While the showing in Vegas was far from aces, the Bears did what was necessary to leave week 4 at 2-2 and keep their season alive as they entered their week 5 BYE. The defense’s ability to take the ball
away from Geno Smith and the game-sealing field goal block by Josh Blackwell are the lasting impressions many Bears fans have in their minds. The offense did just enough too, especially when it mattered most. As we count down the final days of the wait for a game that was circled very early on in many Chicago-area households, let’s check in on how the offense’s playmakers have fared vs the Detroit Lions’ players from Ben Johnson’s first year calling plays in Motown. We’ll also look at some new projections at where they could be at the end of the season.
Quarterback
Caleb Williams
Comp: 2022 Jared Goff
Benchmark Statistics:
Caleb Williams hasn’t yet blown everyone away, but he’s taken steps forward when you compare his play from this year to last. That’s enough to feel encouraged about his development under Ben Johnson and the new Bears regime. The last game had plenty of ups and downs, but Caleb was able to rise to the occasion to take the lead in Vegas and while Bears fans may be disappointed to see Caleb on pace for just shy of 4,000 yards passing – its got to be comforting to see that the entire picture would likely secure Williams a surefire Pro Bowl nod, if nothing else.
Running Backs
D’Andre Swift
Comp: 2022 D’Andre Swift
Benchmark Statistics:
Swift was the guy to find the end zone on the Bears’ final drive in week 4. Unfortunately, that score wasn’t really indicative of greater success. That’s been the story of the season for the Bears in the running game and the projections for the season don’t inspire a ton of confidence for Swift unless a turnaround is coming.
Kyle Monangai, DJ Moore, etc.
Comp: 2024 David Montgomery
Benchmark Statistics:
Whereas Swift has struggled to find significant production this season, all others (namely Kyle Monangai and DJ Moore as a runner) have outright withered away behind him. Monangai showed some signs of life in Vegas, nearly doubling the rushing yards total of this group in a single outing, but this remains a situation to monitor in the coming weeks.
Tight Ends
Cole Kmet
Comp: 2021 T.J. Hockenson
Benchmark Statistics:
Cole Kmet had a rough game against the Raiders. Drops and penalties seemed to come in bunches for him which was made more difficult by the absence of Colston Loveland. It’s still hard to gauge what Kmet’s role and potential in this new offense can be.
Colston Loveland
Comp: 2023 Sam LaPorta
Benchmark Statistics:
Colston Loveland’s season has been disappointing to this point. He missed the game in Vegas, and prior to that, his production had been very limited. We can hope that the time away allows him to get healthy and come back ready to assert himself in this offense.
Wide Receivers
DJ Moore
Comp: 2024 Amon-Ra St. Brown
Benchmark Statistics:
In setting the table for this season-long project, I identified DJ Moore as the “WR1” of the Bears. Through the first 4 games, I think anyone saying that Rome Odunze isn’t that guy now, has been watching completely different football. Still, Moore has found some productivity to open up the field for Odunze and others so far over the course of the season.
Rome Odunze
Comp: 2024 Jameson Williams
Benchmark Statistics:
This has been the story of the season offensively so far. Rome has broken out and is on pace to have a stellar season. Obviously, we can’t realistically expect him to average a touchdown+ in every single game this season, but 5 so far is nothing to sneeze at.
Olamide Zaccheaus
Comp: 2023 Josh Reynolds
Benchmark Statistics:
The standout stat for OZ continues to be his targets. Caleb obviously has a level of trust in him and that has also proved beneficial on a number of pivotal plays for chunk yardage, 3rd down conversions, etc. I keep waiting for him to find the end zone and maybe this week against his former team is when it finally happens.
Luther Burden III
Comp: 2023 Jameson Williams
Benchmark Statistics:
We were flying high after Luther Burden’s game against the Cowboys. Unfortunately, the Raiders bottled him up to the tune of 2 catches for -4 yards. The definition of feast or famine through four weeks, Burden’s season is as fascinating as it is frustrating.
