Colston Loveland’s quiet opener shouldn’t last long.
After the Chicago Bears rolled past the Carolina Panthers with a 59-point outburst, Loveland finished without a catch, even though Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III also failed to reach the end zone in that game. Still, Loveland had been pegged by many as a centerpiece of the Bears’ offense this season, so the box score drew some attention.
Week 2 brings a very different challenge. Chicago faces the Minnesota Vikings, and Brian Flores’ defense is coming off a game in which it blitzed Jordan Love on nearly 80 percent of dropbacks. The next-closest team in Week 1 was around 50 percent.
Flores has built a reputation for forcing quarterbacks into chaos, even if that aggressiveness can leave openings behind it. For the Bears, that likely means Ben Johnson will have to lean into a different plan than the one he used against Carolina.
That shift should naturally put Loveland in line for more action.
Against the Panthers, Johnson used 12 personnel 30 percent of the time, according to Sharp Football Analysis. That package includes two tight ends, one running back and two wide receivers.
He also used 13 personnel on 16 percent of snaps, with one running back, three tight ends and one wide receiver. Altogether, Chicago used multiple tight ends on just under half of its offensive snaps in Week 1.
That number should climb against Minnesota. If Flores sends extra rushers at Caleb Williams the way he did against Jordan Love, the Bears will need more help in protection.
Loveland and Cole Kmet both fit that assignment, with Loveland the better blocker and Kmet serviceable. Sam Roush, meanwhile, still has some work to do.
The expectation here is that Chicago will use multiple tight ends on well over half its snaps Sunday, with 13 personnel pushing past 20 percent and 12 personnel nearing 40 percent. That would leave the Bears with close to 60 percent of their offensive plays featuring multiple tight ends.
That setup should create a steady stream of short, useful touches for Loveland. He can latch onto a block for a beat, then slip into a route - a flat, a quick dig, something simple enough to turn into extra yards after the catch. That’s where he can hurt a defense without needing anything flashy.
And if Johnson starts seeing that work, it could open the door to something bigger later, including a play-action shot where Loveland turns a routine release into a chunk gain.
The quick-game stuff figures to be there in bunches against a blitz-heavy front. Big plays may be tougher to come by, but Loveland should still be busy. He should get at least six targets, and 8-10 feels more likely.
In other words, the Bears should have Loveland back in the middle of things fast.
In Other News...
Kyler Gordons Recovery Just Became A Real Bears Problem
Kyler Gordons calf injury has already pushed him onto injured reserve, but the Bears concern has expanded beyond the rehab timeline itself. The cornerback is working away from the teams facilities with trainer Montel Fleming, a name that entered the picture through Jaylon Johnson, and Gordon has been posting social media videos of his workouts along the way. For a Chicago defense that has leaned on Gordons versatility, the situation is now as much about process and communication as it is about recovery.
Ben Johnsons staff and Ryan Poles are keeping close tabs on it, because the issue isnt simply whether Gordon is active during rehab. There are questions swirling around Flemings background and credentials, and some in the organization have been frustrated by the public nature of Gordons recovery posts. With Gordon still sidelined and the Bears trying to map out what comes next, this has become a delicate situation for a team that would prefer the focus stay on getting him back on the field. [Read more 🡒]
Bears Offense Just Created A Problem Defenses May Not Solve
The Bears season opener offered an early reminder that this offense may have more answers than opponents can comfortably cover. Kalif Raymond emerged as an unexpected focal point in the passing game, and his presence gave Chicago a different kind of threat than most defenses would have planned for coming in. For a unit still sorting out roles and rhythm this early in the year, that kind of surprise can be a useful weapon.
Minnesota is now the kind of opponent that has to decide whether to spend extra attention on Raymond or live with the risk of getting burned elsewhere. Either choice carries consequences, because Chicagos depth on offense suggests there are other receivers ready to benefit if defenses overcommit. If this opener was any indication, the Bears may have found a formula that keeps forcing opposing coordinators into uncomfortable decisions. [Read more 🡒]
Bears Playmakers Could Make Minnesota Pay For One Week 2 Gamble
The Bears head into Week 2 with a matchup that could hinge on whether Minnesota is willing to keep leaning into the same approach it used last week. The Vikings are expected to put plenty on Aaron Jones and Carson Wentz, but Chicagos interest lies in how that plan holds up if the game tilts into passing downs and the Bears can force the kind of coverage decisions that test a defense early in the season.
That is where Chicagos playmakers come into focus, especially Rome Odunze and Colston Loveland, two targets who can make a secondary pay if Minnesota gets aggressive with blitzes and leaves itself exposed underneath or down the field. The Bears do not need the Vikings to abandon their plan completely, only to be a little too committed to it at the wrong time, because one opening could be enough to turn a solid defensive idea into a long afternoon. [Read more 🡒]