Nov 16, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears wide receiver Brandon Marshall (15) celebrates his touchdown against Minnesota Vikings cornerback Josh Robinson (21) with Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler (6) in the second half of their game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. The Bears won 21-13. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports
Over the years, the Chicago Bears have struggled to put together a productive pairing of quarterback and wide receiver, which is equivalent to quantum physics. They can’t seem to get it right, but that doesn’t mean it’s never happened. Jim McMahon and Willie Gault made some magic at times in the 1980s. The same was true for Erik Kramer and Curtis Conway in the mid-1990s. However, most will agree that Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall were the best tandem of the modern era for the Bears.
Chicago traded for the Pro Bowl receiver in 2012, reuniting him with the quarterback he came into the league with in Denver. They were only together for three seasons in Chicago, but it was prolific. It amounted to 279 receptions for 3,524 yards and 31 touchdowns. Their chemistry was undeniable. Sadly, Marshall’s erratic personality and some issues with the coaching staff led to the receiver getting traded in 2015. However, a decade later, Adam Jahns of CHGO believes the Bears have finally found the next iteration of that pairing.
Odunze is tied for the league lead with four touchdowns this season. He’s also accounted for 27 of Williams’ 95 targets.
Justin Fields’ chemistry with DJ Moore during the 2023 season was promising. But expectations for Williams and Odunze should be set higher. Think Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall.
The Chicago Bears may have a more stable version of Cutler-to-Marshall.
Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze arrived together in 2024 as 1st round picks. Since then, they have connected 70 times for 961 yards and seven touchdowns. What stands out is that 227 of those yards and four of those touchdowns have come in just the past three games. It is becoming clear that the two are locked in. Odunze is on pace for over 1200 yards and 22 touchdowns. What is scary about this is that both players don’t suffer from the drawbacks their predecessors did. Williams isn’t as reckless with the ball as Cutler was. Odunze is far more emotionally stable than Marshall was. The talent is on equal footing. Unlike the latter two, this new pairing has Ben Johnson calling the shot on offense. His capability exceeds what Lovie Smith and Marc Trestman offered years ago.
Sep 21, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet (85) celebrates his touchdown reception against the Dallas Cowboys with Chicago Bears offensive lineman Theo Benedet (79) during the first half at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
Ben Johnson was happy with how the game on Sunday went for the Chicago Bears. It was a blowout win just a week after the humiliating loss in Detroit. Caleb Williams played his best game to date with four touchdowns and no turnovers. Johnson’s joyous locker room speech said it all. However, the head coach didn’t stay that way for long. Once the euphoria died away, he began reviewing the game in his head. It didn’t take long to realize there is still a lot of work to do before this team is where it needs to be.
One area still has him frustrated more than any other. He alluded to it when asked about the improvement of left tackle Braxton Jones against Dallas.
“Very, very encouraged with the direction that we’re going,” Johnson said when he was asked about Jones. “There’s still some work to be done. I lump the whole offensive line together. When I look at it our rushing statistics, I think we only averaged about three yards per rush. We left a lot of meat on the bone there.
“I give a lot of credit (to the Cowboys). That is a good front. In particular, those interior players are really good players that have played at a high level in this league for a long time. We knew that. We knew we were going to have our hands full. Yet, we didn’t run the ball as effectively as we’re capable of doing. I think it starts there.”
Johnson has never masked his desire to run the football. It was part of his identity in Detroit, and so much of his playbook is built around it. The Bears haven’t been able to get it going, and blocking up front is part of the reason why. If the issues persist, it feels like a shakeup could be coming, and one player stands to benefit from it.
Every rep #Bears Theo Benedet took at RT in win vs the Cowboys.
Benedet came out firing, making a point about his ability to move the Cowboys defenders. He displayed quick feet and a powerful, accessible anchor that could mitigate short arms. More reps are needed to determine. pic.twitter.com/Y0drqdmLlX
Ben Johnson has been watching Benedet’s progress for weeks.
Evidently, the coaching staff was intrigued when they shifted him into the left tackle competition midway through training camp. They loved his attitude, grit, and athletic profile. While he didn’t overtake Jones for the starting job, he’d done enough to earn the swing tackle position. Sunday was the first time he got to play meaningful snaps. Darnell Wright was out dealing with an elbow injury. Benedet stepped in at right tackle and played well. He earned a 71.3 run blocking grade for his efforts and didn’t allow a pressure.
These are not new things. Benedet was known up in Canada for his strength and nastiness. It was always a question of whether he could do it against NFL competition. This was the latest proof he could. If the running game continues to struggle in the next few weeks, don’t be shocked if Ben Johnson decides to give Benedet a look.
