Let’s not sugarcoat it — the Chicago Bears are sitting at 1-2 through three weeks, and while that record looks mediocre on paper, the truth is way more complicated. Ben Johnson’s first year as head coach is already a rollercoaster: parts of this team look playoff-caliber, parts look like a tank job, and all of it feels like Chicago football in a nutshell — heart attack-inducing, infuriating, and just enticing enough to keep you hooked.
The Bears are a mix of brilliance and dysfunction. Some stats scream “contender,” others scream “fraud.” So let’s break it down: what they’re nailing, what’s killing them, and what this actually means for Caleb Williams’ first real shot at proving he’s the guy.
What the Bears Are Doing Right
1. Red Zone Execution
The Bears are heating up in the red zone. Let that sink in. 86% efficiency. Seven trips, six touchdown. That’s not just better than the Bears of old — that’s #3 in the entire NFL. Last year this team couldn’t buy a red zone touchdown if Soldier Field started selling them at halftime. Now? Ben Johnson has flipped the script.
And a huge reason? Rome Odunze. The kid is already Caleb Williams’ security blanket. Two red zone TDs so far, and more importantly, he looks like the type of wideout the Bears haven’t had in decades — reliable, physical, and flat-out dangerous inside the 20. Johnson deserves credit here, too. His play designs don’t scream “rookie QB panic dump.” He’s mixing personnel, spreading defenses out, and then slicing them up with surgical precision.
2. Wideout Revolution
Let’s keep it real: the Bears’ rookie wideouts are saving this offense. Odunze has already made history — four touchdowns in his first three games, something no Bears receiver has ever done. He’s Caleb’s No. 1, and his Week 3 PFF grade (77.8) tells you he’s not just racking up cheap catches; he’s playing elite ball.
But Odunze isn’t even the full story. Luther Burden III came in like a damn sledgehammer in Week 3. He put up a 93.0 PFF grade — the highest of any wideout in the NFL that week. And that flea-flicker touchdown? Absolute filth. A 65-yard bomb, the longest pass of Williams’ young career, and the kind of play that makes you double-check if you’re watching the Bears or a Madden sim.
Together, these two look like the foundation of a passing game that could actually terrify defenses. For a franchise that’s spent decades trying to convince itself that guys like Bernard Berrian, Anthony Miller, or Kevin White were “the answer,” this is a revolution.
What the Bears Are Doing Wrong
1. Pass Rush? More Like a Gentle Breeze
Here’s the ugly truth: the Bears’ pass rush is a damn embarrassment. Their pass rush win rate is a putrid 23.3% — 30th in the NFL. That’s not just bad, that’s bottom-feeding. Five sacks in three games, tied for 5th-fewest in the league. Opposing quarterbacks are chilling back there with 3.06 seconds per dropback — third-worst in the NFL.
Translation: the Bears aren’t even making QBs uncomfortable. And without pressure, defensive coordinator Dennis Allen has been neutered. He wants to play aggressive man coverage, but when your corners are banged up (Jaylon Johnson, Kyler Gordon both missing time), you’re forced to sit back in zone and just watch opposing offenses pick you apart.
Look at Gervon Dexter. Zero pass rush wins against Detroit. Zero. Nada. That’s supposed to be your interior disruptor. Instead, he was a tackling dummy. To be fair, outside of that game he has played well, but with a D-line this weak you simply can’t have games where you disappear. And the trickle-down is brutal: Chicago is giving up 31 points per game (28th in the league). You don’t win shootouts when you’re not Buffalo.
2. The Run Game Is Broken — And It Makes No Sense
If you only looked at the offensive line stats, you’d think the Bears had a juggernaut ground game. They’re #1 in Run Block Win Rate (78%) per ESPN. Elite. Dominant. Except… the backs are doing jack with it. Chicago ranks 28th in EPA per carry (-0.15). That’s the definition of wasted opportunity.
D’Andre Swift is the poster child for inefficiency. He’s rocking a brutal -0.25 EPA per carry, 44th out of 47 qualifying RBs. He looks hesitant, indecisive, and allergic to daylight. And rookie Kyle Monangai has been even worse, dragging a -0.55 EPA per carry on his limited touches.
This kills Ben Johnson’s preferred offensive balance. When the run game stinks, defenses sit back, daring Williams to win without play-action. That’s not sustainable, especially when your QB is still learning how to handle NFL defenses.
The Caleb Williams Watch: The Arrow Is Pointing Up
Now let’s talk about the only thing that really matters: Caleb Williams. And here’s the good news — the kid is progressing faster than expected.
- Week 1: Looked jittery, posted 60% completions, passer rating 86.6.
- Week 2: Small bump up to 63.3% completions, rating 91.9.
- Week 3: Boom. 67.9% completions, passer rating 142.6, and 0.61 EPA per dropback — best in the NFL that week.
That’s not incremental growth. That’s a quarterback settling into an offense designed for him. He wasn’t even sacked against Dallas, and surprise surprise — his best game followed. Protect him, and you see why he was the No. 1 pick. His connection with Odunze and Burden is the Bears’ ticket out of offensive purgatory.
Defensive Silver Lining: Takeaways
The Bears’ defense is leaky as hell, but they’re opportunistic. 1.67 takeaways per game, good for 8th in the NFL. Tremaine Edmunds is a damn machine — 15 tackles and two picks against Dallas. He’s the only reason the defense didn’t give up 50.
But let’s be real: turnovers can’t cover for a nonexistent pass rush forever. This defense needs Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon back yesterday, or else it’s going to keep bleeding points.
The Road Ahead: Fix the Obvious, Build on the Breakthroughs
Here’s the truth: the Bears aren’t a disaster. They’re also not a contender yet. They’re stuck in that in-between zone where you can see the potential but also feel the problems.
The good news? Their biggest issues are fixable:
- Pass rush: Add a body via trade, scheme up more pressure, or pray someone wakes up. Something has to give.
- Run game: Ben Johnson himself has mentioned the run game can take time to gel, so the hope is it starts clicking soon. But if Swift can’t figure it out, then next year’s draft needs a heavy focus at RB. Find someone who can actually capitalize on this O-line.
The foundation is there. Williams is improving weekly. Odunze and Burden are already legit. The red zone efficiency is elite. This isn’t the same old Bears, even if the record says otherwise.
But unless the defense learns how to breathe on a quarterback and the run game stops wasting elite blocking, this team is destined to hover around .500. The playoffs are possible, but right now, the Bears are playing with fire — and it’s only Week 3.
Final Verdict
The 2025 Bears are basically a giant “choose your own adventure” book. Do you focus on the exciting young passing attack, or do you dwell on the defense that looks allergic to sacks? Either way, this team is in transition. But for the first time in forever, transition doesn’t feel like purgatory — it feels like the beginning of something real.
