Let’s be real: the Bears lost Week 1, and it sucked. They gave up a lead, the offense stalled late, and the defense got cooked when it mattered most. But just because the team flopped doesn’t mean everyone wore a clown suit out there. A few guys balled out — legit difference-makers — and it’s time we gave them their flowers (before the media buries them under Caleb headlines).
Here are five Chicago Bears who showed out in Week 1 against the Vikings, loss be damned.
1. Darnell Wright
Let’s start with the obvious: Darnell Wright was a damn beast. He posted an 86.0 pass-blocking grade and gave up zero pressures on over 40 pass-blocking snaps. That’s not just good; that’s top-tier tackle play.
Forget the box score. Wright passed the eye test and the analytics test. If Caleb Williams wasn’t running for his life on every other snap, you can thank Wright for that pocket. While the rest of the line was folding like lawn chairs, Wright played like a grown man.
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And before you bring up the penalty — yeah, he had one. Maybe two. But one was questionable, and it sure as hell doesn’t erase the fact that Wright was dominant all day.
2. Noah Sewell
With T.J. Edwards sidelined, Noah Sewell got thrown into the fire — and damn if he didn’t torch expectations.
Sewell racked up 9 total tackles (7 solo) and looked like a man possessed. That’s more than he had in all of 2024. He flew sideline to sideline, filled run lanes with violence, and played like someone fighting for a permanent role.
Yeah, his coverage wasn’t perfect — but that’s not what they needed from him this week. He brought physicality and presence in the box that gave the Vikings problems early.
Team Tackle Leaders
| Player | Total Tackles | Solo Tackles |
|---|---|---|
| Noah Sewell | 9 | 7 |
| Tremaine Edmunds | 7 | 3 |
| Jaquan Brisker | 6 | 4 |
| Kyler Gordon | 5 | 3 |
| Tyrique Stevenson | 5 | 2 |
3. Nahshon Wright
Down Jaylon Johnson? No problem. Nahshon Wright stepped in and delivered the defensive play of the game — a 74-yard pick-six that gave the Bears a 17-6 lead in the third quarter.
He read J.J. McCarthy like a children’s book and jumped the route like he had the script. It was a perfect blend of anticipation and acceleration. That play should’ve been the momentum swing that sealed it — too bad the rest of the team forgot how to finish.
Even with an early PI flag that gave up 40+ yards, Wright’s splash play mattered more. Big moments define careers, and Wright delivered one.
4. Dayo Odeyingbo
This dude caught flak all preseason. But when the real bullets flew, Dayo Odeyingbo looked like a legit edge threat.
He recorded 1 sack, 2 QB hits, and was consistently collapsing the pocket against Minnesota’s backup tackle. He didn’t just win matchups — he disrupted rhythm, made J.J. McCarthy uncomfortable, and showed why Chicago brought him in.
No, he didn’t rack up eye-popping stats, but anyone watching the trenches saw the impact. For a unit that’s been allergic to sacks for years, Odeyingbo was a welcome jolt.
Dayo Odeyingbo Stat Breakdown
| Quarter | QB Pressures | Sacks | QB Hits |
| 1st | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2nd | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 3rd | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 4th | 0 | 0 | 0 |
5. Tremaine Edmunds
Veteran linebackers don’t always show up on highlight reels. But if you want to understand how the Bears defense didn’t completely collapse, look at Tremaine Edmunds.
He tallied 7 tackles (3 solo), added a key pass deflection, and played with poise when the younger defenders started unraveling. With the defense only on the field for 49 snaps, Edmunds’ tackle rate was solid.
He didn’t freelance. He didn’t panic. He played clean, smart, and led by example. That’s the guy you pay $70 million for.
Final Verdict
The Bears coughed up a winnable game, but these five guys earned a W individually. Whether it was Wright stonewalling edge rushers, Sewell breaking out, or Nahshon flipping the game — there were real flashes of what this team could be if the coaching staff gets out of its own damn way.
They might not be in the win column yet. But you better believe these five made their case for more playing time, more attention, and more damn respect.