The Chicago Bears‘ 2025 draft class didn’t get going right away this season. However, they seem to have picked things up this past week. Luther Burden provided the spark with 101 yards and a touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys. Colston Loveland added a 31-yard reception. Shemar Turner finally got into the defensive rotation. Perhaps the one who was overlooked the most was Kyle Monangai. The 7th round pick has played a steady backup role at running back since the season began.
That said, he’s quietly been doing some good work with his limited opportunities. People will look at his stats (6 carries for 16 yards) and think he was a non-factor. That wasn’t true at all. Let’s go through some examples.
Kyle Monangai 6-yard run
What stands out immediately with Monangai is his lane discipline. He is not a dancer back there. The rookie surveys the blocking, picks a direction and goes. He gets north-south fast, which is not something D’Andre Swift is always known for. In a zone-blocking scheme, you need backs with good vision and patience to find the hole. Monangai has both.
8-yard run
Here’s another great example. As Monangai gets the handoff, his eyes are already seeing how the blocks develop. He could’ve just gone straight ahead and tried to force his way forward. Instead, he sees a gap opening to the right and quickly plants his left foot to change direction, all without losing acceleration.
-8-yard run
This is the primary culprit for why Kyle Monangai ended up with a questionable stat line. As the Bears were driving towards a score in the 3rd quarter, he got another handoff. This time, Dallas played their gaps well. The rookie probably should’ve just gone down once it was clear he had nowhere to go, but that isn’t how he’s built. Monangai broke four different tackles by defenders trying to make a play. It didn’t work. Even so, his relentless drive was evident throughout the sequence.
4-yard reception
People don’t talk about these plays because they don’t make good highlights. That doesn’t make them any less important. Monangai didn’t do much receiving at Rutgers, so people felt he probably couldn’t do it. Yet he’s proven multiple times already that isn’t the case. He makes a somewhat difficult catch up near his facemask and makes sure to get what he can from the play.
Play action block
Most people remember this play for the outstanding job Williams did of reacting to a Cowboys defender in his face as he was coming out of the play action fake. He gets the pass off to Rome Odunze, who goes for a 1st down. They don’t see Monangai, after selling the fake, had the presence of mind to re-adjust his feet and pick up a blitzing Donovan Wilson on the back side. While Wilson would’ve been too late to reach Williams before the throw was gone, it was still a heady play by the rookie.
Not a lot of flash, but it’s obvious why Bears coaches like this kid so much.
May 27, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs fans celebrate their teamÕs victory with W flags after a game against the Colorado Rockies at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images
The Chicago Cubs were set up nicely to clinch a home playoff series after they punched their ticket to the postseason last week, but they made it more difficult by getting swept against the Cincinnati Reds. Now, with six games remaining in the regular season there’s some wiggle room left for the San Diego Padres, who can catch the Cubs for the top seed in the Wild Card race as the most likely matchup for Chicago. So here’s the Cubs’ patch to hosting the Wild Card series against the Padres at Wrigley Field.
Remaining Cubs and Padres Schedules
The Cubs have six games left before the start of the playoffs next week. After losing four straight on the road to the Reds the Cubs will end the regular season with a pair of three-game series’ against the New York Mets and St. Louis Cardinals, respectively.
Sept. 23-25 vs. Mets Sept. 26-28 vs. Cardinals
Meanwhile, the Padres also have six straight games at home to finish the regular season. San Diego began a three-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers with a 5-4 win on Monday night. The Padres will also host the Arizona Diamondbacks this weekend to close out regular-season play.
Sept. 22-24 vs. Brewers Sept. 26-28 vs. Diamondbacks
The Mets enter their series against the Cubs needing to get back into the Wild Card mix after the Reds jumped New York in the standings following the weekend. As for the Cardinals they’ll be playing for pride against the Cubs this weekend at Wrigley Field.
The Brewers’ magic number to clinch the No. 1 seed is three, so they still have something to play for against the Padres. As for the Diamondbacks, they’re still on the fringe of the Wild Card race, trailing the Reds by one game, so Arizona could be going all out against the Padres this weekend as well depending how the next few games go for Cincinnati.
Cubs Magic Number?
To clinch a home series and the No. 4 seed in the Wild Card round in the playoffs the Cubs’ magic number remains at four. Essentially that means the Cubs need a combination of wins + Padres’ losses that equal four.
The following needs to happen for the Cubs to clinch the four seed and host the wild card series:
Any combination of four Cubs’ wins or Padres’ loses.
The Padres must go 5-1 if the Cubs go 2-4 or worse to pass.
