You couldn't script a better week for Bears backup quarterback Tyson Bagent.
First, signing a two-year contract extension on Wednesday. Then, a 17-point fourth-quarter comeback, led by No. 17 himself, to give the Bears a dramatic 29-27 victory Friday night at Arrowhead Stadium.
Bagent led three consecutive scoring drives in the final 15 minutes, including the last possession that began with just 1:29 to play, 87 yards between the offense and the end zone and no timeouts left.
What made the game-winning drive even sweeter was the fact that it started and ended with highlight reel plays featuring the connection between Bagent and rookie receiver Jahdae Walker – a pair of undrafted players who played collegiately at the Division-II level.
On the first play, Walker made an acrobatic, toe-tapping grab along the right sideline to haul in a 15-yard reception and stop the clock.
Bagent went right back to Walker for a 16-yard gain before connecting with tight end Joel Wilson for an 11-yard catch to reach the Kansas City 35, then spiking the ball to stop the clock with 30 seconds remaining.
After an incomplete pass intended for Walker on second down, Bagent continued to showcase his poise and accuracy, firing passes to receivers Tyler Scott and Myles Boykin for 13 yards and eight yards, respectively, to reach the Kansas City 14. On second-and-2, Bagent and Scott connected again for eight yards, leading to a Kansas City timeout.
With seven seconds to play and on first-and-goal from the 6, Bagent set up in the shotgun and Walker lined up wide on the right side. Bagent took a one-step drop as Walker fought his way around his defender. The third-year QB then placed the ball where only his receiver could haul it in – and he did.
"Tyson threw a great ball," Walker shared. "He threw me open, because I got held up at the line a little bit, but I kept fighting through it, and I saw the ball and just adjusted to it. It was a great pass and great hold up by the O-line.
"Tyson trusts me and I trust Tyson. We've always had a good bond because we both came from D-II, so we know the struggle, and we know the grind. We already had that connection, so that's my guy. We've got great chemistry. And I just want it to keep building."
What was arguably more impressive to Walker than Bagent's picture-perfect touchdown pass: his quarterback's laser-focused mentality as the Bears offense navigated through a high-pressure two-minute situation.
"Watching how he poised he was in the huddle, he was like, 'guys, lock in,'" Walker said. "He'd call the formation, call the play and you could just tell how poised he was and how ready he was for the moment. He deserves everything that's coming his way."
Bagent played the entire second half, taking over after Caleb Williams orchestrated a touchdown drive to end the first half and close the Chiefs' lead to 20-10.
After two scoreless drives in the third quarter, Bagent went on to the lead three consecutive touchdown drives — a feat he also accomplished last Sunday against the Bills at Soldier Field. The first score was a 2-yard dart to running back Royce Freeman to cap off a 59-yard drive, while the second TD came courtesy of a 3-yard pass to tight end Joel Wilson, who was wide open at the goal line.
Bagent completed 20 of 28 pass attempts for 212 yards and three scores, earning a 128.9 rating and topping last week's rating of 103.6, which at the time would have been the highest of his career.
Following his standout performance against the Bills, Bagent solidified his spot as Williams' backup by signing a two-year contract extension. Following practice Wednesday, the team celebrated with Bagent, who broke down the huddle and earned plenty of cheers from his teammates.
Two days later, Bagent's teammates rallied around him once again, this time to celebrate the quarterback's brilliant finish to the preseason.
"It was an incredible feat, watching Tyson dice it up, playmakers making plays out there," receiver Rome Odunze said. "It was an incredible drive. They did their thing. Jahdae, you can't touch him right now, he's on fire. It was awesome to see them make a great play."
