The off week could not have come at a better time for the Chicago Bears, who need to forget about their play Sunday night and get healthier. The Bears are sitting at 7-2 on the season, and as bad as they looked against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, it actually helped their pursuit of NFL greatness.
Here is what we learned from Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears in Week 9:
Caleb Williams can recover from a poor game
Caleb Williams had the worst game of his entire football career. He has the exact mindset needed to move past this performance and be the player who had a nice MVP campaign brewing. He looked like a star in the first quarter prior to his mistakes. The player he was in the first quarter, I am confident we will see more of that than his fluky turnovers Sunday night.
Jeffery Simmons has taken Bears' defense to the next level
It is insane to
see just how much adding the right piece can change everything. Jeffery Simmons does not need to have All-Pro production every single game. His presence is still felt, and his impact is extremely high. Simmons has brought the best out of the Bears' defensive line, and it looks like he brought the best out of linebacker Devin Bush. When you can have your defensive line playing extremely well, it opens the door for change on the defense. Jeffery Simmons, so far, has been worth every penny.
The Bears defense is good enough to win the team games
The Bears offense has ensured that the defense has an easy job every week. This week, the Bears defense got a chance to show exactly what it is made of, and it did not disappoint. Even with 5 turnovers by the offense, the Bears defense still forced the Buccaneers to come away with field goals instead of touchdowns. The Bears defense forced 2 turnovers and registered 4 sacks. Caleb Williams and the offense will have few games like they did Sunday night; it is encouraging to know the defense can step up and deliver if needed.
Jaylon Johnson may be back
Jaylon Johnson has been a big talking point for the Bears' struggles. This week, he finally turned things around and was a bright spot for the game. Johnson had 3 tackles, 1 pass deflection, and a pick-six. If the Bears' defense gets Jaylon Johnson to play above average again, the Bears could have a special defense on their hands.
The Bears can win games they do not dominate
In the last few weeks, the Bears have dominated teams, especially with their prolific offense. Against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, that dominance offensively only lasted the 1st quarter. The Bears' offense faced real adversity, and for the majority of the game, the offense struggled. The Bears winning this game with 5 turnovers goes to show how good this team is. When things aren't going their way, the Bears know how to overcome that. Caleb Williams threw 4 interceptions, but he did not let that stop him from leading a game-winning drive. A performance like this actually gives a great amount of confidence for the future.
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This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Chicago Bears won a clunker, which is part of winning recipe in NFL
