The Chicago Bears wasted no time getting a return on their massive swing for Jeffery Simmons.
In a primetime win over the defending Super Bowl champions, Simmons looked every bit like the difference-maker Chicago paid for. He finished with a sack, six tackles and a pass deflection, but the numbers that really tell the story came from the way the defense functioned with him on the field.
Per ESPN’s Courtney Cronin, via Next Gen Stats, the Seattle Seahawks averaged just 3.0 yards per play with Simmons out there. Chicago also collected all three of its sacks and its interception during those snaps.
When Simmons was off the field, the Seahawks jumped to 13.3 yards per play. Sam Darnold completed all five of his passes in those moments and threw a touchdown.
For the game, Darnold finished at 50% completions.
That kind of impact is exactly why the Bears made such a bold move, even if the long-term verdict is still very much up in the air. Giving up multiple first-round picks for anyone is a steep price. Just ask how the Indianapolis Colts are doing after acquiring cornerback Sauce Gardner.
Still, for one night, Chicago looked like it had pulled off a masterstroke.
The Bears’ defense was dominant from start to finish, and if that performance turns out to be real rather than a one-game spike, it only makes life harder for the Detroit Lions in the NFC North.
That’s the part Brad Holmes has to be watching closely.
Chicago isn’t the only team in the division making noise. The Bears are also still being linked to a possible reunion with Los Angeles Chargers pass rusher Khalil Mack.
The Minnesota Vikings are among the favorites to land Colts running back Jonathan Taylor and could also explore a quarterback upgrade. The Green Bay Packers keep showing up in rumor after rumor as they try to fix everything except the quarterback spot.
And the Lions? They’ve been quieter.
Detroit reportedly took a swing at cornerback Joey Porter Jr. before he was traded to the Dallas Cowboys. There has also been speculation around Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Riq Woolen, but nothing concrete has surfaced yet.
The silence has been notable, especially after a rash of injuries that could have altered whatever Holmes had in mind after Sunday. Cornerback is still a need, and linebacker has become one too, though the Lions have already made a small addition there by bringing in K.J. Britt from the New England Patriots’ practice squad.
There is some reason for patience. Detroit’s defense has improved lately, and safety Kerby Joseph is on track to return soon. That may make Holmes less inclined to force a move.
But the Bears’ aggressive play should still be a wake-up call.
The NFC is wide open enough that all four teams in the NFC North could end up in the playoffs. The Lions are 2-0 in the division so far, but the next week could swing everything.
It could mean 6-0 or 2-4. It could mean a deep postseason run or no postseason at all.
Holmes can’t control what the rest of the division does. He can only answer it.
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The press conference, though, took an awkward turn when the focus briefly drifted from Campbells health to football questions, a shift that did not sit well in the moment. One Lions reporter later apologized publicly for asking about the game so soon, saying it should have waited until Wednesday, a reminder that some situations call for patience before the usual postgame routine resumes. [Read more 🡒]
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Lions Found A Second Half Formula Vikings Couldnt Handle
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Sam LaPorta, Brock Wright and Tyler Conklin were all part of that adjustment, with the group aligned in ways that helped the Lions create more space and better angles on the ground. It was a reminder that Detroit does not need to win the same way every week, and the way it finished against the Vikings offered a useful glimpse of how the offense can adapt when the first plan needs a reset. [Read more 🡒]