The Cubs must go 2-4 or better if the Padres go 4-2 or worse.
If the Padres catch the Cubs and end up with the same record, then they’d have the tiebreaker over the Cubs because they would have a better record against teams within their division.
The Bears finally got in the win column against Dallas, improving to 1-2 on the season. Here’s my weekly stock up heading into Week 4.
Stock Up
Caleb Williams
Let’s start with the obvious. Williams had a career day and put out some really encouraging tape. He’s playing quarterback at a high level—now the question is whether he can sustain it.
Not sure if you noticed, but Caleb Williams looked clean during his postgame interview with Fox—literally. No grass stains, no sacks, and the first game of his career where he wasn’t taken down once. The entire line played lights out.
Ben Johnson
Johnson was masterful. He had Matt Eberflus completely off balance, and that 19-play drive he orchestrated is exactly why he was so coveted this offseason.
Odunze continues to shine, and his chemistry with Caleb Williams has quickly become one of the best things to watch on this team.
Luther Burden
That trick-play throw from Williams? In another world, a receiver drops it. Thankfully, the Bears have Luther Burden. He made that catch plus two other grabs. Ben Johnson mentioned Burden is earning more trust each week, and Sunday was another big step.
Two incredible interceptions. Edmunds has faced criticism in the past, but he showed exactly why Ryan Poles believes in him. He was everywhere on Sunday.
Gervon Dexter
Dexter doesn’t get the headlines, but he does the dirty work that makes everything else possible. Underrated and invaluable.
Sep 21, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears offensive tackle Braxton Jones (70) after the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
Sunday felt like an important game for many reasons. The Chicago Bears were 0-2, and almost no team has ever recovered from a 0-3 start to a season. They needed that win. On top of that, several players looked like they might be in danger of losing their starting jobs if they didn’t pick things up. One name at the front of that list was Braxton Jones. After a competitive training camp, the veteran had maintained control of the starting left tackle job. However, there were concerns about his health after returning from a season-ending ankle injury.
The first two games confirmed those fears, as Jones gave up a staggering 13 pressures on Caleb Williams. It was made worse because he seemed fine when the games started, but fell apart as they went on. According to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, the coaching staff planned to bench him against Dallas if those same problems persisted. Much to their relief, it never came to that. Jones started well and never fell off, playing a squeaky clean game with no pressures allowed.
He should be safe for the time being.
The Bears entered with a plan to monitor left tackle Braxton Jones closely and use Theo Benedet to relieve him for a few series.
Offensive line coach Dan Roushar didn’t spell out the plan when he spoke Thursday as much as he confirmed what a source said. As it turned out, Jones held up and Benedet was needed at right tackle when Darnell Wright missed some time with a right elbow injury that Ben Johnson said should not be serious. Jones played all 57 offensive snaps.
“It happened to be what it was,” he said. “I was feeling pretty good for most of the game.”
The coaches noticed that Jones’ play regressed as he got deeper into action in the first two weeks.
“Early it was functional and done well enough that we can have success,” Roushar said. “I thought at the end of both games, there was a diminish in his play. It’s something we’re thinking about and trying to keep him as fresh as we can to play like he starts the game and finish that way.”
Braxton Jones should be fine if he can regain his pre-injury form.
Some people don’t like to admit it, but the young tackle can be a good player when healthy. Yes, he has flaws. His anchor remains average at best. Still, his athleticism and intelligence allow him to be a competitive blocker who can do most of the things an offense requires. This was the first game where it felt like Braxton Jones was close to 100%. If that is the player they have for the rest of the season, the offense should be okay. Of course, playing against a terrible pass rush like Dallas probably helped. There will be much tougher tests in the coming weeks that should indicate whether Jones is truly back or not. Either way, this doesn’t solve the long-term problem. He is a free agent next year and the Bears don’t have the incentive to pay him. He has 14 games left to change that narrative.
Sep 5, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Chicago White Sox left fielder Andrew Benintendi (23) rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run against the Detroit Tigers in the sixth inning at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images
The injury is retroactive to September 21, when Benintendi appeared as a pinch hitter for Curtis Mead in the bottom of the seventh inning with the White Sox trailing the Padres 3-1.
Benintendi worked a five-pitch walk with the bases loaded, cutting the deficit to a one-run, before being replaced by backup catcher Korey Lee as a pinch runner. Lee remained in the game as the left fielder, as the Sox ultimately fell to the Padres 3-2.
With just six games remaining, the 10-day IL stint all but signals the end of Benintendi’s season. The 31-year-old posted a .240/.307/.417 slash line with 20 home runs and 63 RBIs over 116 games, his most productive campaign since signing a five-year, $73 million deal that made him the highest-paid player in White Sox history.
