After a brutal 0-2 start, the Bears put together an outstanding performance in a 31-14 win over the Dallas Cowboys last Sunday on "America's Game Of The Week" on Fox Sports. Caleb Williams won the NFC Offensive Play Of The Week for his outstanding performance. Things are starting to look up for the Bears now. Can they sustain it? Here are my five thoughts entering this week's game against the Raiders:
1. Kevin Warren deserves more criticism on the current state of the Bears
When team president Kevin Warren was hired back in 2023, it was widely lauded. He was supposed to usher in a new era of stability and vision, and bring strong credentials, having been an executive with divisional rivals, Detroit and Minnesota, as well as Big Ten commissioner before joining the Bears.
Instead, his tenure has also been marked by not just embarrassments on the field, but also off the field. Two years ago, assistant coaches Alan Williams and David Walker resigned amid allegations of workplace misconduct. Tyler Long, formerly with Bleacher Report, who riled up many Bears fans in his Go Long substack about Caleb Williams earlier this month, revealed details about Walker's departure.
"One high-ranking source tells us the Bears concluded Walker harassed several females in the building via text and was warned by HR to stop. The father of an intern whom Walker was texting finally contacted the Bears and threatened to take action. On Nov. 1, Eberflus announced that Walker had been terminated. This source does not believe the Bears did nearly enough to support the women who the Bears determined received those text messages."
Warren was mainly hired due to his work as the team president of the Minnesota Vikings, where he played a pivotal role in building US Bank Stadium in downtown Minneapolis. He is being asked to do the same for the Chicago Bears. Warren recently announced that the Bears are focused on moving forward with the Arlington Heights stadium project.
However, there are still hurdles that need to be cleared, both financially and politically. It will likely be some time before the ground breaks, as Warren promised. And quite frankly, many fans are getting tired of it at this point. The Bears can renderings of the new stadium and all the developments in the surrounding areas. But until the shovels are in the ground, it is just empty promises from Warren.
With the team experiencing internal problems and struggling again out of the gate, Warren deserves more criticism. The decision to extend Ryan Poles, who is now 15-38 as the general manager, also warrants further scrutiny if the Bears continue to struggle.
2. The defense had an outstanding game. But there are still issues.
The defense under Dennis Allen has struggled in their 0-2 start. After recording three sacks in their season opener against Minnesota, the pass rush was nonexistent, and they were gashed for 511 yards, giving up seven touchdowns against Detroit.
The defense showed life against Dallas, sacking Dak Prescott twice, including the first sack of the season from Montez Sweat after his sack was wiped out by the penalty against Detroit. They also forced four turnovers, with two interceptions by linebacker Tremaine Edmunds and cornerback Tyrique Stevenson forcing and recovering a fumble. It was nice to see two players who have been criticized for their lack of production.
Still, there are issues. The run defense was subpar as they gave up 120 yards. It is the third straight game they have given up 100+ rushing yards. To make matters worse, tackling was atrocious. And now, they face rookie running back Ashton Jeanty this week.
So far, has has only 144 rushing yards through three games. It would be ironic that a player many Bears fans wanted in the draft has a breakout game against the Bears. Jeanty is not afraid of contact, so the Bears' defenders must improve their tackling. They also need to pay attention to tight end Brock Bowers, who is already a top-five tight end in the NFL, and poses a massive challenge to a depleted Bears secondary.
3. The rookies are starting to contribute
The Bears' rookie class through two weeks has not produced much. But they broke out in a big way in Week 3. Tight End Colston Loveland had a 31-yard reception in their second drive to help set up Rome Odunze's touchdown. Unfortunately, he suffered a hip injury late in the first half and did not return. Thankfully, it does not sound serious, and hopefully, he is available this week.
Meanwhile, Luther Burden III was involved in one of the most exciting, explosive plays Bears fans have seen in a long time. A 65-yard flea-flicker touchdown pass from Williams to Burden that traveled 62.1 yards in the air signaled the arrival of Burden in a big way. He finished with three catches for 101 yards and one touchdown.
