The Chicago Bears keep finding ways to win, and that latest one came with plenty of mess attached.
Against Tampa, Chicago survived a game loaded with turnovers and still walked away with the victory. Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers kept getting extra chances as the Bears put the ball on the ground and handed away possession far too often. Even with all of that chaos, Tampa never fully cashed in, and that’s where defensive coordinator Dennis Allen comes into focus.
Allen’s group has not looked like a defense built around a long list of elite names, and nobody is going to confuse this roster with one of the league’s most loaded units. But what Allen has shown is a knack for manufacturing pressure in creative ways and shuffling the secondary enough to mask the obvious weak spots. That kind of work matters, especially when the scoreboard says the Bears gave up 24 points but the game itself felt far more stressful than that number suggests.
The real story is how Chicago kept the Buccaneers from turning all those takeaways into control of the game. Allen’s defense kept putting out fires, slowing Tampa just enough to keep the Bears from getting buried by their own mistakes. That ability to steady the game has been a major part of Chicago’s start.
It also fits Allen’s track record. He has long been regarded as one of the league’s better defensive minds, and this season is another reminder that he can make things work as long as there’s a baseline of talent to build around. The Bears have been able to get timely stops, and that has given Ben Johnson’s offense room to settle in and take command.
That has mattered even more with the issues and injuries Chicago has dealt with in the secondary. Still, the Bears keep finding clutch stops, and that has helped the running game and Caleb Williams control the clock. It’s been one of the quieter reasons behind Chicago’s strong start, but it’s also one of the biggest reasons the Bears can be viewed as the NFC North’s most complete team and a group that looks ready to make a jump toward serious Super Bowl contention.
Allen should keep getting more credit as the season goes on. There’s also more to watch, especially the creative wrinkles he keeps bringing to a pass rush that has been surprisingly solid.
Now the Bears get a week to recover before facing New Orleans, with attention already shifting to Thanksgiving Day and Johnson’s former team. That offense will be the next test for Allen, who will need to slow it down if Chicago wants to keep the momentum rolling and continue what has been a quietly incredible 2026 season.
In Other News...
Rome Odunze Just Added A Dangerous New Wrinkle To Chicago's Offense
Rome Odunze had already been doing plenty of the heavy lifting in Chicagos passing game before he finally found the end zone on Sunday night. The rookie had built up a solid body of work in catches and receiving yards without a touchdown to show for it, which made his role look productive but still a little unfinished as the Bears tried to round out their offense.
Now there is at least another layer for defenses to worry about. Odunzes first score of the season came at a time when Chicago has been looking for more ways to stress opponents beyond its usual targets, and it gives the Bears a receiver who can threaten in more than one phase of the passing game. For an offense that has been searching for reliable answers, that kind of development can change the way teams have to line up against them. [Read more 🡒]
Bears Legend Sees A Path For Caleb Williams To Make History
Patrick Mannelly still sits atop a pair of Bears longevity marks, with 245 games and 16 seasons, but he is not treating those records like something to guard. The former long snapper made it clear he would welcome Caleb Williams as the player who eventually pushes past them, because in his view that kind of career arc would come with the kind of team success Chicago has spent years chasing.
Mannelly also had plenty to say about the new look around Williams, especially the addition of defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons. He praised Simmons for the versatility and impact he brings to the roster, the sort of front-line presence that can change how an opponent has to game plan and, in turn, help create the kind of environment where a quarterback can stay in one place long enough to make history. [Read more 🡒]
Bears Win Put One Roster Trend In Focus Fast
Chicagos Week 9 win came with the offense still searching for rhythm, but it also sharpened the focus on a few roster trends that have been building beneath the surface. Theo Benedet stayed at left tackle for a second straight game and handled every snap there, a notable sign of stability on a line that has needed it, while Kalif Raymond continued to be a steady part of the passing game as the Bears worked through their usual mix of wrinkles and limitations.
On the other side of the ball, injuries in the cornerback room created an opening for Clark Phillips III, and he made the most of the extra work with a strong showing in coverage. Roschon Johnsons role, meanwhile, remains worth watching after he was absent from the offensive snap count entirely, leaving the Bears with some decisions to sort through even in a win that otherwise offered a few encouraging signs. [Read more 🡒]