Dalton's big plays aren't enough as Bears lose 16-13 to Ravens
Subbing for star quarterback Lamar Jackson, Tyler Huntley led a winning drive capped by Devonta Freeman's 3-yard run with 22 seconds remaining, and the Baltimore Ravens beat the Chicago Bears 16-13 on Sunday.
The Bears' Andy Dalton threw two touchdowns, including a 49-yarder to Marquise Goodwin in the closing minutes. Justin Fields had left the game with a rib injury in the third quarter.
The Bears (3-7) lost their fifth straight.
Dalton found Goodwin deep down the middle to cap a 75-yard drive and put Chicago on top 13-9 with 1:41 remaining. Even though the 2-point conversion pass failed, the Bears appeared to be in good shape.
But the Ravens answered with the 72-yard touchdown drive. Freeman ran it in after Huntley's 30-yard pass to Sammy Watkins put the ball on the 3.
Huntley completed 26 of 36 passes for 219 yards in his first career start. The second-year pro from Utah also threw an interception and got sacked six times in his fifth pro appearance.
Lamar Jackson was sidelined by illness for the AFC North-leading Ravens (7-3), who ruled him out 90 minutes before kickoff after he took some throws on the field. The 2019 MVP was a full participant in practice Friday after being held out the previous two days. Coach John Harbaugh said Wednesday the illness was not COVID-19.
Justin Tucker kicked three field goals, and the Ravens came away with the win after losing the previous week at Miami.
Fields took a big step backward for the Bears following several promising outings. The rookie was 4 of 11 for 79 yards after throwing for a career-high 291 yards at Pittsburgh two weeks ago.
Dalton, who started the first two games before a knee injury in Week 2 against Cincinnati, came in with 8:46 left in the third quarter and quickly threw a 60-yard touchdown to Darnell Mooney to give the Bears a 7-6 lead. The veteran was 11 for 23 for 201 yards.
Mooney had 121 yards receiving. Goodwin added 104. Robert Quinn had 3 1/2 sacks. But the Bears remained winless following byes since 2013.
It didn't help that they were missing star linebacker Khalil Mack, who is expected to have season-ending foot surgery this week. Defensive tackle Akiem Hicks (ankle) and receiver Allen Robinson (hamstring) were also unavailable.
The Bears had a chance to score on their first possession, only to come away empty-handed when Cairo Santos missed a 40-yard field goal wide left.
Chicago drove to the Baltimore 36 in the second quarter, but that threat was dashed when Tyus Bowser strip-sacked Fields and Calais Campbell recovered for the Ravens. That led to a 35-yard field goal by Tucker for a 3-0 lead with 2:11 left in the half.
Tucker added a 27-yarder in the closing seconds of the half to cap a 55-yard drive that took just over a minute.