Dennis Allen’s defense is turning heads in Chicago, and not many Bears fans saw it coming.
Over the last three games, the unit has put together a stretch that looks nothing like the group plenty of people expected after the offseason. It began in ugly weather against the Minnesota Vikings, when Chicago held Minnesota to nine points and still came away with a loss. The performance held up the following week in a win over the Philadelphia Eagles, then carried over again in Week 4 against the New York Jets.
This run has come with no All-Pro talent carrying the load. It has also come with a defense that has not been flawless, since a few long drives have still slipped through.
But those drives have been rare. For most of the last three weeks, the Bears have gotten off the field quickly, and that’s been a major reason the numbers have looked so strong.
The biggest surprise has been the defensive line. That was the part of the roster many fans were least confident in after general manager Ryan Poles passed on adding to the pass rush in a meaningful way this offseason.
The decision to trade Gervon Dexter Sr. raised eyebrows, especially with faith being placed in rookie Jordan van den Berg. Veterans like Neville Gallimore, Kentavius Street, and Marcus Davenport were expected to fill the gaps, and skepticism around that plan was easy to understand.
The concerns only grew with the injuries and uneven play in the secondary. Kyler Gordon has been out, Tyrique Stevenson has struggled, and Coby Bryant is gone for the year. Early on, it looked like a defense headed for the bottom of the barrel, especially after Chicago gave up 37 points to the Carolina Panthers in Week 1.
Since then, though, the Bears have allowed just 28 points total over the last three games.
And the pressure has been real. Chicago has consistently reached the quarterback, piling up sacks, pressures, and quarterback hits.
Against the Jets, the Bears recorded seven quarterback hits and three sacks, with those seven hits coming from six different players. Allen has leaned into blitzes from linebackers and cornerbacks, and the design has paid off.
He may not have elite pass-rushing talent to work with, but his schemes and pressure packages have been effective.
Critics can point to the weather against the Vikings, the Eagles looking broken, or the Jets being led by Geno Smith. But the bottom line is simple: this is still the NFL, and Dennis Allen’s defense has spent the last three games playing like a unit that belongs.
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