The Chicago Bears didn't have high expectations going into 2025, but things are very different now in 2026, with more Super Bowl talk.
Bears head coach Ben Johnson is well ahead of his scheduled plan of getting the franchise in the right direction after going 11-6 and winning the NFC North, as well as beating the Green Bay Packers in the Wild Card. While some changes were made, pretty much the same team will be run back for the new year.
A lot can happen this season that can either make it a dream season for the Bears or turn it into a nightmare. There are three scenarios that could ruin any shot at Chicago winning its first Super Bowl in over four decades.
Caleb Williams starts turning the ball over too often
The postseason kind of showed a bad habit developing in Caleb Williams: turnovers, as he threw five interceptions in two playoff games. Bears fans are hoping he will play more like the guy who has thrown 13 interceptions in 34 regular season games, but there's a chance Williams could play too much hero ball in 2026 and turn the ball over. If that is the case for Williams, there is no shot the Bears get to the Super Bowl or even make a realistic playoff run.
Bears' pass rush does not get any better from 2025
Last season's 33 sacks in 17 games can't happen again as the Bears need to find a way to get pressure on the quarterback. The Bears did nothing with their edge rushers; it is the same group from last year: Montez Sweat, Austin Booker, and Dayo Odeyingbo. If the Bears produce similar or worse numbers in 2026, their defense will just be going through the exact same issues and relying on creating turnovers without most of the guys who created them on the active roster.
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Chicago's young wide receivers don't step up like they are supposed to do
The Bears traded away DJ Moore in the offseason with the hopes that Rome Odunze and Luther Burden would take big leaps in their progression. There's always a chance that things could go south, and Chicago doesn't have the reliable Moore there to pick things up, with Kalif Raymond being the veteran of the group. If Burden and Odunze struggle like the unit did last year with drops, this Bears' offense might take the backseat they can't afford to take right now.
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