Chicago has two impressive wins since Williams went down with a hamstring injury in the fourth quarter of its Week 2 loss against Minnesota.
asserted
Williams → have → Minnesota
Helped by the offense controlling the time of possession, the defense has surrendered just 19 points, 21 first downs and 405 yards over the past two games.
asserted
defense → help → games
“We are playing pretty good complementary football, something that we got to do each and every week to be at our best,” coach Ben Johnson said.
asserted
Johnson → play → best
Williams has been ruled out for Chicago’s Week 5 game at Green Bay.
asserted
Williams → rule → Bay
Tyson Bagent is expected to start against the Packers after he passed for a career-high 268 yards in Sunday’s 23-12 victory over the New York Jets.
asserted
he → expect → Jets
A cautious approach was always the most logical plan for the No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft, and the way Chicago has played has only reinforced the likelihood of that course of action.
asserted
Chicago → play → action
“He’s doing a great job with his rehab,” Johnson said Monday.
asserted
Johnson → do → rehab
“He’s not going to be there this week for us, but we think it’s still a week-to-week deal for us.”
asserted
it → go → us
The defense was a major concern going into the season, but it has delivered since Chicago’s 59-37 victory at Carolina in the opener.
asserted
it → go → opener
The Bears (3-1) have allowed fewer than 13 points in three straight games in a season for the first time since a four-game streak in 2005.
asserted
Bears → allow → 2005
They sacked Geno Smith three times while surrendering just 157 yards in the win over the Jets.
asserted
They → sack → Jets
Johnson said he has a ton of confidence in Chicago’s defense.
asserted
he → say → defense
“We had two sudden changes yesterday and they didn’t bat an eye,” he said.
asserted
he → have → eye
“They went out on the field and held them to two field goals.
asserted
They → go → goals
I thought it was outstanding.
asserted
it → think → ?
That’s kind of who they are.
asserted
they → ’ → ?
We talk all the time about it’s a long game, 60-minute game, and yet they’re a poised group.
asserted
they → talk → ?
What’s working
The Bears rushed for 232 yards against the Jets.
asserted
Bears → work → Jets
They lead the NFL with 785 yards rushing on 159 attempts.
asserted
They → lead → attempts
Kyle Monangai (324 yards) and D’Andre Swift (311) are the first running back duo to each gain at least 300 yards rushing in the first four weeks of a season since Lawrence McCutcheon and John Cappelletti for the Los Angeles Rams in 1976.
asserted
Monangai → gain → 1976
What needs help
asserted
needs → need → help
Chicago scored two touchdowns on seven trips to the red zone against New York.
asserted
Chicago → score → York
It turned the ball over on downs at the 1 on its first drive, Cairo Santos kicked three field goals and Chicago ran out the clock on its final drive.
asserted
Chicago → turn → drive
The Bears have finished 42.1% (8 for 19) of their red-zone drives with a TD, ranking 30th in the NFL.
asserted
Bears → finish → NFL
They are averaging 3.58 points per red-zone drive, last in the league.
asserted
They → average → league
“I feel like everything needs to get cleaned up if we want to go where we’re trying to go,” receiver Luther Burden said.
asserted
Burden → feel → ?
We all have to come together and fix it.”
asserted
We → have → it
Stock up
Dayo Odeyingbo has one sack in each of the last three games.
asserted
Odeyingbo → have → games
Odeyingbo signed a $48 million, three-year contract with Chicago in March 2025, but the edge rusher played in just eight games last season before he was sidelined by an Achilles tendon injury.
asserted
he → sign → injury
“Really pleased with where he’s at,” Johnson said.
asserted
Johnson → please → where
“His high effort, high intensity shows up week in and week out.”
asserted
effort → show → ?
Stock down
Swift was stuffed on fourth-and-goal at the 1 on Chicago’s first drive.
asserted
Swift → stuff → drive
He also lost a fumble at the Bears 28 in the third quarter, leading to a field goal for the Jets.
asserted
He → lose → Jets
Swift fumbled at the Minnesota 1 on Chicago’s first possession of the second half in a 9-3 loss to the Vikings on Sept. 20.
asserted
Swift → fumble → Sept.
The veteran running back lost a total of two fumbles all of last season.
asserted
back → lose → season
Johnson described Monangai’s thumb injury as more of a day-to-day situation.
asserted
Johnson → describe → situation
“We’ll see what it looks like as we go through the week here,” Johnson said.
asserted
Johnson → see → week
Key number
9 — The Bears have allowed an NFL-low nine third-down conversions in 38 attempts.
asserted
Bears → allow → attempts
The 23.6% rate for opponent third-down conversions ranks second in the league behind Minnesota at 22.6% (12 for 53).
asserted
rate → rank → 53
Next steps
Chicago, which visits Green Bay on Sunday, won the last two of three meetings with the Packers last season, including a wild 31-27 win in the playoffs.
asserted
which → visit → playoffs
The Aporia
