The Chicago Bears enter the final stretch of the season with one of the best stories in the NFL: a young quarterback taking a leap in Year 2, a first-year head coach who has completely changed the culture of the team, and a roster that finally feels like it has an identity.
Yet for all the excitement, there are still legitimate questions surrounding how viable this Bears team really is.
The Major Concerns Surrounding the Bears’ 2025 Season
One of the biggest concerns continues to be the defense. Despite being the top team in takeaways, the underlying metrics tell a different story. Chicago ranks near the bottom in sacks (25th), pressure rate (29th), yards allowed (27th), and points allowed (25th). Those turnovers have helped cover up issues that could become problematic once the postseason arrives.
On the offensive side, Caleb Williams has certainly made strides, but there are still inconsistencies surrounding him. He’s struggled to throw the ball deep, his 88.2 passer rating ranks 22nd among qualifying quarterbacks, and most importantly, his 58.1% completion rate is nowhere near the 70% goal Ben Johnson had in mind for the second-year QB.
Combine all that with a handful of narrow wins over backup quarterbacks and struggling opponents, it’s fair to wonder whether the Bears have enough week-to-week reliability to be viewed as complete contenders just yet.
But Wait, There’s a Foundation That’s Built to Last
Despite those concerns, the deeper look at Chicago reveals something far more significant: this is a team that is built the right way, and the long-term structure is stronger than it’s ever been.
Johnson deserves a huge amount of credit for how he’s developing Williams. Instead of leaning on college-style concepts that might boost short-term production but hinder long-term growth, Johnson has built a system that teaches real NFL quarterbacking. “The No. 1 thing that Ben Johnson is doing with Caleb is teaching him how to play quarterback,” a veteran play caller told The Athletic. “He is not doing anything different with his throwing motion or anything like that. What is down and distance? If it’s second-and-3, we don’t need to throw the fade here.”
From throwing everything at Williams during the offseason to reducing the reliance on RPOs to increased play-action and motion to forcing Williams to understand situational football at a deeper level, the improvement is already showing up in the numbers: Chicago has climbed into the top 10 in offensive efficiency after ranking near the bottom last season, and Williams is taking far fewer negative plays than he did during his rookie season.
Equally important is the identity of the run game. Chicago isn’t just running the ball well…they’re doing it with purpose, structure, and consistency. Look at how they ran the ball against the Philadelphia Eagles. That was a beauty to watch.
The Bears rank among the NFL’s top five in rushing yards, explosive rushing rate, rushing success rate, and rate of running back rushes from under center. That kind of physical identity travels, especially come playoff time.
And it’s all thanks to a complete 360 up front, where general manager Ryan Poles completely turned around a struggling offensive line into arguably the top O-line in the NFL. The Bears currently rank 1st in pass-block-win-rate and 5th in run-block-win-rate, capable of handling the best defensive lines the NFL has to offer.
"The city of Chicago is hungry… FOR SOME HOT DOGS." 🗣️
Every second of Ben Johnson's victory speech is incredible.@insidetheNFL Week 13 Mic'd Up on X pic.twitter.com/hrnhrbD1vd
— NFL (@NFL) December 1, 2025
Why the Optimism Should Outweigh the Doubt
When weighing the concerns against the positives, the bigger picture is clear. Yes, the defense needs to be more consistent. Yes, the point differentials and close wins suggest the Bears might be overperforming in the standings. And yes, Williams still has some flaws.
But those are the kinds of issues a team can fix. What’s much harder to establish, and what Chicago finally has, is a real foundation.
The Bears now have:
- A modern offensive system built for sustained success
- A coaching staff capable of winning close games
- An elite, physical run game thanks to a dominant offensive line
- A team fully bought into the new culture
- A young QB learning how to win while having the tools to grow
At the end of the day, there’s never been a perfect team. With all the flaws, the Bears may not be the most complete or experienced team, but for the first time in a long time, they look like a team building towards more than just the 2025 season.
Main Image: David Banks – Imagn Images
