Darrell Taylor
(AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski)

First & Long: Opportunistic Bears Defense Fun to Watch, Texans Represent Elite Challenge, Tagovailoa Has No Plans to Retire

Photo of Michael Canter Michael CanterSeptember 15, 2024

Historically speaking, when the Bears are a successful team, it is because the team’s defense is playing at an elite level. One game against a mediocre Titans defense, including a very bad decision by QB Will Levis, is admittedly a small sample size, but Chicago’s defense looks like it could be a force all season. The unit is mostly the same as last season when it was among the NFL’s best at stopping the run and creating turnovers.

Last week the Bears succeeded in pressuring Levis, creating three turnovers, two scores, and three sacks. An opportunistic defense is a big part of the team’s philosophy, and the Bears have been clicking on all cylinders since acquiring Sweat from the Commanders last November. Chicago has allowed an average of 17.9 points since Sweat arrived.

Credit GM Ryan Poles with resurrecting a unit that had been below average during the first 2.5 years of his tenure. The Bears shipped out veterans Khalil Mack, Roquan Smith, and Robert Quinn during the executive’s first year. He drafted Kyler Gordon and Jaquan Brisker after hiring head coach Matt Eberflus, who served as DC for the Colts before coming to Chicago. A patchwork foundation with humble roots and a lot of growing pains has turned into one of the league’s most intimidating units.

The Bears have been to the Super Bowl twice in franchise history, and both teams led the league in takeaways during those seasons. Nobody is saying this unit is as great or potentially great as the one led by Mike Singletary, Dan Hampton, Steve McMichael, Richard Dent, and Gary Fencik. But the 2024 Bears are capable of forging a similar identity by creating turnovers. It’s folly to predict a Super Bowl appearance with a rookie quarterback and an offense that needs a big lift, but at least the Bears are fun to watch.

Bears News & Notes

There’s a Flag…On the Play

Kmet and Marcedes Lewis are a fine spring-summer tandem.

Scout Team

  1. Brevin Jordan said Stroud turned the Texans into a primetime team and Super Bowl contender with one stunning pass.
  2. Many other analysts believe that trading up for and drafting edge rusher Will Anderson made Houston a playoff team.
  3. The Bears will wear their all-orange uniforms for tonight’s tilt, while the Texans will wear their all-whites.
  4. Houston’s receiving corps – anchored by Nico Collins, Stefon Diggs, and Tank Dell. Collins draws favorable comparisons to Hall of Fame wide receiver Andre Johnson.
  5. Dell is considered one of the most underrated pass catchers in the NFL.
  6. Houston’s coaching staff knows it has to eliminate chunk yardage plays to beat the Bears. Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson finished with 212 passing yards against the Texans in Week 1, but nearly 160 came on downfield passes. Ashton Dulin caught a 56-yard touchdown, and Alec Pierce caught a 60-yard score with another 50-yard reception in the 4th quarter.

Film Room

Welcome to Chicago, Jonathan Owens.

Northern Exposure

Around the NFL

Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has no plans to retire after suffering his latest concussion, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Sunday on NFL GameDay Morning, per sources informed of the situation.

If you’re not sure how the NFL’s concussion protocol works, we’ve got you covered.

Wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase believes the Bengals are negotiating in bad faith so he’s ended extension discussions until after the season.

Micah Parsons of the Cowboys is following Chase’s lead.

One real estate firm believes ex-NFL players make great brokers. Selling Sunsets lists Todd Lyght as one of its agents and also has an open invitation to hire Aaron Rodgers once he leaves the NFL.

Last week’s incident involving Dolphins star Tyreek Hill shows once again that detainment doesn’t often fit the transgression.

Justin Fields is quietly becoming the No. 1 quarterback in Pittsburgh, ahead of Russell Wilson.

The Browns quietly removed a clause from Deshaun Watson‘s contract this offseason that would have protected him in the event of a future suspension, according to Jay Glazer of FOX Sports. Per the report, if Watson is suspended again, Cleveland could reclaim his guaranteed money.

Watson’s accuser intends to speak to the NFL within two weeks.

Two-Minute Drill

Look for Eberflus and Washington to be very aggressive against the Texans’ offense tonight. They’ll test Houston’s well-balanced offense by stopping Joe Mixon and shutting down Stroud and his receivers. The Bears’ secondary on Sunday held Calvin Ridley, DeAndre Hopkins, and Tyler Boyd to a combined 76 receiving yards on seven catches. Taylor (two sacks, forced fumble) gives the Bears a complimentary pass rusher to Sweat and they’ll harass Stroud. Johnson and Stevenson lead a turnover-seeking secondary that will challenge Diggs, Collins, and Dell.

If the Bears win the turnover battle and firmly establish field position, they’ll come away with an upset win at NRG Stadium.

Three Yards and a Cloud of Dust

  1. John Elway is the only quarterback in the modern draft era to start his career with two wins. Elway beat the Steelers and the Baltimore Colts in Weeks 1 and 2 back in 1983 before losing to the Eagles in Week 13. He was 4-6-0 as a rookie for the Broncos.
  2. The last time the Bears won with zero offensive touchdowns after falling behind by 17+ points was against the Cardinals on Monday Night Football in Week 6 of the 2006 season. Dennis Green wasn’t very happy after the loss. Mike Brown, Charles Tillman, and Devin Hester scored touchdowns for the Bears in that game.
  3. The Steelers have won 10 of their 12 previous games against rookie quarterbacks. Pittsburgh faces Bo Nix and the Broncos today.

Snatching Victory from the Jaws of Defeat

How about one last look at last week’s game-winning pick-six by Stevenson?

From the Podium

  • “The mental toughness was outstanding. To have that kind of deficit and some of the things that we didn’t do well in the first half, especially in terms of addressing the run, and to go in the locker room and there was — we have an expression: don’t blink. There was none of that. I was just so proud of that, the way that we fought, and we just kept grinding and grinding and things started to go in our favor. We were opportunistic and took the ball away and were able to help our team win. It says everything about the character of our players since I’ve been coming to this podium.” – Washington
  • “We’re here getting better. Just getting back out here, [we must] make sure we’re focused on the small things, the details, whether it’s [my] footwork, drops, things like that, or whether it’s routes, whether it’s the run game, hand placements, all these other things when blocking to make sure that as an offense we’re successful.” – Williams
  • “Going into that game, it was a little weird for me because it was my first game and we didn’t really have anything on their D-coordinator. But when I got out there, I was seeing it well. Missed a few passes, obviously, but going back and watching the film, I was in the right place when I was throwing the ball. I also had a few batted balls, but [I was] going to the right places, seeing it well, making some O-line adjustments and things like that, having good communication on the sideline with my teammates and coaches.” – Williams
Photo of Michael Canter Michael CanterSeptember 15, 2024
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