CHICAGO (670 The Score) — With a 28-13 win against the Lions on Sunday at Soldier Field, the Bears earned consecutive victories for the first time in head coach Matt Eberflus' tenure in Chicago.
As they sit at 5-8 with four games remaining in the regular season, the Bears' goal is to finish on a six-game winning streak, a long shot that became slightly more possible with their victory against the NFC-North leading Lions. Here are the observations from Sunday at Soldier Field.
What matters most
When Bears general manager Ryan Poles was hired in January 2022, he was hesitant to even admit the franchise was embarking on a rebuild.
“Yeah, no, the rebuild thing is like super sensitive,” Poles said. “No, we’re constructing a very good football team.”
Poles’ actions were much more clear than his words. He began tearing down the Bears’ roster to the studs and worked to add young talent that he believed would lead to a bright future.
The Bears struggled mightily in 2022 by going an NFL-worst 3-14, which landed them the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft. The Bears then traded the No. 1 pick to the Panthers for star receiver DJ Moore and a haul of draft capital, positioning themselves well for the future.
That led the Bears to this 2023 campaign, in which the objective was different. Poles acknowledged the team should be measured on its results.
“Win more games,” Poles simply said of the goal.
In beating the Lions, the Bears continue proving they're no longer in the initial rebuilding phase. They've become a more competitive team that can win games against quality opponents.
The Bears are past the darkest, most difficult days of their rebuilding process and are now learning how to win.
"We know we can play with any team,” cornerback Jaylon Johnson said.
No longer should observers think of where the Bears' own draft pick will land or discuss tanking. Instead, they should focus on the progress the team is making.
Quarterback Justin Fields is leading the Bears while showing a more complete form to his game as a passer and a rusher. He's confident, comfortable and continuing to improve.
A big quarterback decision will once again loom for the Bears this offseason. Chicago is in line to land the No. 1 overall pick for the second straight year, as it owns Carolina's first-round selection and the Panthers are an NFL-worst 1-12 and two games clear of the Patriots (3-10) and Cardinals (3-10).
Fields may be making the decision for Poles and the Bears a bit more clear. He looks like the type of quarterback whom the Bears should invest in. Once again, the Bears could potentially trade away the No. 1 overall pick to land a haul, this time from a team looking to select USC quarterback Caleb Williams or North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye at the top of the NFL Draft. If Fields dictates the Bears' decision with superb play late in the season, that’s exactly what the team had hoped for all along.
The Bears have emerged from the depths of their rebuild to find hope on the horizon. It remains quite the long shot for the Bears to finish 9-8 and earn a playoff berth, but they're taking a pivotal next step forward.
Show him the money?
Johnson has been candid about his desire to sign a long-term contract extension.
Johnson admitted that in past years, he didn't have the production in the takeaway department to warrant the lucrative deal that he seeks. He recorded just one interception through his first three NFL seasons.
So, Johnson set out to change that narrative in 2023 and become more of a game-changing player. On Sunday, Johnson recorded his fourth interception of the season.
“It definitely feels good to get them now,” Johnson said.
Johnson and the Bears have failed to work out a contract extension throughout the course of this season. The two sides met in late October in Los Angeles but couldn’t reach an agreement. Johnson then requested a trade out Chicago, hoping to find an opportunity and a big payday elsewhere.
The Bears didn’t deal Johnson as the trade deadline passed, which in turn extended their window to continue negotiations. Absent an agreement, the franchise tag could be utilized on Johnson this coming offseason, a possibility that he has acknowledged.
Johnson is proving himself as a premier cornerback and has the production to back it up. With that, a contract extension could follow.
The Tez effect
Veteran pass rusher Montez Sweat on Sunday reached double-digit sacks for the first time in his NFL career as he recorded a pair of half-sacks. Beyond his individual statistics, the Bears understand that his value comes in being what they call a "multiplier" for their entire defense.
Before acquiring Sweat at the end of October, the Bears allowed 27.3 points per game across eight weeks. Since he was acquired, Chicago’s defense has allowed 18.2 points over five games.
The Bears allowed 341 yards per game without Sweat and are surrendering 272.2 yards with him. Chicago had 10 sacks and nine takeaways in eight games without Sweat and have recorded 11 sacks and 11 takeaways in five games with him.
“It speaks for itself,” linebacker Tremaine Edmunds said of Sweat’s impact. “Obviously, a guy that plays with a high motor, a guy that can put a lot of pressure on the quarterback. He’s helping us out a lot, just affecting the quarterback, speeding up things. You’re seeing guys make plays off that.”
Momentum stalled
A turning point early in the second quarter helped the Lions get back in the game.
Facing a fourth-and-1 from the Lions’ 38-yard line, the Bears lined up for what looked to be the "Brotherly Shove" quarterback sneak play. Instead, it was a fake sneak with a designed pitch to Moore, who was stopped for no gain after getting a toss well behind the line of scrimmage.
Offensive coordinator Luke Getsy's play call was too cute. After that play, the Bears saw their 10-0 lead evaporate as they fell behind 13-10 heading into halftime.
To the credit of the Bears, they responded strong in the second half. Their defense stopped the Lions on seven straight drives, while Fields and the offense hit a groove.
Extra points
-- The Lions (9-4) are a good football team that should win the NFC North, but they also have flaws and look bound for an early exit in the playoffs.
-- The Bears received the opening kickoff and quickly marched eight plays and 69 yards to the end zone, a drive that was capped by this nifty design from Getsy.
-- The Bears had their three running backs – D'Onta Foreman, Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson – all healthy and active for the first time since the season opener. They turned to the veteran Foreman as their starter and lead back, as he had 11 carries for 50 yards. Herbert rushed three times while Johnson carried just once. The Bears are prioritizing winning over player development at this time.
-- Safety Jaquan Brisker had 17 total tackles in the victory, the most by a Bears defensive back since at least 1960.
-- Eberflus joked that Brisker’s performance reminded of his college days. During a 1993 game between Toledo and Northern Illinois, Eberflus posted 21 total tackles, the fifth-most in a game by a Rockets defender.
-- Sunday was perhaps Fields’ best game with anticipation throws. That's a sign of his individual growth and his trust in his receivers.
-- What does Fields have to do to get a penalty flag thrown on the defense for a late hit?
-- When will Eberflus have a sideline meltdown on Fields' behalf when those flags aren't thrown?
-- This win was "proof" of the Bears' progress, Eberflus said. It's hard to disagree.
-- There’s intrigue in these final four regular-season games.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.