Also, lost in the shuffle was the debut of defensive lineman Shemar Turner. He was inactive for the first two games after he returned from an injury he suffered during training camp that derailed his development. His addition to the defensive line will hopefully bolster their pass rush.
Ben Johnson said he wanted to get both Loveland and Burden more involved leading up to. If Johnson can get more production out of running back Kyle Monangai moving forward, the offense will be more balanced and keep opposing defenses honest. In the Dallas game, he made good on his promise. Their development will make this offense even more explosive.
4. The Bears can make a serious run after the bye
The Bears have a bye after this Sunday. After the bye, their next five games can make or break their 2025 season. Let's take a look at their schedule.
Week 6 | At Washington(MNF) |
|---|---|
Week 7 | New Orleans |
Week 8 | At Baltimore |
Week 9 | At Cincinnati |
Week 10 | New York Giants |
Just like last season, the Bears face the Washington Commanders after the bye. We all remember that game as if it were yesterday. Since this is a Monday Night Football, we are likely going to hear and see the infamous Hail Mary pass over and over during the broadcast. How they deal with the noise and embarrassment from last year's game, and how they perform after the bye, will be an essential test. They are 0-4 coming off a bye the previous four years.
The New Orleans Saints are a total dumpster fire under rookie head coach Kellen Moore. They might start rookie Tyler Shough as their starting quarterback instead of Spencer Rattler, if not sooner. You know Dennis Allen has circled this game since he became the defensive coordinator, after serving as their head coach from 2022 to 2024, before he was fired after Week 9 of last season.
Speaking of a rookie quarterback, the New York Giants just announced this week that Jaxson Dart will replace Russell Wilson after starting 0-3. We all knew it was going to happen, but not this soon. It is reminiscent of how the Bears organization has botched their quarterback development over the years. Dart does have some weapons, including those in Malik Nabors and Wandale Robinson. But will Daboll still be the head coach by then?
The Bears face the AFC North opponents on consecutive weeks in Baltimore and Cincinnati. The Ravens are off to a disappointing 1-2 start and could be 1-3 if they lose to the Kansas City Chiefs this Sunday. On paper, having to deal with both Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. But this is why you play the game. It will be interesting to see where the Ravens stand in terms of their record when they face the Bears.
Meanwhile, Cincinnati was demolished by Minnesota 48-10 last week, their first game without Joe Burrow after he suffered a turf-toe injury in Week 2. He is expected to be sidelined for three months, which means he will not face the Bears. Without Burrow, they might be in serious trouble, where they can go on a long losing streak. The Bears now have a decent chance of winning this game.
On paper, the Bears can go 4-2, with the losses against Washington and Baltimore. However, this is precisely why you play the game. Did anyone really expect Cleveland to upset Green Bay last Sunday? I didn't think so. With a brutal late-season schedule and a stacked division, stacking wins in October and early November is not just helpful. It’s essential.
5. Prediction
The Bears have a chance to go 2-2 after starting 0-2 before entering the bye. The game will be in Las Vegas, which is expected to draw massive crowds of Bears fans from across the country. Las Vegas is 1-2, having lost the last two games, and is desperate.
This game has an intriguing storyline. Ben Johnson interviewed for the Las Vegas job, which some thought was his to lose. Thankfully, Johnson chose the Bears' job, while Las Vegas went with the ageless wonder Pete Carroll.
Meanwhile, Tom Brady, who broadcast the Cowboys-Bears game last Sunday, is also a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders in 2024. He is under scrutiny for a conflict of interest after he was seen in the booth with offensive coordinator Chip Kelly in Week 2. His broadcasting role involves access to team personnel and information, which raises questions about how he might use it to benefit the Raiders. Did last week's game allow them to gain an edge?
Regardless, the Bears' defense must contain Ashton Jeanty and Brock Bowers to have a shot at winning. The Bears also must contain edge rusher Maxx Crosby. Either Darnell Wright, who suffered an injury during the Dallas game, or Theo Benedict, who replaced him briefly, must step up.
Read more: State of NFC North: Can the Bears keep up in NFL's toughest division?
Can Caleb Williams build on his successful game and sustain success? That is a question that many Bears fans will be asking moving forward. The Las Vegas game will have a chance to silence doubters.