The Chicago Bears defense sent a message on Monday Night Football against the Seattle Seahawks. Don’t be fooled by the 24-17 final score. It was never that close. Ten of those points by Seattle came at the end of both halves when the defense retreated into a prevent defense. Russell Wilson did what Russell Wilson does. When they were playing fast and aggressive, the Seahawks looked helpless.
Wilson was under siege all night. The Bears sacked him six times on the evening, making it 12 total over two games. He threw a costly pick-six to Prince Amukamara and also lost a fumble while being sacked by Danny Trevathan. Seattle also couldn’t run at all most of the game. This isn’t a one-dimensional defense. It’s the real deal.
Yet that’s not the scariest part. Amidst the excellence on display is the reality that the unit actually didn’t play as good as it could’ve. Several of their key pieces aren’t up to speed yet. Khalil Mack isn’t quite in football shape and it showed in the 4th quarter. Roquan Smith just made his first start as well. This group is just scratching the surface of what it’s capable of.
Truly frightening for their future opponents.
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Chicago Bears defense has a string of average QBs coming up
It’s easy to forget that the defense has played against two of the best quarterbacks in football their first two weeks in Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson. Allowing 23 and 17 points respectively against them isn’t too bad. Now they might have a chance to really rev up the next couple weeks. Up first in week three will be Sam Bradford in Arizona.
Presuming the Cardinals don’t turn to rookie Josh Rosen, the Bears will be facing a QB that can’t run and has just 243 passing yards and two interceptions through two weeks. Then it will be Ryan Fitzpatrick. Admittedly the longtime journeyman is red-hot with eight TD passes through two weeks but he’s been known to go hot/cold really fast. Especially if he’s pressured which he hasn’t been thus far.
Then there’s Ryan Tannehill. He’s been halfway decent for Miami to start the season but nowhere near what one would call elite. He was also sacked four times last Sunday. There is a very real possibility the Bears could be 4-1 by the second half of October and it would be the defense leading the way. There’s no telling the trail of devastation they might leave in their wake.
If the offense continues to take steps forward, there is no reason to think this team can’t be in the playoff conversation later this year. All they have to do is continue to grow as they have been.
