The Chicago Bears had a tough week. The way that things went last week against the Minnesota Vikings became an internet meme, and you couldn’t help but feel lousy about the fact that Caleb Williams was injured. However, Ben Johnson was hired to be the head coach for a reason, and it paid off for them in a 27-7 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.
This Monday Night Football game was as close to being a must-win as can be in Week 3. Keeping pace with the Vikings and Detroit Lions, while getting ahead of the Green Bay Packers early, is a major key to being postseason-bound in January.
Having to face that kind of pressure with a third-string quarterback is never easy, but they found a way to win a football game against a 2-0 NFC postseason rival.
Based on how the game finished, this is how every unit of the football team grades out.
Offense: A
The Bears offense, with a third-string quarterback playing, scored 27 points against a good Eagles team that knows how to play. Case Keenum was magnificent; his weapons were there for him all over the field, and the offensive line stood tall to support their elder quarterback and running game. Part of the mastery was Keenum making his big throws when he needed to, but also his ability to protect the football. He didn't turn it over one time, and he managed to complete 24 passes despite relying heavily on the run game.
One critique may be that the read options never really led to him running it, and the Eagles picked up on it after a while, but they still always found a way to get first downs. It took the Eagles until the fourth quarter to force Chicago into a three-and-out for the first time in the game, which tells you how good they were at moving the ball. Two out of Chicago's three games, regardless of who was under center, they found a way to score a surplus of points against defenses that most would consider formidable. The one exception was in a rainstorm, which isn't a total excuse, but there is some truth to things not being quite the same. Now, they have bounced back in a big way.
Defense: A
The Bears defense was expected to be the weakness of the team. It still may be in the end, but through three weeks, nobody can say it has been too much of an issue. They gave up 37 in Week 1, which turned out to be a win on the road anyway, but they have only given up 16 points in the last two weeks combined. Dennis Allen has cooked up a scheme that allows the group to force turnovers, create pressure, and find ways to stop the bleeding when things matter the most in the game. Even in moments when star running back Saquon Barkley started to get into a rhythm, they took control and began to slow him down.
Jalen Hurts is seen as a middle-of-the-pack quarterback, but there is no denying his pedigree to win big games in prime time. The former Super Bowl champion usually relishes opportunities to take on fellow contenders in nationally televised games, but that wasn't the case in this one. The Bears defense made him look weak for the second year in a row on prime time.
Special Teams: A
The Bears special teams units were great. For one, Cairo Santos made the kicks he was expected to make, and no points were given up on returns. All in all, their coverage on these plays was good too. Tory Taylor was a bad draft pick because punters should never go in the fourth round unless you need one after winning two Super Bowls. Nobody would have questioned the Chiefs for drafting one in 2024. However, the Bears are not one of those teams. It was an arrogant pick.
With that said, Taylor has been really good to start this season. It's hard to argue against him as one of the league's top punters through three weeks. He had one, in particular, that was saved at the one-yard line until a brain blunder by tight end Sam Roush forced a touchback. Still, it was a wonderful punt, which would be appreciated by the offense and defense in weeks to come.
Coaching: A
There are going to be fans who don't like Ben Johnson's decision to go for it on fourth down from the one-yard line up 7-0. Instead, they'd want to see a field goal to go up 10-0. News flash: that is what comes with having Ben Johnson as the head coach. Should they have kicked a field goal? Maybe. However, the Bears have a hyper-aggressive head coach who is going to get as many points as he can. Later in the season, there will be a game that they win because of that type of aggressiveness.
From that point on, you saw Ben Johnson's genius, as the team went on to score 20 more points to win 27-7. With a 38-year-old third-string under center, Chicago's offense didn't miss a beat. Johnson's process and scheming are among the best in the NFL, and he proves more valuable with every passing week. It isn't just Johnson who gets all the credit either. Every person on the staff gets their props as well. That is especially true for Dennis Allen, who had the defense playing extremely well. The coaching staff and every other unit get A's this week.
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears report card: How we graded Chicago in Week 3 win over Eagles
