The Chicago Bears won, beating the New Orleans Saints at Soldier Field by a final score of 26-14 in Week 7. But the game once again featured some seemingly phantom calls, specifically against tight end Colston Loveland. Moreover, Loveland was called for offensive pass interference for the second straight game, wiping first downs off the board.
Neither instance appeared egregious, if they occurred at all.
Colston Loveland Gets Honest After Bears Beat Saints
Bears TE Colston Loveland Pushes Back on Ref’s Ruling
In Week 6, Loveland was called for an OPI, wiping out his own 11-yard reception that would have given the Bears a first down in the first quarter. This week, it was a supposed pick from Loveland on D’Andre Swift’s 15-yarder on second-and-7, again in the first quarter.
“I feel like I ran it how we teach it, you know what I mean?” Loveland told Clocker Sports in the locker room after the game. “I’m just running a spot route. So I get to my spot, and I run the route expecting the ball. You can’t control what they call, what they don’t call. So, yeah, really nothing else to it.”
Loveland said he did not seek out further explanation from the refs.
“No, it ain’t going to do me any good talking to them, so,” Loveland said after finishing the game with a season-high three receptions for 24 yards.
As for his false start on a third-and-10 in the fourth quarter with the Bears at the Saints’ 14-yard line, Loveland did not mince words, saying that he “just can’t have that. Can’t have that. Just itching to go make a play.”
On the season, Loveland now has eight receptions for 78 yards.
That is not exactly what the Bears had in mind for the No. 10 overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft, but Loveland could see an uptick in usage next week.
Bears TE Cole Kmet on Injury Watch
Loveland saw more run after halftime, with starting tight end Cole Kmet exiting the game with a back injury. Bears PR announced Kmet was “doubtful” to return in the third quarter, and he indeed remained sidelined for the duration of the contest.
“Hope he’s feeling better,” Loveland told Clocker Sports about Kmet. “Know he’ll do everything to get back right. But yeah, definitely had some more on my plate. Thought I had some good plays, had some bad plays. Some stuff to clean up. So, it’ll be good to watch the tape and really dissect it, see what I can do to better it forward.”
Bears head coach Ben Johnson did not provide any updates after the game on Kmet or Tyrique Stevenson (shoulder), and the veterans left the locker room before the media was allowed in.
Loveland and the Bears visit the Baltimore Ravens in Week 8.