LAKE FOREST, Ill. — The Chicago Bears’ 4-4 record does not scream alarm bells midway through the season, but the overall trends are a cause for concern for head coach Matt Eberflus and his coaching staff. If these patterns do not change shortly, questions surrounding the team’s season and future may become more pressing.
Recently, the Bears have endured two disheartening losses—one suffered in the final seconds to a Hail Mary pass against Washington, and a heavy 29-9 defeat at the hands of Arizona on Sunday. Eberflus has a clear view of the team’s primary issues.
“We’re focusing on the areas that need our attention, and it starts with enhancing our run game on offense, followed by defense; that’s where everything else derives from,” Eberflus stated on Monday. “Establishing that is crucial, as it leads to effective play-action passes and screens, putting us in a favorable position to succeed on third downs if we reach them.”
Quarterback Caleb Williams has had a tough time performing on the road, posting a passer rating of only 67.2, while at home that figure rises to an impressive 105.1. The Bears’ passing game is currently ranked 28th in the league, largely due to the absence of a reliable rushing attack to facilitate Williams’ aerial performance, contributing to slow starts. So far, they have managed only 10 points in the first quarter of games.
“We need to hit the ground running and put points on the board from the very first drive,” rookie wide receiver Rome Odunze remarked. “We’ve found ourselves in negative situations early on, but we have also glimpsed some positive plays across the initial drive. Our objective is to keep that momentum going into the end zone to ensure a strong start and control the game’s tempo.”
While the offense struggles with inconsistency, the Chicago defense held its own—until last Sunday. The Bears conceded a staggering 213 rushing yards to the Cardinals, marking the highest amount they have allowed since their encounter with Detroit on January 1, 2023.
The Bears played missing defensive lineman Montez Sweat due to a shin injury and lost fellow lineman Andrew Billings during the second half because of a pectoral injury. Eberflus did not provide any updates on Billings on Monday.
As for coaching changes, Eberflus has reassured that there will be no drastic shifts to the offensive play-calling responsibilities from offensive coordinator Shane Waldron. “Our focus lies within, ensuring we effectively utilize our talents and execute our strategies rather than making sweeping changes,” Eberflus explained.
Despite being 4-4, the Bears do not find the record entirely disappointing; however, playing in an NFC North division where all competing teams have at least six wins presents significant challenges ahead. They still have to face each of their six NFC North rivals.
Moving on to what’s working for the team, the pass defense has been one of their bright spots. Even in the absence of starting safety Jaquan Brisker—who missed three games due to a concussion—and cornerback Kyler Gordon for an additional two games because of a hamstring injury, the Bears stand eighth in pass defense, ranking third in defensive passer rating and red zone efficiency.
However, their passing game needs considerable improvement. In the last two games, Williams has recorded a lowly 65.4 passer rating with a completion rate of just 49.2% (32 of 65). After previously showcasing strong performances, including a 106.4 passer rating with nine touchdowns and only three interceptions in four prior games, he struggled against a Cardinals defense that had previously also been faltering.
On a positive note, Odunze recorded his second 100-yard game with 104 yards on five receptions in the last match, although Williams struggled to connect with his other wide receivers.
Conversely, tight end Cole Kmet, who appeared on track to have a breakout season, saw his role diminish significantly. Following a week without targets against Washington, Kmet was again not targeted during the loss to Arizona.
As for injuries, the Bears’ concerns have escalated after the eighth game. Right tackle Darnell Wright has sustained a knee injury, and Billings is grappling with a pectoral injury. Starting left tackle Braxton Jones also missed the recent game due to a knee issue, raising alarms about Williams’ protection moving forward. Furthermore, the team continues to await the returns of Brisker, Gordon, and Sweat.
Key metrics highlight the struggle, as Eberflus has only managed three road victories out of 21 attempts during his tenure with the Bears.
Looking ahead, the Bears are set to host the New England Patriots this coming Sunday at Soldier Field, where they have enjoyed an impressive eight-game winning streak.