Williams throws 4 touchdowns and TE Kmet handles long snaps for the Bears in the Jaguars' 35-16 win in London

Associated Press

LONDON (AP) — Chicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet had to face his biggest fear in football without warning.

In the blink of an eye you could say.

Kmet scored two touchdowns and was called up for emergency long-snap duty in Chicago's 35-16 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.

After each of Caleb Williams' four TD passes and D'Andre Swift's 1-yard plunge, the tight end successfully pulled off the victory as the Bears won their third straight game (4-2) for the first time in nearly four years ).

“Definitely not a position I ever imagined myself playing in the NFL,” said Kmet, who caught two touchdown throws in the second quarter. “(It’s) my biggest concern before the game.”

After long snapper Scott Daly left the game early with a knee injury, Kmet got the call. Even though he's the designated emergency long snapper — because the team found out he did it in high school — he only takes a few snaps a week in practice.

“Luckily we didn’t have to run any punt scenarios,” he added.

No, the poking was nothing to worry about. The Bears punted after their first two drives and not again.

Keenan Allen also caught two touchdown passes. He led a Tea Party celebration after his 9-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter, and his second score gave Chicago a 28-10 lead early in the fourth quarter.

“When he's in a groove like that and all the balls are catchable, it's pretty easier to play receiver,” Allen said of Williams. “He’s getting better week by week. Of course, if we increase the pace, he feels much more comfortable. He’s able to recognize things quicker and the defense can’t take over all the moves.”

The Jags (1-5) started fast, but Gabe Davis dropped a pass in the end zone — after being whistled for a false start — and Jacksonville settled for a field goal on the first drive.

Davis caught two touchdown passes from Trevor Lawrence later in the second half – the second making the score 35-16.

Kmet deflected two tackles on a 31-yard touchdown reception to give Chicago a 7-3 lead in the second quarter as the Bears got their offense going with a no-huddle.

Williams found Kmet in the end zone with 13 seconds left in the half to complete an 85-yard drive, as the rookie quarterback rushed for 23 yards on one play and 19 yards on another.

“Of course you learn and watch and do all these other things. But you know, once the ball snaps, you have to read the post-snap and know what to do and be confident,” Williams said.

Williams, the No. 1 pick in this year's NFL draft, finished 23 of 29 for 226 yards with four touchdown passes and one interception. He gained 56 yards on four carries.

Kmet had five receptions for 70 yards. Swift ran 17 times for 91 yards.

Jags coach Doug Pederson, who received a vote of confidence from owner Shad Khan on Saturday, told the NFL Network at halftime, trailing 14-3, that his team had “self-inflicted wounds.”

Pederson was asked after the game if he felt he still had Khan's full support. He replied, “I do. I was just with him and that’s what I do.”

“We have to figure out how to get out of each other’s way and just play football,” Pederson said. “I say this and it sounds simple, but it’s difficult. It's a difficult game. We didn’t expect to be here at this point and now we have to find a way to get out of it.”

Jags tight end Evan Engram, returning from a hamstring injury that cost him four games, fumbled after a reception on Jacksonville's first drive of the third quarter. The Bears turned that into points as Allen scored his first touchdown with the team.

Lawrence completed 23 of 35 passes for 234 yards, two touchdown passes and one interception. Engram had 10 catches for 102 yards.

It is Chicago's first three-game winning streak since the end of the 2020 season.

Sights and sounds

Louis Rees-Zammit, the Welsh rugby star who is part of Jacksonville's practice squad, traveled and chatted with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on the field before the game. Goodell has spearheaded the league's efforts to grow internationally.

Injuries

Jaguars: S Darnell Savage and CB Jarrian Jones were evaluated for concussions following a collision in the third quarter.

Bears: Long snapper Scott Daly (knee) was injured after Chicago's second punt and left. … DB Kyler Gordon (hamstring) was sidelined in the second half. … The Bears played without two starters in their secondary: S Jaquan Brisker (concussion last week) and CB Tyrique Stevenson (calf injury from Thursday's practice)

Next

Jaguars: Stay in London and “host” the New England Patriots at Wembley Stadium.

Bears: Bye week and then Week 8 at Washington Commanders.

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