scored a touchdown; however, they did convert the two-point conversion after Stevenson’s pick-six. The defense and special teams units are the reason the Bears won this game. Johnson saw the frustration from the offense and knows that sometimes, it is going to be up to the defense to carry the team. “Everybody on offense, I feel like, was frustrated. So, I wouldn’t just say his attitude was bad. Just know it’s not the expectation that they want, that we want as a team. So, just for them, continue to push, continue to get that rhythm, and they’ll be really good for us,” Johnson said. “We know it’s going to be like that sometimes. We got to step up for them, and hopefully, it doesn’t have to be the other way around, but we’re anticipating at some point, they’re going to have to put us on our back as well and just continue to win, find ways to win games.” Next week, the Bears will play in their first primetime game of the season against the Houston Texans on Sun. Sept. 15 (7:20 p.m. / NBC). Going against a team like the Texans, Chicago cannot afford to go without offensive touchdowns.
