Chicago Bears Defense Picked To Be One Of NFL's Worst

The Chicago Bears defense has been the backbone of this franchise for decades. Every time the team has enjoyed a bout of winning, the defense is the driving force behind it. The 1980s and 2000s were perfect examples, as was their brief ascent in 2018. Hopes are high that Justin Fields is capable of finally making the offense a viable contributor, but he remains an unknown quantity at the moment. Thus fans look to the defense for any form of stability. They could be in for a disappointment, at least according to Ian Wharton of Bleacher Report. He evaluated the NFL landscape going into 2022 and listed five teams he thinks will field the worst defenses in the NFL. The Bears ranked 3rd on that list. Considering how accustomed the franchise is to defensive excellence, it was a jarring moment. Here was his explanation for why the decline is inevitable.

"New Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus will have his work cut out for him as he looks to revamp a defense that lost stalwarts along the front seven. Eberflus runs a fast, more modern defense that features more defensive backs than what Chicago used in its base 3-4 defense over the last few years. But expecting him to compensate for losing Khalil Mack, Eddie Goldman, Bilal Nichols and Akiem Hicks would be unfair. The Bears have just two impact defenders in their entire front seven, Roquan Smith and Robert Quinn. Quinn is coming off a monstrous season but has already held out of mandatory minicamps amid trade rumors. This is the worst front seven in the NFL."

The logic isn't hard to understand.

It isn't easy to imagine the unit staying respectable when you lose three of the players that once made the defense the best in the league in the same offseason. The losses of Mack and Hicks are especially tough. They were such forces up front, both against the run and pass. The problem was both continued to suffer health issues, and their contracts became too expensive to justify. Letting them go was easy. Replacing them is not. The front seven isn't what it was four years ago. That much is obvious. However, it isn't a lost cause. The Quinn situation is definitely a concern, but he should still end up playing. Trevis Gipson had a breakout season last year with seven sacks and is poised to get more snaps with Mack gone. Nicholas Morrow is an underrated addition at linebacker. With a revamped secondary, the defense still has a chance to be serviceable. [video width="854" height="480" mp4="https://www.sportsmockery.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Colts-Defense-Gets-the-SHUTOUT-vs.-Cowboys-in-Week-15.mp4"][/video]

Matt Eberflus is no stranger to this Chicago Bears defense challenge.

He's seen its like before. In 2018, he inherited the 30th-ranked defense in the NFL with the Indianapolis Colts. The roster he had going into that season was a mishmash of no-names, role players, and failed high draft choices. Yet it still managed to finish 10th in points allowed and 11th in total yards. It was one of the best coaching jobs of the season by anybody, and that was because Eberflus adapted to the strengths of his players. The Chicago Bears defense is more talented (on paper) than the one he took over that year. While a top 10 finish might be reaching, saying it will finish among the worst in the league doesn't seem logical. It is more likely they dip somewhere in the 12-18 range. Smack in the middle of average territory. Things will be made even easier if rookies Kyler Gordon and Jaquan Brisker become immediate contributors.

It is far from hopeless.

The Bears likely won't be a dominant defense this year or even a good one. However, their fall from grace could end up being a short one. They have a young core established with Roquan Smith and Jaylon Johnson. More help might be coming through the pipeline soon. They're primed for a swift rebound if they can add two or three more pieces next offseason.