The Bears have won three games in a row, the last two by one point each.
On Monday night against the Washington Commanders, the running game finally got going, the Bears made a change at left tackle and there was a surprise hero. There was a lot to digest.
The Tribune’s Brad Biggs, Sean Hammond and Phil Thompson tackle five pressing questions after the Week 6 win.
1. Did the Bears running game finally turn a corner?
Biggs: One game shouldn’t represent turning the corner after things were consistently off through the first month. But 108 yards for D’Andre Swift on only 14 carries was a breakthrough, and if it’s a sign of things to come, the Bears could prove to be potent on the ground very soon. They rank 18th in the league with 110.8 rushing yards per game, and the key is more explosive runs. Sweat had three of them at Washington. Sprinkle in a few more and the Bears can bump up their per-carry average of 4.1.
Hammond: The NFL is such a week-to-week league. What works against one team doesn’t always work against another. But the Bears looked like they figured out some things coming out of the bye week. It was encouraging to see Swift and the running game have a breakout performance. It’s possible we’ll look back on this week as the moment the Bears turned it around.
Thompson: It’s too soon to say. Certainly Swift had his best performance in almost a year. Bears rushers as a whole averaged 5.4 yards per carry, helped by some gaping holes the offensive line and tight ends opened. Was it the new line configuration with Theo Benedet at left tackle? Given their earlier struggles and the fact they had a bye week to prepare, they don’t get the benefit of the doubt just yet. Swift himself said there are still areas to clean up. But Monday was a great start.
2. Fill in the blank: Theo Benedet emerging as the starting left tackle is _______ for the Bears.
Biggs: Something that is far too new even to evaluate. As even most veteran tackles do, Benedet had a tough go of it playing right tackle in Las Vegas against Maxx Crosby before he was flipped to the left side. Washington’s top edge rusher, Dorance Armstrong, battled through a hamstring injury Monday. Let’s see where Benedet is when he has more experience under his belt and the New York Giants come to Soldier Field in a month. Facing Brian Burns and Abdul Carter, with Dexter Lawrence in the middle of that defensive line, will be a nice early measuring stick.
Hammond: Worth a shot. I agree it will take time to fully judge his performance. He looked good in the running game Monday. But the Bears knew what they had in Braxton Jones. They did not know exactly what they have in Benedet. If he does emerge as a potential long-term answer at left tackle, the Bears would be thrilled. If he doesn’t, that probably won’t change their thinking much as they look ahead to the offseason.
Thompson: Pivotal. If the Bears have found a solution that goes above just adequate — whether that’s Benedet, Jones or Ozzy Trapilo — that would be a cornerstone factor in Ben Johnson’s offense evolving to its full potential. Johnson said the game was at its most productive (“around 69% efficient”) with Benedet on the left and Darnell Wright returning to his right tackle spot despite an elbow injury. Caleb Williams took three sacks, though Benedet wasn’t a factor in any of them. Still, let’s see how Benedet performs Sunday against New Orleans Saints pass rushers Carl Granderson and Cameron Jordan.
3. Does Jake Moody’s success Monday mean the Bears have an emerging kicker competition?
Biggs: No. Cairo Santos, the most accurate kicker in franchise history, hasn’t done anything to be put on notice. Moody is a really good option to have with Santos battling a right quadriceps injury. Credit to the front office for taking the somewhat different path of adding Moody to the practice squad after the San Francisco 49ers released him at the start of Week 2. I tend to believe had Santos been 4-for-5 on Monday with a blocked 48-yard attempt, there would be a lot more focus on the miss than there has been for Moody. Have second thoughts on this? Remember, the circus didn’t come to town until after the Bears cut Robbie Gould in his prime.
Hammond: I have to agree wholeheartedly with Biggs on this one. Santos is the most accurate field-goal kicker ever to wear a Bears uniform. That’s not subjective. It’s a fact. And that’s over five full seasons and change — no small sample size. Fans tend to rag on Santos whenever he misses a kick, but this job should belong to him as soon as he’s healthy.
Thompson: My guess would be yes. Let’s not forget Moody was signed to the practice squad last month after Santos missed a field goal and botched a kickoff late in the season-opening loss to the Minnesota Vikings. It doesn’t help that Santos is dealing with a thigh injury or that Moody swept in and played the hero with Monday’s game-winning boot. Also, NFL coaches seem to have little patience for shortcomings in the kicking game, which is why we often see a carousel of kickers. So, yes, Santos has opened the door.
4. The Nov. 4 trade deadline is fast approaching. How should the Bears be thinking about it? As buyers? Sellers? Neither?
Biggs: Phone lines always should be open. You should listen either way. But it would be a mistake for a team with an offseason need list that is becoming pretty defined before the midpoint of the season to deal away future draft capital without a very compelling reason. Edge rusher, left tackle, defensive tackle, running back and safety all appear to be potential needs. More could emerge. It might be worth listening if there’s a chance to add more draft picks.
Hammond: The Bears definitely should be keeping an open mind. They currently have a full slate of seven draft picks in 2026. But it’s also worth considering where this team is right now. It’s Year 1 under Johnson. They’re still a ways off from competing in the division (remember Week 2 against the Detroit Lions?). I think the Bears are likelier to be sellers if the right opportunity arises, but I also think this could be a quiet trade deadline for them.
Thompson: I’d say neither. The Bears aren’t in a place where they should be selling, which is usually what you do when you intend to rebuild. The Bears should be augmenting what they’ve already built. They already shelled out to help the pass rush, and they’ve seen modest returns on that investment. Until Monday, the running game desperately needed help, but how often do you see teams make high-level trades for a running back? It’s just not wise roster management, especially if you’re not one or two pieces away from Super Bowl contention. If these spots remain issues, they can be addressed in the draft or free agency.
5. The NFC North is the only division in which all four teams have a winning record. Is it the best division in football?
Biggs: It’s a rugged division again, no question, made stronger by the improvements the Bears have made through the first six weeks. You could have a good debate as to whether the AFC West is potentially stronger, especially in terms of high-end teams. The NFC North will benefit from scheduling this season as it faces the AFC North, a group that looked strong entering the season and has cratered with injuries crippling the Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals. The four AFC North teams are a combined 8-15, and if the ravaged Ravens (1-5) can’t get off the mat, that will be a really bad division this season. The Lions and Green Bay Packers from the NFC North and the Kansas City Chiefs, Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers (if they can manage their injuries) from the AFC West all appear like teams that could reach a conference championship game.
Hammond: The AFC West looks like it has three legit contenders. I think you can say the same thing about the NFC West with the 49ers, Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams all sitting at 4-2. The Bears and Vikings have more to prove, in my opinion. The Bears squeaked out two one-point victories that easily could’ve gone the other way. The Vikings are pinning their hopes on J.J. McCarthy, and we’ve gotten to see him for only two games.
Thompson: It’s the AFC West, despite the drag that is the Las Vegas Raiders. You could see the Chiefs, Chargers or Broncos in anybody’s final four and not bat an eye. Meanwhile, the Packers, Vikings and (to a much lesser degree) Lions have had problems with consistency, injuries and/or identity. The NFC West, with the steady Rams, resilient 49ers and surprising Seahawks, also could make an argument.