The Chicago Bears aren't going to hold every opponent to seven points. And the good news is they don't need to.
What happened against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 3 showed a more sustainable path for Dennis Allen's defense: Take the football away.
Chicago forced three turnovers in Monday night's 27-7 victory while the offense kept the ball out of harm's way. Dillon Thieneman and T.J. Edwards recorded interceptions, and the Bears also recovered a Philadelphia fumble.
The result was exactly what an offense playing without Caleb Williams needed. And it may offer a blueprint that lasts beyond Williams' highly anticipated return.
Takeaways changed the entire Bears-Eagles game
Philadelphia finished with only 248 yards. But even that doesn't fully explain Chicago's defensive success.
The Eagles crossed into Bears territory multiple times, but timely turnovers flipped the script. Thieneman erased one scoring opportunity with an end-zone interception. Edwards produced another interception in the third quarter.
Simply put, Chicago ended possessions before Philadelphia could turn them into points. And that's what separates a defense that merely limits yardage from one that wins games.
(Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
Bears Defense Doesn't have to be perfect
Week 1 showed Chicago still does have issues on defense. Carolina produced 478 yards and scored 37 points.
One week later, however, Minnesota scored nine. Then, on Monday night in front of a national viewing audience, the Eagles scored only seven.
It's been a dramatic correction by Dennis Allen's crew.
Bears fans can't expect every opponent to remain out of the end zone. But they can be hopeful that the aggression the defense showed and that produced takeaways will remain.
Caleb Williams' return shouldn't change the standard on defense
It's easy to frame Monday's defensive performance as something Chicago needed because Williams was injured. But the Bears should demand the same results after he returns too.
Imagine what Johnson's offense can become if Williams regularly receives extra possessions. Or shorter fields. Or simply doesn't feel pressure to score every time because the defense can create something itself.
That's how the Bears become more than an entertaining offensive team.
Monday night's win may have been the first glimpse of the complementary football the Bears need to become a serious NFC contender.
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