Three Takeaways from Bears blowout win over Jaguars |
It has been more than four years since the Chicago Bears were two games above .500, so to have that happen this early in the season is a promising sight. Judging by what is ahead on their schedule after their bye week next week, there is a chance that this team can rip off even more wins as they are right in the middle of the NFC North race.
There are still some fans who want them to beat a good team, which is understandable, but you have to play who is on your schedule, and the Bears are beating the teams they should beat. That is the first step in becoming a good team, as the Bears often had difficulty beating the teams they should beat last season, and that did hurt them until the end of the year. Here are some takeaways from week 6.
It may have taken Caleb Williams three weeks to settle in as the Bears' quarterback, but now that he has, he is proving to be a franchise guy. Coming off a massive 300-plus yard performance, Williams was at it again on Sunday as he threw for a career-high four touchdowns in the Bears' win against the Jaguars. That is something that Justin Fields and Mitch Trubisky had a tough time doing, although both of them did do that at least once in their career. Williams has already done that six games into his career. While the four TDs are impressive, it is the way he is getting these TDs at this point as he continues to spread the ball around to all of his options. .@ChicagoBears @CALEBcsw is really good; the offense is expanding; and it is a great Sunday afternoon Show...the best part...its just the beginning. #dabears #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/c5SOWgzl8U Cole Kmet had a breakout game, leading the team in receiving yards with two TDs, while Keenan Allen finally got his first TD with the Bears and wound up bringing in two. You can see the comfort level of this offense as they continue to get better each week. If the offense can continue to play at this level, that will be a massive problem for defenses.Caleb Williams was worthy of the No. 1 overall pick
Secondary injuries are starting to pile up
If there were a concern right now, it would have to be in the secondary as the injuries are beginning to pile up. Not only were the Bears down Jaquon Brisker and Tyrique Stevenson on Sunday, but Kyler Gordon also left the game with an injury and didn't return.
That accounts for 60% of the Bears' secondary going down this week, and it is hard for any team to survive those types of blows all season. The good thing about this team is that they have accumulated so much depth that they have managed to get by with injuries even when it looks like they could be a problem.
However, if Gordon, Brisker, or Stevenson is missing for an extended period of time, you could see the Bears make a move, as all three play massive roles in the defense's overall success. This is one of those times when the bye week comes at the perfect time, as it gives the Bears' injured players a chance to rest and recover, with the hopes of being good to go by week 8.
D'Andre Swift has changed the offense
Remember when fans were getting on Swift earlier in the season and saying how bad of a pickup he was? Well, those days appear to be long gone as Swift has been one of the better RBs in the league for the past three weeks, and it's no shock that the Bears offense has responded because of it.
After averaging less than 45 yards rushing in his first three games, Swift has turned it on lately, has accumulated more than 300 yards on the ground the past three weeks, and is in the top three in all rushing categories during that time. These were the types of performances the Bears envisioned from him when they brought him in, and he is starting to deliver.
When he struggled to run the ball, the Bears' offense looked terrible as they became a one-dimensional team. It's hard enough to succeed that way with a veteran quarterback, but with a rookie quarterback in Williams, it is nearly impossible to win games. Now that he is running the ball, you have started to see things open up offensively as the Bears' overall balance is beginning to give teams fits on the defensive side of the ball.
No one expects Swift to produce the way he has the past three weeks the rest of the way, but he needs to be more productive than he was in the first three weeks. As long as he remains consistent the rest of the way, the Bears' offensive attack will continue to improve, which in return will lead to far more wins.
D’Andre Swift total yards by week;
— Just Another Year Chicago: Bears (@JAYChi_Bears) October 13, 2024
Week 1: 30
Week 2: 42
Week 3: 42
Week 4: 165
Week 5: 120
Week 6: 119
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