The Chicago Bears have gone from a fast start to a full-blown problem in just a few days. Caleb Williams is out, Tyson Bagent may not be ready to step in, and a 1-2 start is suddenly staring them in the face.
That alone would be enough to put Chicago in a tough spot. But the matchup waiting in Week 3 makes things even more dangerous: Dennis Allen’s defense is headed toward Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles, and Hurts has been at his best against the exact kind of defense Allen likes to play.
Chicago has leaned heavily on man coverage through the first two weeks, using it at a 44.8% clip. Only the Cleveland Browns have played more man than the Bears so far. Most of those snaps have come with one deep safety, a setup that can help create blitz pressure and robber looks - but it also leaves room for explosive plays if the offense beats the coverage.
The Bears do have quality corners, but Jaylon Johnson and Tyrique Stevenson haven’t been at their best yet this season. If Allen keeps rolling out the same approach, Hurts and DeVonta Smith could be in line for a big day.
And Hurts has already shown exactly why that’s a problem. Through two games, he ranks second in the league in EPA per play, second in success rate, and second in completion percentage against man coverage. His EPA per play of 0.7 against man is more than double the overall EPA per play of each of the last four MVP quarterbacks.
That’s the kind of efficiency that can shred a defense built on single-high looks and aggressive man principles. Hurts does have flaws - he can be inconsistent as a processor and can be bothered by a strong pass rush - but his accuracy makes him dangerous against defenses that want to challenge him man to man.
So if Allen wants any chance of slowing this down, he has to change the picture. Mixing coverages and disguising them before the snap would at least give Hurts something different to think about. If the Bears stay too married to what they’ve been doing, Week 3 could turn ugly fast.
In Other News...
Bears Quarterback Crisis Could Force A Costly Outside Fix
Injury trouble at quarterback has left the Bears in a precarious spot, with Caleb Williams and Tyson Bagent both sidelined and Case Keenum standing as the only available option. For a team trying to keep its offensive plans intact, that kind of depth chart can turn a temporary setback into a much bigger roster question in a hurry.
One name now surfacing in the conversation is Tanner McKee, the Eagles backup who has drawn trade speculation after flashing potential in limited action. Nothing official has materialized, and there is no sign yet of a deal, but the Bears need is obvious enough that any outside fix would likely come at a real cost if they decide to pursue one. [Read more 🡒]
Kyler Gordon Situation Is Starting To Look Like A Bears Problem
Kyler Gordons calf injury has gone from a routine absence to a lingering issue the Bears can no longer easily brush past. The highest-paid slot cornerback on the roster has played only five games since signing his contract, and his rehab has kept him away from the teams facilities while Chicago waits for a clearer sign of progress.
Ben Johnson and Ryan Poles have both offered only limited information about where things stand, and Johnson did not give much away when asked about Gordon at a recent press conference. For a defense that expected Gordon to be a central piece, the uncertainty now matters almost as much as the injury itself, especially with no clear answer yet on when he might practice again or whether his return will come soon at all. [Read more 🡒]
Jaylon Johnson Is Becoming A Serious Problem For Chicagos Defense
Jaylon Johnson arrived in 2024 with the kind of long-term contract that usually signals a defense is built around you. After strong seasons before the deal, the Bears expected him to keep functioning as one of the stabilizing pieces in the secondary, the corner who could handle top assignments and help set the tone for the rest of the group.
Instead, injuries and uneven play have put that role in doubt. Johnson managed only seven games last year, and in the first two games of this season he has already been beaten for multiple completions without a pass breakup or interception to show for it, leaving him near the bottom of NFL cornerbacks in PFF ratings and turning one of Chicagos most important defensive bets into an early concern. [Read more 🡒]