The Chicago Bears defense is a liability heading into a crucial Week 2 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings, with major implications for the NFC North title. Without Coby Bryant and Kyler Gordon, the entire Bears defense will have to step up.
In the season opener, the main storyline for the Bears was the offense going off for 59 points against the Carolina Panthers. Because the Bears won, everyone forgot that the defense gave up 37 points and made Panthers quarterback Bryce Young look like a top-five quarterback. If the Bears want to do anything in January and February, this can't happen again.
That said, the Vikings will be a great test for Dennis Allen and the Bears' defense.
Bears' defense needs to step up against Vikings in Week 2
With star receivers like Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and Jauan Jennings, the Vikings have one of the league's best receiving corps and are the third-best, according to CBS Sports. They also have veteran tight end T.J. Hockenson.
The Vikings have some serious playmakers at wide receiver. This group can burn you early and often. If the Bears aren't careful, this game could get away quickly. And after Addison had zero catches to open the season, he'll be looking to torch the Bears' secondary as soon as possible.
The Bears also cannot underestimate Carson Wentz, who will start at quarterback in Kyler Murray's absence.
Wentz's career hasn't panned out the way everyone expected, but he was still an MVP candidate in 2017 and would have won if not for his knee injury that season. Despite his limited mobility since the injury, Wentz is still a gunslinger who can win you games.
Wentz can also lose you games. The former second overall pick led the league in interceptions in 2020, inspiring Philly to move on from him.
History has shown time and again that when you pressure Wentz, he can cough the ball up. It's one of his flaws as a gunslinger. If the Bears fail to pressure Wentz, last week will happen all over again.
The Bears' defensive line, headlined by Montez Sweat, will need to win their matchup and pressure Wentz. This is a tough task for a Bears defense that ranked 22nd in sacks last season and failed to add any dynamic pieces to change this narrative.
Dennis Allen will have to draw up creative blitz schemes that put Wentz in risky situations and create opportunities for the Bears—whether it's a sack or an interception. It's Allen's biggest test of the season so far and could act as a bellwether for him.
It's also fair to assume the Bears' secondary will rebound from last week as long as Wentz doesn't have enough time to throw the ball. Jaylon Johnson and Tyrique Stevenson didn't have their best showing in Week 1, but their defensive line didn't give them much of a chance to fight.
Read more: 7 Bears who must raise their game against the Vikings in Week 2
The Bears' defense can't wait for Coby Bryant and Kyler Gordon to return. They need to win this game by pressuring Wentz and letting his gunslinging ways get the best of him.
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