The Chicago Bears defense has shown considerable improvement over the past few weeks but Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Chargers will be their real test to determine if the unit has truly rounded the corner or not.

The Bears defense will be going up against one of the best young quarterbacks in Justin Herbert, one of the league's top wide receivers in Keenan Allen, and one of the most electric offensive playmakers in Austin Ekeler.

If the unit can somehow contain the explosiveness of the Chargers offense, it'll be quite the eye opener to the rest of the league on a national stage.

Chicago's defense has seen a massive turnaround over the past 2-3 games of the season. Since Week 5, the unit has surrendered just 227.5 total yards per game against opposing offenses, compared to 384.2 total yards allowed per game from Weeks 1-5. 

The biggest turnaround has been the team's run defense, which has allowed less than 50 yards on the ground in three consecutive games. The entire defense has also been opportunistic, forcing 6 turnovers in the last three games while having just 2 over the first four weeks of the season.

However, the Chargers offense will be a different style of beast than what the Bears have faced recently and the biggest threat will come from containing their quarterback who's looking to get back on track himself on Sunday.

"[Herbert's] done a really good job of working through having different skill there available to him," Bears head coach Matt Eberflus said on Friday. "He's really got a super strong arm and he can throw the side pockets on a rope, so [the passes] come out a lot faster and stronger than most people. So, he makes you defend the whole part of the field. It's always a challenge when you face an elite quarterback like that."

Herbert is currently averaging 265.3 passing yards per game in 2023 with 10 touchdown passes and just four total interceptions. His top option in the passing game, wide receiver Keenan Allen, ranks Top-10 in receiving yards (574) and receiving touchdowns (4) this season.

This combination between an elite passer and an elite receiver is something the Bears have yet to face against throughout this season. The Bears defense will have an even tougher time when you factor in running back Austin Ekeler.

Ekeler has struggled to get rolling again since returning from an ankle injury that knocked him out of Weeks 2-4. But in Week 1, Ekeler totaled 164 scrimmage yards and a rushing touchdown, his only score of the season.

The dynamic dual-threat back is also hungry and eager to get back on track against the Bears defense. Ekeler is by far the most versatile back the Bears will have to game plan against since facing Packers running back Aaron Jones in Week 1. Jones recorded 127 scrimmage yards and two total touchdowns against the Bears in their season opener.

The Bears hopefully revisited the film from that game to figure out what they can to differently this time around against such a dynamic running back. If the unit struggles to contain the Chargers offense, it'll be all on the offense led by Tyson Bagent to will the Bears to a second straight victory. Let's hope it doesn't come to that.

Bears prepared for ‘big set of challenges’ vs Chargers defense

It’ll be a tough matchup up-front