INDIANAPOLIS (WGN) — The offenses for the Chicago Bears and Indianapolis Colts were in sync Sunday, as both sides struggled to finish drives and committed multiple turnovers in a game reminiscent of an Iowa-Northwestern matchup rather than an NFL game.

The two teams combined for five turnovers and two failed conversions on fourth down, as the Colts beat the Bears in a one-possession game, 21-16.

Last Week: Bears fall to 1-1 with 19-13 loss to Texans

Here’s how the contest played out.

Game Recap

Chicago’s first drive of the afternoon seemed promising. The Bears had runs of 4 and 8 yards within their first four plays, and got tight end Cole Kmet involved early with a first down reception for Caleb Williams’ first completion of the game.

They even converted a fourth-and-one on an 8-yard toss to DJ Moore to keep the sticks moving, but as has been the case with Chicago’s offense early on this season, the wheels fell off the wagon.

Four yards on their next three plays led to a 56-yard field goal attempt for Cairo Santos, who came up short on the try.

The Bears and Colts went on to trade two punts a piece on the next four drives, before Williams and Anthony Richardson matched each other with interceptions that came right after 40-plus-yard completions from each quarterback.

Indianapolis broke the scoring drought for both sides at the 8:19 mark in the second quarter, where Jonathan Taylor busted off a 29-yard touchdown run to move the score to 7-0 Colts.

Chicago didn’t register their first points of the ballgame until 12:51 in the third quarter, when Santos hit his lone field goal of the afternoon — a 53-yarder to close the gap to 7-3 in favor of Indianapolis.

Fireworks didn’t resume until both sides traded touchdowns as the game transitioned from the third to the fourth quarter.

Column: Caleb Williams and the defense held up their end of the bargain, but everyone else didn’t

Trey Sermon punched in a one-yard touchdown with 21 seconds left in the third quarter to make the game 14-3, before Williams found Rome Odunze from one yard out for each player’s first career touchdown about four-and-a-half minutes into the fourth.

The Bears failed to convert on the two-point conversion, bringing the score to 14-9.

Three minutes later, Taylor punched in his second rushing touchdown of the day with 5:22 to go in the fourth quarter to make it a two-possession game, 21-9.

Chicago scored their second touchdown of the game courtesy of a touchdown pass from Williams to Kmet with 2:01 remaining, but they were unable to stop the Colts on their following possession and they kneeled out the clock for an Indianapolis victory, 21-16.

Stat Pack

The Bears outpaced the Colts on offense, converting 26 first downs to Indianapolis’s 15, while also outgaining the Colts in total yards, 395-306.

Where Indianapolis won was on the ground, yards per play, and the turnover battle.

The Colts outrushed the Bears 150-63 while averaging a full yard more per play (5.7-4.7) and giving up one less turnover (3-2).

Williams finished the day with his best game as a pro, but the offense still struggled mightily most of the day and was costed by several turnovers from their promising rookie quarterback.

The former USC Trojan went 33/52 for 363 yards, two touchdowns, two interceptions and one fumble lost.

Williams 363 passing yards represented a Bears single-game rookie record, which was previously held by Mitchell Trubisky when he threw for 314 yards against the Detroit Lions on Dec. 16, 2017.

Rome Odunze caught 6 passes for 112 yards and a touchdown, while Kmet wrangled in 10 catches for 97 yards and a score.

Moore also caught 8 passes for 78 yards.

On the opposite sideline, Richardson struggled, but it didn’t matter because it was the Jonathan Taylor show.

Richardson finished his day 10/20 for 167 yards and two interceptions, while Taylor notched 23 carries for 110 yards, two touchdowns, and a 25-yard catch out of the backfield.

Jaylon Jones came away with both of Caleb Williams’ interceptions.

Up Next

The Chicago Bears (1-2) take on the Los Angeles Rams (0-2) at Solider Field next Sunday at noon CT.

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