The Chicago Bears offense began to hit its stride in Sunday’s victory over the Los Angeles Rams. Rookie quarterback Caleb Williams led four scoring drives, something Bears fans aren’t used to, and the running game looked decent for the first time this season. The defense has been playing great, with ten straight games allowing 21 points or less. With a favorable slate of games coming up for the Bears, things are trending in the right direction.
Signs the Chicago Bears Are Trending in the Right Direction
A Bears QB Development Finally Trending Upward
Williams delivered his best statistical performance against the Rams, posting a 106.6 passer rating while completing 73.9% of his passes—the third-highest completion rate for a Bears rookie quarterback in a game since 1970. Also, Williams was 8/9 passing for 75 yards and a touchdown when blitzed vs. the Rams. While his 363-yard game against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 3 was impressive, the 52 passing attempts, two interceptions, and a fumble were not. Fortunately for Williams and the Bears, that wasn’t the case in Week 4.
As noted in a previous article, Williams’ mistakes come from inexperience—he’s learning what works and what doesn’t in the NFL. However, his processing speed, anticipation, and pocket awareness are innate skills that can’t be taught. The throws he’s making just four weeks into the season should excite Bears fans about the future. Any discussion of whether the Bears made a mistake by not selecting Jayden Daniels instead of Caleb Williams is unwarranted—Williams is the franchise quarterback in Chicago.
Caleb Williams putting the ball into a thimble from a tight pocket pic.twitter.com/XlAL0GFfmZ
— Brett Kollmann (@BrettKollmann) September 30, 2024
Elite Play From an Unexpected Position
One position that many fans were initially skeptical about but has exceeded expectations is defensive tackle. 2023 second-round pick Gervon Dexter Sr. has put on an absolute clinic this year. With reports during the offseason that he was taking massive strides, it’s safe to say his hard work has paid off so far. So far, Dexter Sr. has recorded three sacks, six quarterback hits, 12 total tackles, nine pressures, and ranks sixth in pass rush win rate among all defensive tackles.
Let’s talk about Gervon Dexter. So far in 2024 he has…
-3 sacks
-6 QB hits
-12 total tackles
-9 pressures
-6th highest pass rush win rate among all interior DL— DaWindyCity Productions (@dwcprodz) September 30, 2024
But it’s not just Dexter Sr. shining—nose tackle Andrew Billings has continued to prove why he’s a focal point of the Bear’s defense. Billings ranks among the top defensive tackles in both pass rush win and double-team win rates through Week 3, and those numbers likely improved after another stellar game against the Rams. He’s quickly become a fan-favorite in Chicago and one of the best players on the team.
Bears DT Andrew Billings on the Rams’ two-point conversion attempt pic.twitter.com/DIzaIIjyMa
— Kevin Fishbain (@kfishbain) September 30, 2024
Chicago Bears Next Six Opponents
Here’s a look at the Bears’ next six opponents:
- Week 5: vs. Carolina Panthers
- Week 6: (London Game) vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
- BYE
- Week 7: at Washington Commanders
- Week 8: at Arizona Cardinals
- Week 9: vs. New England Patriots
These five teams currently have a combined record of 6-14. The Bears need to take advantage because, if not, the rest of the schedule they play the divisional opponents twice, along with the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks, who are two very good teams. If the Bears can enter Week 10 with at least a 6-3 record, it could provide a much-needed confidence boost heading into the tough NFC North battles.
Read More: 2024 Chicago Bears Record Prediction
Main Image: Matt Marton – USA Today Sports
