Payback Time: DJ Moore Scores on Jaire Alexander Seconds After Turnover
Key Takeaways
- The Score: On the very first play following the fumble recovery, Caleb Williams hit DJ Moore for a 14-yard touchdown.
- The Matchup: Moore caught the slant route directly against Jaire Alexander, the same player who instigated the pre-game fight and snubbed the coin toss.
- The Scoreboard: Bears take a lightning-fast 7-0 lead just 48 seconds into the game.
CHICAGO — Life comes at you fast. The NFL playoffs come at you faster.
Less than two minutes after Jaire Alexander turned his back on Caleb Williams at midfield, the Bears’ rookie quarterback made him pay. The highlight video shows absolute surgical precision in the middle of a blizzard.
The Play That Shook Soldier Field
Capitalizing on the fumble recovery at the 14-yard line, Offensive Coordinator Shane Waldron didn’t get cute. He went right for the jugular.
Williams took the snap, looked off the safety, and fired a bullet to DJ Moore on a quick slant. Moore, using his physicality, crossed Jaire Alexander’s face, boxed him out, and secured the catch in the end zone. The snowy conditions didn’t matter; the timing was perfect.
Troy Aikman on Broadcast: “That is making a statement! You want to disrespect the captain? You want to fight in warmups? Fine. Go pick the ball out of the net. Moore beat him clean.”
The Celebration
The touchdown was huge, but the reaction was personal. After securing the catch, Moore didn’t do a dance. He simply spun the ball on the ground near Alexander’s feet and stared him down before his teammates mobbed him. No flag was thrown, but the message was received.
Bears 7, Packers 0
The sequence of events for Green Bay has been catastrophic:
- Warmups: Josh Jacobs ruled OUT.
- Coin Toss: Alexander snubs Williams (Motivation).
- Kickoff: Fumble gave Bears the ball.
- First Play: Touchdown allowed by Alexander.
Soldier Field is currently shaking. The “Bear Weather” advantage is real, and the Packers are already down a touchdown before their offense has even touched the field.
What This Means
The Packers are now chasing the game in conditions that make catching up nearly impossible. They have to abandon the conservative game plan and let Jordan Love throw into the wind. The Bears’ defensive line, fresh and energized, is waiting.
Next: Green Bay gets the ball back, desperate to stop the bleeding.