His .783 OPS and 105 OPS+ both marked personal bests during his three seasons on the South Side. However, while Benintendi did raise his walk rate to 8.5% and cut down on strikeouts, he still had one highest strikeout rates in baseball at 17.5%. He also had one of the slowest bat speeds and lowest average exit velocities in the MLB at just 88 mph.
It could be the last time we see Benintendi in a White Sox uniform, as the front office was reportedly shopping him around during both the offseason and trade deadline. However, the challenge will be finding a team to take on the final two years of his contract, where he owed $17.1 million next season and $15.1 million in 2027.
Benintendi has also not posted a WAR over 2.0 since 2022, with his 1.0 WAR this season marking his highest in a White Sox uniform. Defensively, he has also slipped from the Gold Glove defender he was in 2021. His range and arm strength have dipped in recent years, with -8 Outs Above Average this past season. He has also ranked among the top five in errors by American League left fielders in each of the past three seasons.
The Green Bay Packers did not have a good time in Cleveland on Sunday. Things seemed fine for the first 56 minutes of the game. They were up 10-0 and, despite a rough showing from the offense, looked like they were going to escape with the win. Then things unraveled. Jordan Love threw an awful interception, Cleveland blocked a kick, and then hit a 55-yard field goal to steal a 13-10 victory. It was a reminder that, as good as the Packers are, they are far from invulnerable. The best part for Chicago Bears fans is that the embarrassment went even deeper.
During one sequence in the game, left tackle Rasheed Walker was lined up against Myles Garrett. The Browns’ superstar faked an outside move and completely blew past Walker to the inside. Garrett had a clean look at Love. Helpless, the only thing Walker could do was scream at Love to run for his life. Garrett picked it up on a microphone as he was mic’d up for the game. You can bet he told everybody about it on the sideline after the series. It was exactly as funny as you think it was.
Jordan Love again showed he isn’t much outside of structure.
Having Matt Lafleur as his head coach has been a blessing for the young quarterback. Green Bay’s head coach is a master at crafting offensive schemes that give defenses fits. However, when those schemes don’t function at peak capacity, Jordan Love must make plays beyond the design. That is when the Packers get into serious trouble. He tends to take bad sacks or throw bad interceptions. This is why some people are still reluctant to buy Green Bay as a legitimate contender. They have a good enough roster, but the quarterback might be their Achilles heel. Love is a solid player, but he’s not Brett Favre or Aaron Rodgers. Will that be enough? The Packers gambled everything on that answer being yes when they traded for Micah Parsons.
Sep 21, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears middle linebacker Tremaine Edmunds (49) reacts after an interception against the Dallas Cowboys during the second half at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images
Let’s cut the shit: the Chicago Bears beat the hell out of the Dallas Cowboys, 31-14, and it wasn’t even that close. Ben Johnson didn’t just get his first win as head coach — he grabbed it by the throat and let everyone know he’s not here to play patty-cake. This was a statement game, the kind of win that shows what happens when a young roster finally syncs up with a creative scheme and a quarterback who decides it’s time to grow the hell up.
After combing through the film, the numbers, and the vibes (yeah, vibes matter), here are the five Bears who absolutely earned their Winner patches in Week 3.
If you were still on the fence about Caleb Williams, this game should’ve made you feel like a damn fool. The rookie lit up the Cowboys with 298 yards, four touchdowns, and a career-high 142.6 passer rating. More importantly, he looked like the franchise quarterback Chicago’s been begging for since… ever.
No sacks. Zero. This after taking 68 sacks last year. That tells you two things: his offensive line isn’t trash anymore, and Williams is learning how to move, anticipate, and avoid the free-runners. His 10.8 yards per attempt? Lethal. 239 yards in the first half alone? Disgusting.
And let’s talk about that 65-yard flea-flicker to Luther Burden III. 62.1 air yards. Longest of his career and the longest in the NFL this season at the time. That’s not just big-arm energy — that’s chemistry, timing, and knowing exactly when to rip it.
He hit eight different receivers, distributed the ball like a point guard, and cooked his former head coach’s defense like a man on a revenge tour. If this is the new norm, the NFC North’s in for a long season.
2. Luther Burden III
Welcome to the league, Luther. The rookie went full scorched earth: three catches, 101 yards, and a TD. That’s 33.7 yards per catch. Oh, and he did it on just three targets. Efficient? Try surgical.
The 65-yard bomb was the highlight, but it was the way he sold the flea-flicker that deserves props. Slow-played the route, accelerated at the perfect second, and left the secondary in a panic. That’s not just athleticism — that’s high football IQ.
