Where there are winners, there are losers. While some losses are unavoidable, others can be traced back to a single performance or decision. Those players earn the unfortunate distinction of being this week’s bobbleheads.
The Divisional Round of the NFL playoffs wrapped up Sunday, Jan. 18, with an instant classic, as the Los Angeles Rams outlasted the Chicago Bears 20-17 in overtime in front of a raucous Soldier Field crowd. Meanwhile, the NHL season continues to roll along, and with the Winter Olympics approaching in Milan, many athletes are either justifying their selection to represent their country or giving fans reason to question those decisions.
Here are the Bobbleheads of the Week, whose mistakes came at costly moments.
Chicago Bears: Quarterback Caleb Williams
Williams has been at the center of a magical run which has cemented him as the face of a Bears franchise that’s struggled to find stability at quarterback since Jim McMahon led the 1985 team.
That magic ran out Sunday, Jan. 18, against a stout Los Angeles Rams defense.
Struggling for much of the night until summoning his usual heroics late in regulation, Williams finished with two touchdown passes and three interceptions, including the turnover that sealed Chicago’s fate. On a broken play, Williams scrambled and threw off his back foot, somehow finding tight end Cole Kmet in the back corner of the end zone to force overtime.
After the Rams went three-and-out to open overtime, the Bears needed only a field goal to reach their first NFC Championship Game since 2011. Instead, Williams attempted to connect with wide receiver DJ Moore downfield, who appeared to give up on his route with Rams safety Kam Curl intercepting the pass.
Los Angeles drove into field goal range and sealed the win with a 42-yard field goal from kicker Harrison Mevis. The Rams head to Seattle to face the Seahawks with a Super Bowl appearance on the line, while Chicago enters the offseason hoping to keep its core intact and make another run next year.
Houston Texans: Quarterback C.J. Stroud
Stroud and the Texans entered the divisional round looking to build on the momentum of their dominant wild-card win in Pittsburgh. That momentum quickly vanished in snowy conditions at Gillette Stadium against a disciplined New England Patriots defense.
Stroud, under pressure from the opening snap, absorbed three sacks and finished with 212 passing yards, one touchdown and four interceptions in a game defined by turnovers.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
The Patriots capitalized on Houston’s mistakes and pulled away for a 28-16 victory, earning their first trip to the AFC Championship Game since 2019.
St. Louis Blues: Goalie Jordan Binnington
Binnington was a hero for Canada during last year’s Four Nations tournament, a performance that appears to have played a significant role in his selection to Team Canada for the upcoming Olympics.
This season, however, tells a different story.
The Blues goaltender is having the worst statistical season of his career, with just eight wins in 27 starts. He has allowed 95 goals and is averaging 3.57 goals against per game. While St. Louis has struggled as a team, Binnington has borne much of the criticism.
In December and January, he went 2-8-1, allowing four or more goals in all eight regulation losses. The most concerning performances came against Central Division opponents, including seven goals allowed against a rebuilding Chicago Blackhawks team and six in a lopsided loss to the league-leading Colorado Avalanche.
Despite those struggles, Binnington was selected over other Canadian goaltenders enjoying stronger seasons, including Colorado’s tandem of Scott Wedgewood and Mackenzie Blackwood.
Binnington will have an opportunity to silence his critics in February, but first must prove he deserves the crease over Canada’s other options.
Simon Reseigh is a freelance reporter for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at sports@dailylobo.com or on X @simon_reseigh
