The Bears have big concerns at left tackle, in their run defense and in their ground game that must be addressed if they’re going to stay viable.
As with most wild parties in Las Vegas, the Bears awoke the next morning with some cleaning up to do. Beating the Raiders on Josh Blackwell’s blocked field goal in the final minute Sunday was thrilling, but the furniture is in disarray, someone is missing a tooth and Mike Tyson’s pet tiger is locked in the bathroom.
Alright, it’s not that crazy, but there is a lot to address.
The Bears pulled off a 25-24 win amid ongoing ups and downs from quarterback Caleb Williams, a carousel at left and right tackle, a wobbly defensive line and an idling ground game. It was admirable, but unsustainable. Hoping for four defensive takeaways and a blocked field goal is hardly a sound plan.
Coach Ben Johnson was happy — “It’s always good when you play that poorly and you’re still able to come away with a win,” he said Monday — but there was a healthy grasp of reality as he planned to “do a little soul searching” during the bye week:
• Looking at a run defense that has allowed an NFL-worst 6.2 yards per carry, including 7.7 to the Raiders, he said, “That’s not what Chicago Bears football is about.” The Raiders’ 240 yards rushing was the most in the NFL this season.
• The offense missed major scoring opportunities and managed only one touchdown out of the five possessions that began in Raiders’ territory, and Johnson called the overall operation “just . a mess, man” and added, “I’m just not proud of what we put on tape.”
• It was too early Monday to even put together the criteria for deciding who will start at left tackle — Braxton Jones or Theo Benedet — when the Bears resume Oct.
