Bears' Tyrique Stevenson on stripping the ball from Cowboys RB: 'He didn't want it'

At no point in his playing career has cornerback Tyrique Stevenson ever just ripped the ball from a defender’s arms and taken it. When he saw Dallas' Javonte Williams carrying the ball nonchalantly two-and-a-half minutes into Sunday’s game, though, that’s exactly what he did.

“I just realized he didn’t want it …” Stevenson said Monday, one day after the Bears’ 31-14 win against the Cowboys. “For me to be able to spark the momentum, I felt that the whole team felt it. I’m glad I was able to make that play for us.”

Rather than try the “Peanut Punch,” he just tore at the ball, making sure he didn’t step out of bounds before establishing possession.

“I still can’t believe I did that,” he said.

Stevenson had struggled through the first two games, allowing a perfect passer rating. Against the Cowboys, he gave up a 39.6 rating. Coach Ben Johnson considers him a talent — but he’s inconsistent.

“There are times when he looks like a Pro Bowl-type player, and there’s other times where he’ll let his guard down just a little bit, and we can’t have those snafus,” Johnson said. “I thought [Sunday] he took a step in the right direction.”

Stevenson spent last week focusing on different areas, from better understanding defensive coordinator Dennis Allen’s scheme to taking care of his body.

Other players focused in, too, holding a players-only meeting of the defense Wednesday. The message, Stevenson said, was to flush away the first two weeks, when the Bears (1-2) blew an 11-point lead against the Vikings in the fourth quarter and gave up 52 points to the Lions.

“We just made sure we know that the work and preparation we put in doesn’t show that,” Stevenson said. “Just making sure that we always put our best foot forward.”