The overreaction to the Chicago Bears’ Week 1 performance no longer seemed like an overreaction after Week 2.
The Bears rank 31st in total offense, 32nd yards per play and 32nd in passing yards per game. They have only one 20-plus-yard completion and one offensive touchdown.
We wondered how offensive coordinator Shane Waldron’s scheme would adjust after Week 1. The biggest personnel change came at tight end, where Cole Kmet and Gerald Everett flipped in playing time.
Now, it’s only Week 3, but what kind of changeup could we see in Indianapolis?
It got me thinking back to other Bears overcorrections in recent years.
• In 2017, when Tarik Cohen was clearly the best weapon on the team, he played only 13 of 60 snaps in a 23-16 loss to the Packers and touched the ball twice on offense. Offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains received a deluge of questions about Cohen’s usage.
“It’s hard not to get impatient and say, ‘Hey, look we got to get him on the field more. We’ve got to find different ways to get him the ball,’” Loggains said.
The next week, Cohen had nine carries and four catches (on six targets) while playing 31 of 63 snaps.
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• In 2019, the offense was a mess. After a 36-25 loss to the Saints that featured a grand total of seven rushes and 54 pass attempts, we saw something we’d never expect from Matt Nagy — the I formation.
The next week against the Chargers, David Montgomery had 27 carries, the third most in his career.
• In 2021, coming off Justin Fields’ disastrous starting debut in Cleveland in a scheme that wasn’t tailored to help a rookie quarterback one bit, we saw a huge shift in Week 4 at Soldier Field. Fields was under center more, running play-action bootlegs. Montgomery had 23 carries, Fields threw only 17 passes and the Bears won.
That could be a similar blueprint for this week if Waldron and Matt Eberflus believe a major change is required. Take some pressure off Caleb Williams, get D’Andre Swift (and other running backs) going and maybe the offense can find its rhythm.
Now, on to your questions.
Fish, there’s a lot of focus on the offense this week, but I have a question about the defense, specifically Montez Sweat. Through two games, he has zero sacks and two total tackles, but he’s been double-teamed frequently. One could argue that players like Darrell Taylor, Gervon Dexter and DeMarcus Walker are benefiting from the extra attention Sweat is drawing. Do you think Sweat can justify his $98 million contract by continuing to free up other rushers, or does he need to start putting up more individual stats? Thanks in advance, and Bear Down. — JP Schwartz
In 2019 and 2020, when Khalil Mack’s numbers dipped, we heard a lot about all the double-teams he faced and how he was creating sacks for his teammates. That was probably true, but don’t all star edge rushers face similar matchups? You’re right that someone of Sweat’s caliber should be getting hits on the quarterback, but Sweat’s coaches did explain Thursday how he’s been an impact player through two weeks.
“He’s going to get there,” defensive coordinator Eric Washington said. “He has the talent and the mindset and the intelligence to get there. There are things that are obvious, sacks, hits, those types of things, and sometimes there are things that are obvious to us. And what I’m looking at with (Sweat) is how he is factoring on certain plays.
“There have been plays that have been made by Gervon where Montez was a major, if not primary, factor on that particular play. So it’s just a matter of time. He knows how to get to the quarterback and to end the play with a sack fumble, and so those things will happen for him, and they will happen in bunches.”
Defensive line coach Travis Smith noted how Sweat occupied an offensive tackle to let Dexter get a sack, and how he beat his guy on Tremaine Edmunds’ sack.
“Statistically in our room, how we grade it, he’s doing a really good job,” he said.
Now, at some point, one would want Sweat to make the plays himself. Through two weeks, there have definitely been plays where it’s noticeable that Sweat is getting to the quarterback. He hasn’t been invisible. Let’s see if we’re having this conversation at the bye.
“Of course, I want sacks and all that type of stuff, but as long as we’re performing well as a defense, I think everything else will fall into place,” Sweat said.
As far as the double-teams he’s faced, he responded, “It is what it is, a part of the game. I’d double me too. We’ve got to do what we do.”
Given the issues that have been discussed at length this week, what are the realistic options open to the Bears that would improve things in the short term and give Caleb a chance to develop? — Jules
It’s either or both of, having a better plan and executing that plan better. Man, I’m starting to sound like a coach.
It will help Williams not to have to drop back more than 40 times. That requires a productive run game. When Williams goes back to pass, the protection has to improve, the pass-blocking schemes have to improve, and the Bears might have to consider moving the pocket a bit.
When I talked to Jason Garrett last week, he talked about finding layups in the offense, setting up some easy passes for Williams — gain first downs, gain confidence. That will allow Williams to develop much easier than being hit 11 times and sacked seven times.
Williams should’ve started from Day 1. The Bears made the right call. But just because Williams can do rare things for a rookie doesn’t mean he needs a veteran quarterback’s play sheet.
What have you seen from the offense so far that offers hope in the coming weeks? And is the defense as good as you expected so far, or do you have any concerns there? — Bodhi S.
Two things give me hope on offense. One — which I might’ve said after Week 1 — is, it can’t get worse. Right? The kinds of numbers the Bears are putting up seem unlikely to continue. They might be simply average, but right now, it’s well below. What will get them there is the quarterback, and I still have seen some good things from Williams. He’s making the right reads. He’s showing impressive accuracy from the pocket on his out routes. He still has to improve, like the rest of the offense, but I don’t think it’s worth panicking about the quarterback at this time.
