As the clock struck noon on Sunday, a sharp, cold breeze filled the stadium. A shiver went down the spine of the opponent’s quarterback. In every play, a threat creeps around; a presence keeps NFL players and coaches sleeping with one eye open leading up to their matchup.
The presence is a team formerly known as the Monsters of the Midway.
In the past four weeks of this NFL season, the Chicago Bears’ defense has been a nightmare to numerous opponents. The Bears have established themselves as one of the best defenses in the league. The defense has kept them in a position to win football games, even if the offense isn’t performing.
Let the big dogs eat
The Bears have held teams down to, on average, about 19 points the entire game. Head coach Matt Eberflus, being a defensive-minded coach, wanted to make defense a consistent factor with this team. They are now one of the top 10 defenses in the league, and it all starts with the men up front.
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It is already difficult to play quarterback in the NFL, but adding the pressure from all ends of the opposing defense makes the job 10 times harder. The Bears’ defensive end, Montez Sweat, gave the Bears a threat to come off the edge and pressure the quarterback. His leadership elevates the defensive line to get to the quarterback and create opportunities for the younger guys.
Young defensive tackle Gervon Dexter Sr. is off to a great start to the season. The second-round draft pick out of the University of Florida has started to make his impact on the line. He currently leads the team with three sacks; the defensive line has 12 tackles in just the first four games.
Bend but don’t break, captain’s orders
The captain of the defense is sixth-year linebacker Tremaine Edmunds. Originally drafted by the Buffalo Bills, Edmunds greatly improved one of the weakest spots in the Bears’ defense before the 2023 season. Edmunds has already been performing exceptionally well in the run game. He’s closed up running lanes and hasn’t allowed the runner to get past the second level.
You can see Edmunds’ leadership over the entire defense, especially in the red zone. Even though the Bears may get picked apart on some drives, Edmunds controls the defense and brings them together to stand their ground. Because of that, it is hard to score against the Bears in the red zone.
Along with Edmunds, he has his partner in crime, linebacker T.J. Edwards. The Bears acquired Edwards in the 2023 offseason. In his first season, Edwards established his name as one of the linebackers to watch for. He ended the season with the seventh-highest tackles in the league (155). He currently leads the team with 25 tackles and is on pace to continue making his name known throughout the league.
No-fly zone
The Bears’ aerial defense has been solid so far this season. The team has five interceptions already, making the opposing quarterback second guess who they should throw to. With great man-to-man coverage, it has been hard to throw against the Bears’ secondary.
Pro bowler cornerback Jaylon Johnson has been on lockdown so far this season. He leads the team with two interceptions and ensures the other team’s best receiver doesn’t get the ball. Quarterbacks do not like testing Johnson, and he has become his own star player since 2023. His ability to read plays and anticipate routes has already resulted in several key plays this season.
Meanwhile, safety Jaquan Brisker has started to make his mark on the team. His ability to stop the run this year has saved the Bears’ defense from giving up big yardage plays on the ground and through the air. He helped seal the deal in the win against the Los Angeles Rams in week four with the game-winning interception.
Brisker is always lurking everywhere, seeing where he can impact the play. Although young, he plays like a high-IQ defensive back in this league.
Although their man defense has been solid, their zone defense still needs improvement. Going up against experienced and high-IQ quarterbacks like Matthew Stafford, Jared Goff, Brock Purdy and Geno Smith, they can pick apart that zone very quickly. That may become a problem for the Bears and can expose the defense’s weakness.
It’s Chicago’s backbone
The Bears’ biggest weapon of the team is their defense. It’s been why they are in the position they are now.
As they go into the easy part of their schedule, it can be beneficial to fix the little things so they can become great. If they are playing up to their standards, then there is no game they can’t win.
The Bears’ defense reflects the city of Chicago: the grit and aggressiveness of their play, the adversity they overcome and the loyalty that comes with being a part of the Windy City.
@Jon_Mathew23
