It’s rare to say that the offensive line was the catalyst for the Chicago Bears’ offense and a big reason why the Bears won the NFC North title and reached the Divisional Round of the NFC playoffs, but that’s exactly what happened.

In one offseason, head coach Ben Johnson along with general manager Ryan Poles and offensive line coach Dan Roushar constructed one of the best starting fives in the entire league and the results spoke for itself.

The Bears were violent at the point of attack and featured their offensive linemen as real weapons to fuel the NFC’s leading rushing attack and keep Caleb Williams up-right in the pocket. While some changes have taken place, that standard remains the exact same.

“We’re looking to attack fronts, to expose space, to create run lanes, to create explosives.” offensive coordinator Press Taylor said. “I mean, we don’t look at the run game as a way to stay on track. We look at the run game as a way to attack defenses and really be explosive and continue to just put our foot on the gas the entire game.”

Consistency but uncertainty at left tackle

The biggest question mark going into Week 1 was who the starting left tackle will be for this offense. After trying out different options all summer, the Bears are penciling in Braxton Jones as the opening day starter on the blindside for the fifth year in a row.

“I’m incredibly proud of myself,” Jones said. “I came off that Tennessee joint practice, which was crazy and I just said the same thing, I’m proud of myself for fighting back. That’s a great accomplishment. Not a lot of fifth rounders get the opportunity to do that, and I think I’m going to continue to try to seize that moment and do the work that nobody’s watching me do and I think everything will take care of itself. But yeah, I am proud of myself.”

The Bears re-signed Jones on a one-year deal after playing out his rookie contract with the hope that they would have a more motivated player this time around. It’s still going to be a position that’ll be under the microscope every single play, but the Bears will also scheme the offense to make sure that position won’t be an issue. And if it becomes an issue down the road, the Bears have an insurance policy fighting to get back on the field in Ozzy Trapilo.

“I think it’s a matter of time,” Johnson said of Trapilo. “I can’t say it’s in the near future. But, I know he’s working his tail off. It’s been beyond impressive for him to be where he is today. The fact that he’s out there with those guys and he’s strong, he’s flexible, it’s a credit to him. It’s a credit to guys in the weight room who have been training him. I think we’re headed in the right direction there.”

Future Hall of Fame left guard is the glue for the entire group

No matter who’s at left tackle, they will have some support on either side of them. The Bears have three talented tight ends that can add support to the left side and a future Hall of Fame player to the right that Tom Brady called the “perfect guard” in Joe Thuney.

It was important for Johnson to name the starter at left tackle sooner than later to give Thuney time to gel with his left-hand man. Once again, the Bears waited until the very end to name a starter, but at least either option is going to be one he’s familiar with.

As for Thuney himself, the Bears shouldn’t have any concern about the NFL’s reigning Protector of the Year, who continues the team’s most consistent player every single day.

“He’s a stud. He’s a pro. He handles everything the right way,” center Garrett Bradbury said of Thuney. “He works his butt off, and he is consistent as they come.”

Replacing Drew Dalman

Center is the only position that will look different for the Bears on Sunday compared to last year’s starting five in Week 1. Bradbury is talking over for Drew Dalman, who suddenly retired after his lone Pro Bowl season in Chicago. It’s hard to replace a guy like that and the Bears moved quick to acquire Bradbury, who brings plenty of experience to the group.

“I think that’s the beauty of having a guy like Garrett who’s been around a few different offensive systems now,” Johnson said. “Extremely sharp, phenomenal communicator. I mean, he’s loud, he’s clear, he’s decisive. Love where he’s at with all that. I think more than anything, he’s just been trying to feel us out in terms of the expectations that Roushar, myself, Press Taylor, that we need out of that center position.”

As for what the Bears need out of that position, it’s more complicated than any other center position in the league. Johnson views his center as the quarterback of the offensive line responsible for handling the calls up-front and being an athletic blocker in space. He asks a lot out of the position than just snap the ball and fire out of your stance.

“I’m fired up. I’m not just saying that,” Bradbury said. “You watch certain offenses as an offensive line, and there’s just offenses that excites you. His is certainly one of them. You want to run the football, and you want play action. It’s a physical brand of football.”

Getting even more out of Jonah Jackson

At right guard, the Bears will have Jonah Jackson back for his second year in Chicago, who continues to be the most underrated of the starting five when looking at the unit. However, he’s still a key part of this offense and someone Johnson has a ton of confidence in.

“He’s played a lot of ball,” Johnson said of Jackson. “He’s played in big games, he’s played at a high level. As far as I’m concerned, he played at a Pro Bowl level last year as well. Certainly didn’t get those accolades, but hopefully another year fully healthy, he’ll get that recognition.”

While his name hasn’t been brought up as often as the other four starters, Jackson has a tenacious play-style that pairs perfectly with right tackle Darnell Wright. Those two can be vicious on that right side and it’s all about showcasing that again.

“It was big, just getting confidence back and knowing what I’m able to do and how I can contribute to the team,” Jackson said of his play last year. “I just want to build off it. I’m still in my prime years. I’ve got some juice left in the tank.”

Darnell Wright is the motor of everything for this entire offense

And then we get to the last, but certainly not least, piece of this offensive line in Wright, who was rightfully rewarded with one of the top contracts ever given to an offensive lineman. And he deserved every single penny of that deal for the player he’s blossoming into going into his fourth NFL season.

“He just continues to get better,” Johnson said of Wright. “When you watch us on offense we’re certainly a little bit more right-handed than left-handed and that is with him in mind.”

That will also continue to be the case this season. Wright is the X-factor of this offense and will have a big matchup in Week 1 against the Carolina Panthers’ new X-factor off the edge in Jaelan Phillips, who also earned himself a $100+ million deal this offseason.

Wright will get the chance to send a strong message in that matchup and hopefully use it to kick start what could be the beginning of his first career first-team All-Pro season.