By\u00a0\u00a0KEN MAGUIRE<\/p>\n
LONDON (AP) \u2014 Chicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet faced his biggest fear in football with no notice.<\/p>\n
In a snap, you might say.<\/p>\n
Kmet scored two touchdowns and was called into emergency long-snapping duties in Chicago\u2019s 35-16 rout of the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.<\/p>\n
The tight end successfully snapped after each of Caleb Williams\u2019 four TD passes and D\u2019Andre Swift\u2019s 1-yard plunge as the Bears (4-2) won their third straight game for the first time in nearly four years.<\/p>\n
\u201cDefinitely not a position I envisioned playing in the NFL \u2014 ever,\u201d said Kmet, who caught a pair of second-quarter touchdown throws. \u201c(It\u2019s) my biggest worry going into the game.\u201d<\/p>\n
After long snapper Scott Daly left the game early with a knee injury, Kmet got the call. Even though he\u2019s the designated emergency long snapper \u2014 because the team found out he did it in high school \u2014 he only takes a couple of snaps a week in practice.<\/p>\n
\u201cThankfully didn\u2019t have to do any punt scenarios,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
No, punting was not a worry. The Bears punted after their first two drives, and not again.<\/p>\n
Keenan Allen also caught two touchdown passes. He led\u00a0a tea party celebration<\/a>\u00a0after his 9-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter, and his second score gave Chicago a 28-10 early in the fourth.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen he\u2019s in a groove like that, and all the balls are catchable, it\u2019s pretty easier to play receiver,\u201d Allen said of Williams. \u201cWeek in, week out, he gets better. Obviously, when we pick up the tempo, he\u2019s a lot more comfortable. He\u2019s able to see things faster, and defenses can\u2019t do all the moving around.\u201d<\/p>\n The Jags (1-5) started fast but Gabe Davis dropped a pass in the end zone \u2014 after he was whistled for a false start \u2014 and Jacksonville settled for a field goal on its opening drive.<\/p>\n Davis later caught two second-half touchdown passes from Trevor Lawrence \u2014 the second made the score 35-16.<\/p>\n Kmet broke two tackles on a 31-yard touchdown reception to give Chicago a 7-3 lead in the second quarter when the Bears mixed in no-huddle to spark their offense.<\/p>\n Williams found Kmet in the end zone with 13 seconds left in the half to complete an 85-yard drive than included the rookie quarterback scrambling for 23 yards on one play and 19 on another.<\/p>\n \u201cObviously, you study, you watch, and do all these other things. But, you know, once the ball snaps, you have to have that post-snap read and know what you have to do and be confident about it,\u201d Williams said.<\/p>\n Williams, the No. 1 pick in this year\u2019s NFL draft, finished 23 of 29 for 226 yards with the four TD passes and one interception. He picked up 56 yards on four carries.<\/p>\n Kmet had five receptions for 70 yards. Swift ran 17 times for 91 yards.<\/p>\n Jags coach Doug Pederson, who got a vote of confidence from owner Shad Khan on Saturday, told the NFL Network at halftime while trailing 14-3 that his team had \u201cself-inflicted wounds.\u201d<\/p>\n Pederson was asked after the game if he feels he still has Khan\u2019s full support. He responded: \u201cI do. I was just with him, and I do.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe have to figure out how to just get out of our way and just play football,\u201d Pederson said. \u201cI say that, and it sounds easy, but it\u2019s tough. It\u2019s a tough game to play. We didn\u2019t expect to be here in this spot, and, hey, now we have to find a way to get out of it.\u201d<\/p>\n Jags tight end Evan Engram, who returned from a hamstring injury that cost him four games, fumbled after a reception on Jacksonville\u2019s first drive of the third quarter. The Bears turned that into points when Allen scored his first touchdown with the team.<\/p>\n Lawrence completed 23 of 35 passes for 234 yards, two touchdown passes and one interception. Engram had 10 catches for 102 yards.<\/p>\n It\u2019s Chicago\u2019s first three-game winning streak since late in the 2020 season.<\/p>\n Sights & sounds<\/p>\n Louis Rees-Zammit, the Welsh rugby star who is on\u00a0Jacksonville\u2019s practice squad<\/a>, made the trip and\u00a0chatted with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell<\/a>\u00a0on the field before the game. Goodell has led the\u00a0league\u2019s push for international growth<\/a>.<\/p>\n Injuries<\/p>\n Jaguars: S Darnell Savage and CB Jarrian Jones were evaluated for concussions after colliding in the third quarter.<\/p>\n Bears: Long snapper Scott Daly (knee) was hurt after Chicago\u2019s second punt and was ruled out. … DB Kyler Gordon (hamstring) was ruled out in the second half. … The Bears played without two starters in their secondary: S Jaquan Brisker (concussion from last week) and CB Tyrique Stevenson (calf injury from practice Thursday).<\/p>\n Up next<\/p>\n Jaguars: Stay in London and \u201chost\u201d the New England Patriots at Wembley Stadium.<\/p>\n Bears: Bye week and then at the Washington Commanders in Week 8.<\/p>\n ___<\/p>\n