The Chicago Bears have been leaning on their depth all season, and in Week 15, that depth delivered in a big way. In a dominant 31-3 win over the Cleveland Browns at Soldier Field, linebacker D’Marco Jackson turned in a breakout performance that showcased exactly why having quality backups isn’t just a luxury-it’s a necessity.
Jackson, who’s stepped into a larger role over the past month, was everywhere on Sunday. He racked up seven total tackles, notched a sack, and came away with a momentum-shifting interception that helped the Bears slam the door shut on the Browns. For his efforts, he earned a game ball and got the spotlight in the postgame locker room.
“I’m proud of how we came out here and executed,” Jackson said. “But I ain’t going to lie to you, bro.
I still got a bad taste in my mouth from last week, bruh. We got to get our get back vs. these boys coming up next week.”
That “bad taste” Jackson’s referring to? The Bears’ 28-21 loss to the Packers in Week 14-a game that still stings, especially with the NFC North race tightening.
But with Green Bay falling to Denver on Sunday, Chicago now sits atop the division again. And with another shot at the Packers looming in Week 16, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
Before turning the page to that rematch, though, Jackson made sure the Bears stayed focused on the task at hand. His third-quarter interception was the turning point. Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders tried to squeeze a slant to tight end Harold Fannin Jr., but Jackson read it perfectly, jumped the route, and gave the Bears’ offense a short field to work with.
One play later, Caleb Williams hit DJ Moore for a touchdown, stretching the lead to 21-3 and effectively putting the game out of reach.
Head coach Ben Johnson didn’t miss the significance of that moment.
“I got two game balls that I’m going to give out here today,” Johnson said in the locker room. “First one is this, going into the third quarter, took us just a second to get going.
But I’m telling you, once this play happened, it really ignited the rest of the way, ok. D Jack, that interception was huge.”
Jackson’s journey to this point has been anything but straightforward. The Bears picked him up off waivers in late August, reuniting him with defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, who coached Jackson during their time together in New Orleans. Jackson didn’t put up big numbers with the Saints-just 26 total tackles over two seasons-but Allen clearly saw something others didn’t.
Now, that belief is paying off. Jackson has become a key piece in a Bears defense that’s finding its rhythm at just the right time. His instincts, physicality, and ability to make plays in space are giving Chicago another weapon on a unit that’s starting to look playoff-ready.
As the Bears gear up for a critical Week 16 showdown with the Packers, they’ll need more of the same from Jackson and the rest of their depth pieces. Because in December, when the games get tighter and the margins get thinner, it’s often the unsung guys who end up making the difference.
D’Marco Jackson just proved he’s ready for that moment.