Three Bears receivers compiled at least 78 yards. Rome Odunze caught six passes for 112 yards and one touchdown. Cole Kmet matched a career-high with 10 receptions for 97 yards and one TD. And DJ Moore had eight catches for 78 yards. The Bears rushed for 63 yards on 28 carries but did not have a run of more than nine yards.

“It was good to see guys make plays on both sides of the ball,” Eberflus said. “Really feel that we’re taking a step in the right direction in terms of offensively distributing the ball to our skill to the different targets that we saw, and then we were committed to the run game. [But] certainly need to have it be more effective in the early part of the game.”

The Bears defense produced two more interceptions by cornerback Jaylon Johnson and linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, increasing its total since the start of the 2023 season to 26, most in the NFL. Edmunds’ interception came in the end zone after Jack Sanborn deflected an Anthony Richardson pass on third-and-goal from the 3.

“I was proud of the defense and the way that they played in terms of the way they responded to different scenarios they were put in, sudden change and different things that we rose up to,” Eberflus said. “The takeaways will continue to be there for us, and that’s going to be a part going forward.”

(2) During Monday’s team meeting, Eberflus focused on turnover ratio, yards per rushing attempt and explosive plays on both sides of the ball.

While the defense intercepted two passes, the offense committed three turnovers on two interceptions and a lost fumble. The Colts converted two takeaways into TDs, including one after they had recovered a Williams fumble at the Bears’ 16.

“Just meeting with the team this morning was really about that,” Eberflus said. “It was just about getting the ball right, making sure we’re squared away there: Offense, protect it; defense, get it. That’s line one in football.”

Eberflus stressed how the Bears must improve on the ground after averaging 2.3 yards per carry and allowing the Colts to average 4.5 yards per attempt. Indianapolis’ Jonathan Taylor rushed for 110 yards on 23 carries, including a 29-yard touchdown.

“Our run averages have to be better on both sides of the ball,” Eberflus said. “That was another big message there. And then the explosive plays. The way you stop scoring and the way you get scoring in the NFL is through explosives.”