The Bears walked out of Sunday with a bruising 31-7 loss to a hated rival and a 2-1 record that suddenly feels a lot more fragile than it did a week ago. Losing the game the way they did only sharpened the sting, especially after Chicago had finally put together a nice run against Green Bay and now has to live with the reminder of how much Caleb Williams matters.
Still, one ugly afternoon doesn’t wipe out everything the Bears have already banked. There are solid reasons to keep the panic button tucked away for now.
The biggest one is Williams himself. Chicago has already shown what this offense can look like when he’s on the field, and the ceiling is a lot higher with him leading the way.
Case Keenum and Tyson Bagent simply weren’t able to make the plays on Sunday that Williams can, and it’s hard to imagine the game turning into anything close to that kind of blowout if the starting quarterback is out there. The Bears also get another crack at the Packers later in the season with Williams in the lineup, which has to matter after what happened Sunday and after the suggestion that he may have Green Bay’s number.
There’s also the bigger picture in the NFC North. Minnesota is still perfect, but Chicago’s 2-1 record without its starter is nothing to shrug at, especially with the Vikings looking like the kind of early-season story that can fade fast.
The offense hasn’t shown enough to feel fully bought in, and the source material makes clear that there is “zero reason to trust in Kyler Murray moving forward” while the backup situation is not much better. That leaves room for Chicago to regain control of the division.
Sunday’s defensive collapse also deserves some context. Dennis Allen’s unit got pushed around by Green Bay, with turnovers and breakdowns turning the game into a mess.
But that performance is being weighed against a roster that doesn’t have a pile of elite defenders and was forced to shoulder too much because the offense couldn’t help. Once Williams is back and the Bears can play with some balance, the defense should settle closer to where it belongs.
And maybe the simplest reason to stay calm is this: Chicago already survived far more than expected. A victory over the Philadelphia Eagles behind an incredible outing from Case Keenum, followed by a win over the New York Jets powered by the rushing attack, got the Bears to a winning record without their quarterback.
That’s a bigger success than most would have predicted. For all the damage of Sunday’s loss, it still came in the middle of a three-week stretch that went better than anyone reasonably could have asked for.
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Now the outlook gets even murkier because the Bears are already dealing with a separate problem on the edge after Dayo Odeyingbo left the Packers game injured. With one starter sidelined and another status still uncertain, Chicagos pass rush is staring at a stretch where depth, not just talent, may be the biggest concern. [Read more 🡒]
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Bears Suddenly Have A QB Decision Fans Did Not Want
The Bears are staring at an uncomfortable quarterback call heading into Sunday, and Ben Johnson left the door wide open. The coach said one of the teams three quarterbacks will start, but he stopped short of naming which one, creating a situation Chicago had hoped to avoid as it tries to steady the offense.
Caleb Williams is still working back from a hamstring injury and could be nearing a return to practice, but there has been no clear word yet on whether he will be ready to take the field. Tyson Bagent was benched after two interceptions in Week 5, which puts Case Keenum in the conversation if Williams needs more time, and leaves the Bears waiting on clarity at the most important spot on the roster. [Read more 🡒]