MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (670 The Score) — Early in the season, the Bears had a defensive line that was young and raw, a linebacking tandem that hadn’t meshed and a promising secondary that was slowed by injuries. The defense had potential but wasn't performing well.
On Monday night at U.S. Bank Stadium, the Bears put their defensive identity on display. For a second consecutive game, they forced four turnovers – all of them were interceptions off Vikings veteran quarterback Joshua Dobbs – and imposed their will in a 12-10 victory in Minneapolis.
The performance reflected the continued growth of the Bears’ budding defense.
“It’s just coming together,” head coach Matt Eberflus said.
The Bears rank ninth in the NFL in total defense, surrendering 318.5 yards per game. They have the top-ranked rushing defense in the NFL, holding foes to 79.0 yards per game on the ground.
The Bears had allowed 25 points or more in each game of their 14-game losing streak that stretched across the back half of the 2022 season and early in this campaign. Since then, the Bears have allowed fewer than 25 points in six of their last eight games, a stretch in which they've gone 4-4. Each of those four victories featured the Bears allowing 20 points or fewer.
“Honestly, I think it’s belief,” linebacker T.J. Edwards said. “We understand that we got to go out there and get turnovers. We got to go spark the game early. The offense does a great job of starting fast and that’s something we have to follow. The guys are just resilient.
“We got to go out there and find a way to get a stop, and we got the guys to do it, for sure.”
As the Bears have improved defensively, let's break down where they've grown and evolved.
Interior defensive line
The Bears found a key cog for their defense in veteran lineman Andrew Billings, who spent time with five teams before landing in Chicago this past offseason.
Since joining the Bears on a one-year deal in March, Billings has proved himself as a reliable nose tackle. As the Bears saw Billings’ impact at a position that often goes unnoticed in a game, they awarded him with a contract extension through the 2025 campaign.
Perhaps the important development for the entire team has been the considerable growth of rookie lineman Gervon Dexter, a second-round pick who has looked more comfortable lately in adjusting from a two-gap scheme at the University of Florida to Eberflus’ one-gap defense.
“Everything’s there and he’s really attacking the line of scrimmage,” Eberflus said of Dexter.
After passing on the pricey free-agent market for veteran three-techniques in March, the Bears should be active in assessing that position next offseason. They may be one piece away from a great defense.
Edge rusher
On a third-down play in the first quarter Monday, the Bears aligned pass rushers Montez Sweat and Yannick Ngakoue side-by-side on the left end of their defense. Sweat rushed through the right tackle while Ngakoue ran an inside stunt that made the right guard a turnstile. They each raced to Dobbs, with Sweat beating Ngakoue there for the sack.
Eberflus has referred to Sweat’s impact as “the Tez factor,” pointing to how he makes everyone around him better. It seems Sweat is worth every penny of the four-year, $98-million deal that he signed with the Bears in early November just days after Chicago acquired him from Washington in a trade.
Sweat registered seven pressures Monday, marking the second time in four games with the Bears that he accomplished that. He has 2.5 sacks over four contests for Chicago and is up to nine sacks this season, putting him in line to hit double-digit sacks for the first time in his five-year NFL career.
Sweat’s impact extends beyond his individual statistics. He has been a relentless presence rushing opposing quarterbacks and been a key factor in the Bears’ newfound ability to take the football away. Once again, the Bears have the disruptive pass rusher they were sorely missing.
Linebacker
Bears general manager Ryan Poles made a significant investment in the linebacker position last offseason, signing Tremaine Edmunds to a four-year, $72.5-million deal and Edwards to a three-year, $19.5-million contract.
Alongside second-year linebacker Jack Sanborn – an undrafted free agent who joined the Bears in 2022 – Edmunds and Edwards have enjoyed a strong first season in Chicago and turned the unit into a great strength.
Filling the middle linebacker role, Edmunds has 77 combined tackles, four tackles for a loss and two interceptions in 10 games this season. Edwards, the weak-side linebacker, has been everywhere, posting an NFL-high 127 total tackles, six tackles for a loss, two sacks and two interceptions. Sanborn has 61 combined tackles, five tackles for a loss, one sack and one interception while splitting time between the strong-side and middle linebacker roles.
Edmunds is 25, Edwards is 27 and Sanborn is 23. They could be key figures for the Bears’ defense for many years to come.
Cornerback
Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson's hope is to earn All-Pro honors this season, and he's making a strong case for that accolade.
Johnson's performance ranks third among all NFL cornerbacks, according to Pro Football Focus grades. He has three interceptions — and could’ve had a couple more if not for drops in the last two games — and is proving himself as one of the top cover cornerbacks in the league.
In his second season, Kyler Gordon is more comfortable as the Bears’ nickel cornerback. He hauled in his fourth career interception Monday and has been a consistently strong tackler. After a four-game absence due to a broken hand, Gordon returned in mid-October to give the defense a boost.
The Bears are hopeful about the development of rookies Tyrique Stevenson and Terell Smith, believing one of them can fill the other outside cornerback role for the long term. Stevenson missed the game Monday due to an ankle injury. Smith is expected to continuing stepping in if Stevenson if a longer absence is required.
Safety
In his second season, safety Jaquan Brisker has been a tone-setter for the Bears. His confidence is clear, both in his assignments on the field and his intent to lead off of it.
Brisker has been an excellent addition for the Bears since he was selected in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
"We want to change the culture here,” Brisker said. “We want to win games and change a lot of things around here. We just got to keep digging and work.
“We can't just fall right now. Especially myself being a leader. I got to keep leading, whether it's good or bad."
The 24-year-old Brisker has followed the lead of veteran teammate Eddie Jackson, who's in his seventh NFL season. Jackson has struggled to find his best form while fighting through injuries, including a season-ending Lisfranc injury last November.
Once a young star on a great Bears defense, Jackson is now the veteran leader of a revival for a young, talented secondary.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.