The Chicago Bears cruised to a 31-3 win Sunday against the Cleveland Browns. Ben Johnson’s team moved to 10-4 on the season and remains in prime position for a playoff spot.
The Bears have three games remaining, starting with Saturday night’s rematch with the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field. Supremacy in the NFC North once again will be on the line.
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Tribune Bears reporters Brad Biggs, Sean Hammond and Phil Thompson tackle this week’s pressing questions.
1. Which was the more impressive play against the Browns: Caleb Williams’ second-half touchdown pass to DJ Moore or Jaylon Johnson’s interception?
Biggs: Oh, boy. Two highlight-reel plays for sure. Williams’ touchdown pass was more impressive because the Johnson interception almost certainly doesn’t happen if Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy hadn’t let the football come into his chest. It bounced off Jeudy, and Johnson had his hands where he could then make a sensational play. If Jeudy snatches the ball, it’s a touchdown throw by Shedeur Sanders into a tight window. Williams bought time while on the move and delivered a strike to Moore in the back of the end zone, somehow getting it just over safety Grant Delpit. One of his best throws of the season, no question.
Hammond: I’m going with Williams’ touchdown pass. From our vantage point in the Soldier Field press box, that was an impossible throw. It was somewhat baffling he even decided to throw the ball — although Williams didn’t find it so surprising. Johnson’s interception was a big one and another play that took multiple replays to comprehend. But I think Williams’ throw was better.
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Thompson: As impressive as Johnson’s pick was, it has to be the touchdown toss by Williams, which had a completion probability of just 16.1%, according to Next Gen Stats. It took incredible concentration on both ends: Williams for throwing at an awkward angle as he ran toward the sideline, and Moore for blocking out the traffic around him, including a tipped ball by Delpit.
2. How much does Micah Parsons’ injury change the complexion of the NFC North race?
Biggs: The loss of Parsons to a torn ACL in his left knee not only changes the division race, it affects the entire conference. After Myles Garrett, whom the Bears blocked with a team effort Sunday, Parsons is the most impactful and disruptive defensive lineman in the league. The Packers might have to reimagine how they do a lot of things on defense, a massive challenge for defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley at any point in the season and one that’s magnified with three games remaining in a push to the postseason. With the exception of a quarterback going down for one of the NFC challengers, it’s the single biggest injury that could have happened in the conference.
Hammond: It changes everything. It’s all crystal clear now — the Bears’ opportunity is right now. This isn’t about the future or next year. They can win the division now. The door is open. The Packers are still a dangerous team, but they lost their best defender and one of their primary engines. That’s hard for any team to overcome. The Bears need to win Saturday and probably at least one more game after that because Green Bay finishes with very winnable games against the Baltimore Ravens and Minnesota Vikings.
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Thompson: It’s tough to make a case that an injury to one player, other than a quarterback, could have that significant an effect on a playoff race, even one as talented and effective as Parsons. According to NFL Pro, however, Parsons leads the league in pressures (83) and Rashan Gary is the only other Packer to rank in the top 75. The margins in the NFC are razor-thin. Green Bay is clinging to the last playoff spot at No. 7, and its next two opponents — the Bears and Ravens — are playing for high stakes as well. The Detroit Lions are on the outside, waiting for the Packers to slip.
3. What’s your best argument for why this Bears team could make a run in the playoffs?
Biggs: The combination of the offensive line and running game and the fact the Bears don’t beat themselves will make them a tough out in the postseason. The offense ranks second in the league in rushing, and Ben Johnson is one of few young offensive minds who will commit to the ground attack and remain committed to it. It’s well-publicized that the defense leads the league with 30 takeaways. What hasn’t gotten enough attention is the fact the Bears take care of the ball too. They’re tied for the second-fewest turnovers in the league with 10. Remember when penalties were a huge problem and storyline for this team? The Bears have had 43 penalty yards or fewer marked off against them in six of the last seven games.
Hammond: While the Bears have dealt with their share of injuries, overall they’ve been incredibly fortunate in the injury department. Williams hasn’t missed a game. They’ve weathered some injuries in the secondary without too much trouble. All of their top playmakers on offense have been relatively healthy, not to mention the entire offensive line. Beyond that, the Bears running game is built to win in January. That will translate to the playoffs. If the Bears are going to make a run, it will be because that rushing attack keeps the offense in favorable positions.
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Thompson: Ironically, it’s the lack of consistency in how they win that makes the best case for them winning. You can’t just say, for example, if you run on them or stop the run, that’s the definitive way of stopping them. Those are conventional means. These Bears are unconventional, winning through takeaways or aerial comebacks or blocked field goals or whatever spin-the-wheel, “find a way” method you can think up.
4. Fill in the blank: If one thing will hold back the Bears from making a run in the playoffs, it will be _________ ?
Biggs: Allowing too many big plays on defense. The Bears rank 29th in yards per rush allowed and 27th in yards per pass, and elite quarterbacks they would encounter in the playoffs should have opportunities to hit them for big plays. The pass rush has been below par most of the season, and five sacks against Cleveland shouldn’t be viewed as a sign of things to come considering the Browns were missing four starters on their offensive line.
Hammond: The pass rush. I’m not convinced the Bears have a deep enough stable of pass rushers to consistently disrupt the best of the best quarterbacks, which is typically who you get in the postseason. The Bears defense ranks 28th in pressure rate. If the interceptions run dry on the back end, can this group get to the quarterback consistently? Dennis Allen has done a good job manufacturing pressure with timely blitzes, but that can come back to bite you like it did in Green Bay.
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Thompson: Caleb Williams. This is not to let other parts of the team off the hook (the defense’s penchant for allowing explosive plays, for example), but in terms of performance, nothing swings as broadly as Williams’ game, particularly his accuracy. Typically, the deeper you go into the playoffs, the more quarterbacks erase mistakes made by teammates, not the other way around.
5. If the Bears win the division — still a big if — which potential wild-card round matchup should concern them the most: the Seahawks, 49ers or Packers?
Biggs: That’s a tough call between Seattle and Green Bay. The Seahawks have an incredibly stingy defense and an explosive passing game. The Packers have the best quarterback of those three teams with Jordan Love, who’s capable of having a big game on any weekend. Even with all of the injuries, I’ll say the Packers — but that answer could change significantly depending on Saturday night’s outcome.
Hammond: It has to be the Packers, right? If the Bears meet the Packers in the playoffs, all bets are off. Micah Parsons or not, that’s a nerve-wracking matchup for Bears fans. Recent history is certainly not on their side. The Seahawks defense is also scary. The 49ers are a good team, of course, but maybe the least intimidating of the bunch.
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Thompson: I know the Packers have had a psychological hold over this city, but the Seahawks are flying under the radar. Even if the Bears host, the Seahawks have the second-best road record (6-1) in the league, losing only to the conference-leading Los Angeles Rams. Seattle’s defense allows the second-fewest points per game (17.3), while the offense is fifth with 28.9 points per game. Their threat has been overshadowed by the Rams’ dominance.