Bears unlocked a critical part of the team on Sunday vs. the Browns and it’s something that can secure a playoff spot if it’s sustainable
The Chicago Bears pass rush brought the juice in Week 15.
The Chicago Bears’ defense has been a real standout for the team in the first season under defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, especially considering the amount of injuries the team has been forced to overcome on that side of the ball.
The Bears have been really good defensively on third-down and forcing a league-high in takeaways through the first 15 weeks of the season but the one area the unit still struggled with on a consistent basis was creating a strong pass rush and getting after the quarterback.
“I think each and every week we’re improving a little bit in that area,” Allen told reporters during his press conference last Thursday. “You always want a little bit more.”
Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Browns was finally the wake up game many were hoping for when it came to the team’s pass rush. Chicago finished the game with five sacks (including a sack by four different players) and 22 total pressures, the most by a Bears team since Week 15 of 2020.
Second-year defensive end Austin Booker led the way with 2.0 sacks plus a sack recorded by linebacker D’Marco Jackson and defensive tackles Grady Jarrett and Gervon Dexter Sr. The constant pressure against the Browns also allowed the backend to force three key interceptions as well.
Granted, it’s worth noting Chicago did all of this at home against a rookie quarterback in Shedeur Sanders and against an offensive line that was missing four of their five starters. It was the perfect storm to finally get something going but that kind of game can also be a momentum builder.
Bears will need a strong pass rush to secure a spot in the playoffs over the final three weeks
What the Bears showed on Sunday put the rest of the NFC back on notice for the way the team responded after the close loss to the Green Bay Packers but also played a well-rounded game in route to a 31-3 win over the Browns.
The best part for Chicago is that still didn’t feel like a complete game this team is capable of playing. But, the offense looked much better early on and the impact from the pass rush will mean a lot if that high-level of play can be sustained.
Looking ahead, the Bears have a rematch against the Packers on Saturday and last time the two faced off, the Bears struggled to knock quarterback Jordan Love off his game. Love was pressured 12 times but the Bears never finished with a sack, allowing Love to throw for three touchdowns with a 120.7 passer rating.
After that, the Bears will face off against the San Francisco 49ers and quarterback Brock Purdy, another player who can really make a defense pay if he’s got a clean pocket. And the same goes for the Week 18 rematch against the Detroit Lions and quarterback Jared Goff.
The last time Chicago faced Detroit in Week 2, the Bears recorded zero sacks and had just five pressures total as a defense. Goff finished the game with 334 yards and five touchdowns.
“We’re definitely a better football team than we were that first month of the season,” Bears head coach Ben Johnson explained. “A probably these three opponents were playing coming up, they’re all going to say the same thing. I know that this point, I know that we’re a good football team.”
If the Bears can continue to have this level of pass rush defensively over these final three games, Chicago will have a strong shot at securing a playoff spot and potentially even the NFC North title.
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