LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) 鈥� Tyrique Stevenson says he鈥檚 ready to return to the scene of one of the most embarrassing moments in NFL history Monday night when the Chicago Bears visit Washington.
Last year, the Chicago cornerback had his back turned to the field, then rushed in and tipped Jayden Daniels’ 52-yard desperation pass to Noah Brown for a winning touchdown.
鈥淛ust use it as motivation to come out and stay focused on all tasks and definitely, definitely learn to wait until the clock hits double-zeroes,鈥� Stevenson said. 鈥淛ust use that as a learning curve to mature and be the cornerback that this team needs.鈥�
Coming off two of his best games to date, the third-year cornerback remembers the sting still. He was interacting with the crowd while his back was turned to the action, then rushed back in and tipped the ball back to the man he was supposed to be covering in the end zone for an 18-15 loss.
鈥淚t was harsh, it hurt my feelings,鈥� Stevenson said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 the best way I can explain it 鈥� it just hurt my feelings being a football player and having one of those mistakes that鈥檚 going to linger around. Even when my son grows up, I鈥檝e got to explain that to him. It definitely hurt. But just use it as fuel.鈥�
The loss started a 10-game losing streak that resulted in the firing of Matt Eberflus and staff, leading to Ben Johnson鈥檚 hiring as new head coach.
Stevenson felt he held up during the wake of the loss as best he could, considering his gaffe cost the Bears a sure win after they had rallied in the closing minutes for a 15-12 lead.
The end result was a constant barrage of jokes through social media memes.
The play was even named at NFL Honors as the season’s top moment.
鈥淎t the end of the day I鈥檓 a man and I stand on integrity,鈥� Stevenson said. 鈥淭he best thing I could do was go address it and let the guys know and the world know that that鈥檚 not who I am, but that鈥檚 who I showed.
鈥淭he only thing I can do from then on is show my actions have changed so I can become a better man and a better football player on the field.鈥�
Teammates supported him, by and large.
鈥淏eing honest, I got a couple side-eyes,鈥� Stevenson said. 鈥淏ut that comes with … this is what we do for a living. This is who we are in some cases.
“And the best thing we can do is go out there and make great plays. And I put a bad play on film. The best thing they could do was come around and put their arm around me and be like, 鈥榳e got you.鈥� That鈥檚 what they showed me all last year.鈥�
Teammates have to admit it wasn鈥檛 an easy thing to get past and there is still some lingering pain, but quarterback Caleb Williams said it isn鈥檛 enough to make this into a 鈥渞evenge鈥� game.
鈥淥bviously, you don鈥檛 want to lose, especially in that fashion of a Hail Mary,鈥� quarterback Caleb Williams said. 鈥淪o does it bother me? I鈥檓 not going to speak for everybody else. Does it bother me? Yeah, in the sense that I want to go out there and I want to win every single game that I鈥檝e got.鈥�
Stevenson had a slow start and had the worst possible passer rating against of 158.3 when targeted following two games this season.
However, he has since turned it around by stealing the football from Dallas鈥� Javonte Williams from behind to start a 31-14 Bears win over Dallas, and then making an interception and fumble recovery in a 25-24 win over the Raiders.
Stevenson has a forced fumble, two recoveries, an interception and five pass breakups, but is certain he鈥檚 going to hear it from Commanders fans Monday even if he says has put this in his past.
鈥淕oing back to a hostile environment, they鈥檙e going to do their best job to rattle me as much as they can,鈥� Stevenson said. 鈥淏ut like I was saying earlier, the best thing I can do is come out here and show these 10 (teammates) I鈥檓 locked in and ready to go.鈥�
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