Five games into the 2021 season, a lot of people are surprised by where the Chicago Bears sit. Not in a bad way either. After a tough start to the year including blowout losses to the Los Angeles Rams and Cleveland Browns, the team has managed to settle themselves a bit. They’ve won their last two games in convincing fashion, topping the Lions 24-14 and Raiders 20-9. Suddenly they have serious momentum going into a titanic rivalry showdown with the Green Bay Packers.
While they haven’t exactly looked stylish along the way, the Bears’ success has caught the attention of people around the NFL. Former scout and current analyst Bucky Brooks is among them. He provided a list of teams he considers sneaky contenders this season. The Bears sat right at the top. The biggest reason for this is how they’ve managed to play full team football despite the presence of a rookie QB.
“Bears rookie Justin Fields is grabbing headlines in the Windy City as the franchise quarterback of the present and future, but the entire team should command attention on its own as a sneaky-good squad that could make a run to the playoffs.
I know that take might surprise some people based on my previous critiques of head coach Matt Nagy, but the Bears have an intriguing mix of ingredients with the potential to create problems for opponents.”
The adjustments have been impressive.
It starts with the defense. They rank 7th in the NFL in points allowed, just 20 per game. They also lead the league with 18 sacks. Their front seven led by Khalil Mack and Robert Quinn have made life difficult for opposing quarterbacks. Then comes the running games. After questionable commitment to it the past two years, head coach Matt Nagy has flipped. Chicago is pounding the rock consistently and with success. Brooks believes this is a great sign for both him and the organization.
“It’s a great sign that Nagy seems to be embracing the team’s blue-collar style and is managing the game to accentuate its strengths. While it might not be how Nagy, a former offensive coordinator, envisioned the Bears playing in his fourth year on the job, this team has found an identity that makes it good enough to compete for a playoff spot in the NFC.”
Attrition is a concern for the Bears. They’re already down David Montgomery to a knee injury. Now primary backup Damien Williams is likely out Sunday with COVID. That puts the job in the hands of rookie 6th round pick Khalil Herbert. That might sound like trouble, but considering the kid just had 75 yards on 18 carries last week? The team might be okay even if they have to feature him.
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Chicago Bears will need Justin Fields to step up
Thus far he has looked like the rookie he is. Flashes of immense promise coupled with learning experiences. One thing he needs to improve on according to Brooks is how to handle the blitz. It’s given him problems so far this season, ranking last in completion percentage (42.9%), sack rate (20%), and passer rating (26.6). The good news is he’s shown progress in that department.
Fields made some nice throws against Las Vegas when they brought extra rushers. Especially in the 4th quarter. This offers hope that he is learning how to process and read defenses both before and after the snap. His efficiency has improved significantly since his first start against Cleveland. The only thing left is improving his production. Something that hasn’t had a chance to happen due to the heavy run game commitment.
That will likely change over the next month.
The Chicago Bears play a series of capable opponents including Green Bay, Tampa Bay, San Francisco, and Pittsburgh. The odds are strong that they won’t be able to run at will against those teams. So Fields will need to help out the defense by making some plays. As long as they continue to play together? This team has a chance to make noise.