Let’s drop the intro: if you can’t win in the trenches, you can’t win rings. Look at the last ten Super Bowl champs (2015–2024): 9 out of 10 had offensive lines ranked 15th or better, 6 of them broke into the top‑10. That’s not coincidence — it’s the blueprint.
The Prototypes: Super Bowl O‑Lines (2015–2024)
Elite Units (Top 10 in rankings)
- 2018 Philadelphia Eagles – #1 O‑Line
The canonical example: Jason Peters, Jason Kelce, Lane Johnson, Brandon Brooks, Isaac Seumalo. Per PFF, they graded them a gaudy 86.2 overall — top in NFL. This line "fueled a Super Bowl victory" and laid the foundation for Nick Foles to deliver one of the most electric and unexpected Super Bowl performances in NFL history. - 2023 Kansas City Chiefs – #2 O‑Line
Continuity and elite interior play made this line a crush zone, fueling Mahomes and a high‑tempo machine. - 2017 Patriots & 2021 Buccaneers – both #3
Bucs led the league in fewest pressures allowed; Pats provided essential pass protection and clean pockets for Brady & co.
Solid Contenders (Ranks 12–15)
- 2015 Patriots – #12 – mid-season O‑line shakeup sparked drive straight to another ring.
- 2022 Rams – #14 – gutty finish despite injuries and mid-year roster woes.
- 2020 Chiefs – #15 – adequate, but exactly at that “line needed” threshold for a ring.
The Exception That Proved the Rule
- 2016 Broncos – #27 O‑Line, 40 sacks allowed – defense so dominant they carried the unit, but that rarely happens.
Benchmarking Greatness: 85 Points = Contender
Mapping rankings to a 100-point scale shows 85.0 as the magic number:
- Hits top-15 territory
- Captures 90% of champs
- Gives credit to defenses that occasionally carry trash-tier lines
Anything under 85? You might have a flashy defense or fantasy appeal, but you're not built to hoist the Lombardi when it counts.
2025 Chicago Bears: Trenches Rebuilt (Score: 79.3)
Let’s break it down, man vs. man:
First, let me pull back the curtain and show you how the sausage gets made. Before we dive into the Bears' individual grades, here's how the scoring system works. Player scores were derived from a 100-point scale that blends film evaluation and data analytics across four key pillars:
- Pro Football Focus (PFF) grades (pass/run blocking)
- Positional value and scheme fit within Ben Johnson's zone-heavy system
- Injury history, snap consistency, and 2024 performance trajectory
- Contract expectations and role within the 2025 unit
Each player’s score reflects projected impact, reliability, and fit. Here's the breakdown:
| Position | Player | Grade | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| LT | Braxton Jones | 70 | Played well pre-injury (fibula fracture), but late-season durability and inconsistent pass sets hurt grade. Needs bounce-back year. |
| LG | Joe Thuney | 95 | Four-time All-Pro. Allowed zero pressures in a 6-game stretch (2024), graded top-5 in pass pro. Elite, reliable. |
| C | Drew Dalman | 80 | Ranked 4th among NFL centers in 2024. Strong run blocker, 0 sacks allowed, but missed time with injury. Solid signing. |
| RG | Jonah Jackson | 78 | Was a steady starter in Detroit. Injuries knocked him back in 2024, but he's a proven scheme fit with upside if healthy. |
| RT | Darnell Wright | 75 | Graded highest among Bears linemen in 2024. Great run blocker, improving pass pro, but needs to handle elite speed rushers. |
Overall: 79.3 — puts the Bears into “Playoff Hopeful” territory, but short of contender status.
The Weighting
- Tackles = 40% (20% each)
- Interior = 60% (20% each guard + center)
This weighted system treats the LG/CG/RG core as the heart — literally where championships are won or lost.
Upside & Risks Breakdown
What’s Working:
- Elite interior trio (Thuney/Dalman/Jackson) can dominate in protection and pushing lanes.
- Ben Johnson’s scheme — built for quick movement, synergy, and zone familiarity.
- Caleb Williams gets better every week behind better protection.
Red Flags:
- Jones recovering from fibula fracture — what if he’s shaky or gets hurt again?
- Line chemistry unproven — new pieces need to click under scheme demands.
- High expectations & cap weight – this line has to make an impact or investment looks bad
Comparison – Bears vs. League’s Best
Let’s see where Chicago stacks up in 2025:
Eagles (2025: #1 OL)
Top-ranked unit consistently, with continuity and elite stars like Lane Johnson & Jordan Mailata.
Culture machine led by Jeff Stoutland — with pop-quiz cold calls and accountability methods.
Ideal template: alignment of talent, coaching, and continuity.
Lions (2025: #5 OL)
PFF regular-season grade 85.6.
Built with man‑block beasts and elite tackle Penei Sewell.
Losing OC Ben Johnson — could affect gap-blocking identity.
Cowboys (2025: #17 OL)
Average unit: PFF grade ~78 — solid, not championship-level.
Former star Zack Martin retiring — but they’re set for more average line days ahead.
Scouting the Risks, Roundtable Style
- LT Braxton Jones (70) — Will handle edge rushers? Fibula injury linger? If he softens, DBs will feast.
- RT Darnell Wright (75) — Young, growing — could improve into a reliable swing tackle, but still unproven vs elite speed rushers.
- New chemistry pressure — Thuney/Dalman/Jackson are battle-tested, but installing run fits, blitz picks, interior combos takes timing.
- Scheme fatigue? — Ben Johnson may ask guys to do too much too soon. If Jones misses, will backups struggle?
If Chicago Pops Over 85...
Let’s run scenarios that push them into contender territory:
- Jones returns healthy and dominates edge — uplift to 78–80 from 70.
- Wright makes leap — 82+ PFF-type production.
- Interior keeps rolling — makes the 79.3 baseline a stable floor.
- Scheme execution is sharp — play-snap discipline, audibles, not giving away easy negatives.
...that could get them to an 85+ composite grade by midseason — right into Super Bowl Contender territory.
Final Verdict
Let’s not sugarcoat it: 85 is just step one — you still need elite tackle play to hoist the Lombardi. Chicago's rebuilt interior gives them a fighting chance, but if Braxton Jones or Darnell Wright stumble, this line stays stuck in playoff hopeful limbo. If both tackles falter and the interior regresses or battles injury? They're one bad break away from being exposed in December.
But here's the upside — if this unit clicks, and if those tackles level up, the Bears can clear the 85 mark and punch into legit contender status by midseason. Chicago’s front office didn’t spend like they’re aiming for mediocrity. They’re betting on this line to control games, protect their young QB, and flip the damn narrative. The foundation’s there. Execution is everything.
This isn’t flip-flop hype. It’s the truth: Chicago finally built a line that can go toe-to-toe with the best. Now they just have to prove it on Sundays.