The defense has been even better than I expected. Seeing someone like defensive tackle Andrew Billings dominate the way he has tells you a lot about this group. Cornerback Jaylon Johnson has made some big plays. Dexter and Taylor each have two sacks. Walker has four QB hits. The defense gave up a few explosive plays in Week 2, especially when C.J. Stroud broke the pocket, but its second-half performance was outstanding. I’d still like to see the safeties make impact plays and the aforementioned Sweat get on the stat sheet, but this group doesn’t give me any reason for concern.
Travis Homer is listed as RB2, which surprises me. What are your thoughts on the running back group? Do you think we’ll see more of Khalil Herbert, Roschon Johnson or maybe Homer due to our lack of success in the running game last week with Swift, and considering Indy’s lack of run defense so far this year? — Jacob A.
Homer is actually RB4 on the Bears’ (unofficial) depth chart, but what matters more is his usage, and that’s where he ranks as the No. 2 back behind Swift.
I asked Eberflus on Monday about Homer being the team’s third-down and two-minute back instead of Johnson. His response made me think that we could see some more players rotate through the backfield.
“We want to be able to mix that up a little bit and change it,” he said. “Travis has done a really good job in protection. He’s done a really good job when we’ve called some designed runs in there. … But again, we want to have a little bit of mix and match in there just to create some different matchup issues for the defense.”
If Swift runs the ball like the Bears hoped, we won’t have to wonder as much about the other guys in the backfield. But he hasn’t been productive, so it’s worth wondering if Herbert needs more snaps and if Johnson can return to his role as the third-down back.
Doug Kramer is on his third season with the Bears yet has not played a down in a regular-season game. If he’s just plain bad, then why hold on to him for this long? If he’s not ready yet, when do you think he will be? I can understand being inactive for two-plus seasons if an Olin Kreutz-caliber center was on the roster, but this is not the case. Unless Doug Kramer is atrocious and we don’t know it, I don’t get why they haven’t given him a look yet. — Eddie K.
Some guys are simply good backups — good enough to be reliable as a fill-in but not good enough to be a full-time starter. Kramer has definitely improved, earning the roster spot this year as opposed to being on the practice squad. I’d be interested to see if he’s an option to start if Coleman Shelton continues to struggle, but there’s a wide gap in experience between the two. Kramer could look to Shelton as inspiration as Shelton didn’t start until his fourth NFL season.
The Bears might have to consider their in-house options like Kramer, Matt Pryor and Kiran Amegadjie if the line isn’t executing week after week.
Bears-Colts fun facts
• The Bears are 19-25 all time against the Colts franchise. They are 6-4 against the Indianapolis Colts, including the Super Bowl loss.
• The Bears are 3-1 in Indianapolis, with the one loss coming in the last meeting, a 29-23 defeat in 2016. Brian Hoyer passed for 397 yards that day, the fifth most in Bears history.
That game ended with Hoyer missing an open Alshon Jeffery in the end zone. John Fox said the day after the game, “When you’re out there playing quarterback, it looks a little different than when you’re up in the press box having hot dogs.”
• This is Eberflus’ first regular-season game against his former team. Bears linebackers coach Dave Borgonzi and nickelbacks coach David Overstreet II were also on that staff.
• Richardson is the third consecutive second-year quarterback the Bears will face to begin the season.
Game picks: Bears (+1.5) at Colts, noon CT on CBS
Kevin Fishbain: Colts 16, Bears 15
(2-0 straight up, 0-2 against the spread)
As much as the Bears might be looking forward to a “get right” game in Indianapolis, couldn’t the Colts say the same based on what they’ve seen on tape? The Bears have one offensive touchdown. One! It’s hard to pick them to outscore anyone — they are 25-11 since 2019 when allowing 19 points or fewer. That’s the second-worst record in football when holding an opponent below 20. Maybe a concerted emphasis on the run game and better pass protection gets the offense humming on its way to five field goals.
Adam Jahns: Bears 26, Colts 16
(2-0, 2-0)
I expect to see a few highlights from Colts QB Anthony Richardson. But I also expect the Bears defense to settle in and control the second half like it did against the Texans and Titans. If the Bears can run the ball against the Colts — and they should be able to — then this is the week for a Caleb Williams offensive breakthrough. That might mean more field goals than touchdowns. But Williams will find the end zone.
Dan Pompei: Bears 17, Colts 16
(2-0, 0-2)
This should be a favorable matchup for the Bears, as the Colts aren’t equipped to take advantage of the Bears’ deficiencies. The Bears defense should have a good day against an offense that has struggled. The Bears probably won’t need much from their beleaguered offense, but if they can’t run the ball against the Colts, they probably won’t be able to run it against any opponent.
Jon Greenberg: Bears 25, Colts 20
(2-0, 2-0)
Last week, I predicted Caleb Williams would break into triple digits in passing yards, throw an INT and the Bears would lose but cover the spread. For my next bold predictions, I think Williams throws a TD pass (maybe two), the defense gets multiple takeaways and the Bears win on the road.
James Boyd (Colts beat writer): Colts 20, Bears 17
Indianapolis’ defense has yielded 474 rushing yards through two games, which is the most in any two-game span for the franchise since 2012. The Colts are adamant about getting it corrected, even without star defensive tackle DeForest Buckner (ankle) and potentially first-round rookie defensive end Laiatu Latu (hip). The benefit is that Indy will face No. 1 pick Caleb Williams, who’s yet to throw a touchdown pass through two games, and assuming Anthony Richardson can outplay Williams at home, Indianapolis is poised to earn its first win of the season.
(Top photo of Montez Sweat: Cooper Neill / Getty Images)
