As Offense Ascends, Bears Defense Goes on Sneaky Decline under Matt Eberflus
The Defense’s Shifting Fortunes
For weeks, it seemed as though the Chicago Bears’ offense was holding them back from adding wins to their tally. However, as Caleb Williams and Thomas Brown find their stride in the Bears’ offensive system, it’s the defense that’s dropping the ball when it matters most.
A Third-Down Conundrum
The specific play Eberflus referenced was a third-and-10 play with 6:23 to go in overtime. It resulted in a 13-yard completion from Sam Darnold to Jordan Addison and came two plays after a Montez Sweat sack on the first play of OT, who only had 3.5 sacks and seven quarterback hits total heading into Sunday.
The failed third-down stop was one of many manageable situations where down and distance favored Chicago’s defense, but a lack of pressure on Darnold allowed the Vikings to nickel and dime them to death as they drove down the field.
A Lack of Pressure and Run Defense Contribute to Decline
Aside from a weakening pass rush and Eberflus seemingly coaching scared by leaving his defense in soft zone coverages against the Vikings in overtime, Chicago’s run defense has also contributed to their five-game losing streak.
From Week 8 to Week 12, Bears opponents averaged 30.6 carries for 151 yards — a hair under five yards a carry (4.93) — and scored 1.2 TD runs a game, the lowlight being their matchup at the Arizona Cardinals in Week 9, where the Birds gassed Chicago for 213 yards and 3 TD runs on 34 carries (6.3 YPC).
A Decline in Pass Rush and Run Defense
The sharp decline in the Bears’ defense stands in stark contrast from where they stood at the end of the 2023 NFL season — the Bears surrendered the NFL’s fewest rush yards (1,368) and second-fewest TD runs (8), while holding opponents to 3.8 yards-per-carry, the fifth-best mark in the NFL.
Even with all the problems faced by the defense, it would be remiss to place unanimous blame on them for Sunday’s loss and Chicago’s woes of late. A blocked Cairo Santos field goal, a muffed punt that ricocheted off the shin of DeAndre Carter, and a poorly executed offensive drive to start overtime played their parts against the Vikings, but if not for Santos, Carter, and Caleb Williams fueling 11 furious points in the final 22 seconds of regulation, the Bears would never have made it to OT in the first place.
A Call to Action
“We need to tighten up on the details and do things better,” Eberflus said on Monday. “There’s not a magic pill there. There never is. It’s just about tightening things up and doing it better as a group — coaches, players, all of us together. If we do that, we’ll be okay. We’ve played well at times this year, for sure.
The Bears are the top-ranked red zone defense in the NFL so far this year, and also rank seventh in opponents’ third-down conversion percentage, and ninth in opponents’ average team passer rating, but if they can’t figure out how to get pressure on the quarterback and rediscover how to stop the run, there’s no chance Chicago tightens up enough before taking a sixth-straight loss to the Lions on Thanksgiving.
Conclusion
The Bears’ defense has gone from being one of the best in the league to a struggling unit, and it’s unclear if they can turn things around. The offense has shown flashes, but the defense’s struggles have been a major issue. The team needs to find a way to get their defense back on track if they want to avoid a sixth straight loss.
FAQs
* What is the current state of the Bears’ defense?
The Bears’ defense has been struggling, allowing opponents to score 1.2 TD runs a game and averaging 30.6 carries for 151 yards over their last five games.
* What is the main issue with the Bears’ pass rush?
The Bears lack of a pass rush has been a major issue, with them tied for 13th in the NFL in team sacks (28) and having a full sack drop-off from their 4-2 start.
* What is the current state of the Bears’ run defense?
The Bears’ run defense has also been struggling, allowing opponents to average 4.93 yards per carry and 1.2 TD runs a game over their last five games.