He also hauled in a clutch 29-yarder late in the first half to set up a score, and even took an end-around for seven yards and a first. Dude is a weapon, and Ben Johnson clearly knows how to use him.
After doing jack all in the first two games (5 catches for 5 yards), Burden exploded like a stick of dynamite in a closed room. If this is the rookie learning curve, the Bears’ WR room just got a whole lot scarier.
When the Bears signed Edmunds to a big contract, the expectation was impact plays. Not just steady tackling — but game-changing moments. Week 3 delivered exactly that.
Two interceptions. Fifteen tackles. One diving pick in the fourth quarter that showed off his range and ball skills. One fourth-down, goal-line interception that choked out a Cowboys drive like a boa constrictor.
He was everywhere. With T.J. Edwards out, Edmunds had to wear the captain’s cape — and he did it like a pro. Covered ground in the run game, snuffed out screens, and dropped into zones like a damn chess master.
This was the kind of linebacker play you pay big money for. And it came against a team that needed to be punched in the mouth.
Stevenson caught heat after the first two games — and rightfully so. He looked lost. But against Dallas? Different dude.
His strip-fumble recovery on the second drive set the tone. Not only did he dislodge the ball, he stayed in bounds and secured it. That turned into the Bears’ first touchdown. Momentum shift, just like that.
He followed it up with two pass breakups, one on third down that forced a field goal. But more than that, his coverage finally looked confident. He wasn’t grabbing, wasn’t guessing. He was reacting — and winning.
You want to see development from young corners, especially in a division with Justin Jefferson and Amon-Ra St. Brown lurking. Stevenson finally looked like a guy who belongs.
While Burden gets the flashy headlines, Odunze is quietly becoming that guy. Three catches, 62 yards, and a touchdown. That’s three straight games with a score, tying him for the NFL lead.
His 35-yard TD? A route adjustment on the fly after Diggs slipped. Williams saw it, Odunze saw it, boom. Six points. That kind of chemistry doesn’t come easy, especially with a rookie QB.
What makes Odunze special isn’t just the production — it’s the consistency. Red zone threat. Chain mover. Situational weapon. He’s the kind of receiver that quarterbacks fall in love with, because he bails you out and makes you look good.
The Bears haven’t had a reliable WR duo like this in years. If Odunze and Burden keep leveling up, defensive coordinators will lose sleep.
Final Verdict
This wasn’t just five guys balling out — it was a complete team victory. The 19-play, 76-yard drive that ate up nearly 10 minutes of clock? That’s the type of soul-sucking possession that championship teams execute. Eleven straight runs, dominating up front, converting third downs — it was beautiful football.
The defense forced four takeaways. The offense looked dynamic and unpredictable. The Bears played like a team with an identity, finally.
Ben Johnson’s fingerprints were all over this win. Creativity on offense. Aggressiveness in game management. Cohesion from all three phases. It felt like the start of something real.
If this is the version of the Bears we’re getting going forward? Strap in. This ride might be fun as hell.
Sep 21, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) gestures after throwing a touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys during the second half at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
Here’s the thing about Caleb Williams. People think they have a good idea of how the young quarterback thinks. They believe his persona of being laid-back and into fashion and other “feminine” pursuits means he isn’t competitive. That is where you can make a terrible mistake. There have been warning signs for years that Williams thrives on being doubted. He keeps receipts whenever somebody speaks out against his ability or team. The Dallas Cowboys found that out the hard way on Sunday.
Williams was ready for that game. He was out to prove something against his former head coach, Matt Eberflus. What followed was an explosive afternoon in which the Bears quarterback threw four touchdown passes, looking as close to flawless as any in the league this year. Chicago cruised to a 31-14 victory, saving the season at least for another week and sending Cowboys fans into a full-blown crashout. Williams wasn’t done, though.
He made sure to send Dallas a final message by reposting a specific video on TikTok.
That video stems from an interview with Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb earlier this year. He was asked about free agency and the impact it could have on a team’s fortunes. His response was honest, but also left the door wide open for karma to come knocking later in the year.
“I mean, the free agency is always fun, because you never know what the next team gonna look like, right,” Lamb said. “The teams that you think is buns (trash). One team like… the Bears, but they were terrible last year, and now you can tell they already, they’re emphasizing.”
Sure enough, Dallas paid the price for his honesty. They were crushed at Soldier Field by that “buns” team while Lamb himself exited in the 1st quarter with an injury. The Cowboys can’t consider themselves above that category anymore. They’re in the cellar with the rest of the refuse. Caleb Williams made sure to remind them of that. Keep his team’s name out your mouth.
