Chicago Bears 2023 Midseason Grades: Defense

Chicago Bears coach Matt Eberflus was lauded for his defensive acumen when he was hired by the Bears in 2022. He’s a football guy’s football guy who says all the right things in a positive tone when in front of the media, but his defense’s on-field results haven’t matched his messaging.

Entering Week 10, the Bears’ defense ranks 28th in points allowed (26.9 per game), 28th in passing yards allowed (256.9 per game), 32nd in passing TDs allowed (20), and 32nd in sacks (10). In a word, disgusting.

The Bears’ run defense has been a bright spot, ranking 4th in the league, surrendering just 79.7 yards per game. Perhaps, though, that success is a result of opposing offenses knowing they can shred Chicago’s pass defense.

Eberflus isn’t an aggressive play-caller, he’s only called 85 blitzes this season, a rate of 23.9%, which ranks 20th in the NFL. This is an especially egregious statistic considering the lack of pass-rush talent the Bears had on the defensive line before trading for Montez Sweat at the NFL trade deadline. Eberflus wants to get to the quarterback with his down linemen, the problem is, he hasn’t had any who can do it before Sweat’s arrival.

Maybe the sack production will increase now that Sweat is in town. Or, perhaps Sweat will fall victim to Eberflus’ defense, much like Yannick Ngakoue has. Ngakoue never had a season with fewer than eight sacks in his seven years before joining the Bears. Through nine games this season, he’s on pace for just four.

There’s a reason the Chicago Bears have a league-worst 10 sacks, following a 2022 season in which safety Jaquan Brisker led the team in sacks with four. Eberflus can’t figure out how to get to the quarterback, and it’s had an incredibly terrible trickle-down effect on the entire unit.

Here are the Bears’ 2023 midseason grades on defense.

Defensive Line: F

Ngakoue has been a bust as a pass rusher. Rookies Gervon Dexter (second round) and Zacch Pickens (third round) have been nearly invisible. Free-agent signing DeMarcus Walker is playing out of position and isn’t producing. Defensive end Dominique Robinson has been on a downward trajectory since the first game of his rookie season.

See a theme developing?

The only quality play the Bears have received along the defensive line has been from Andrew Billings, who signed a one-year deal in an under-the-radar free-agent move by GM Ryan Poles. Billings is the Bears’ best run defender and was rewarded with a contract extension because of it. He’s outplayed both rookies, regardless of role and position, and should be a mainstay in the starting lineup for the next couple of seasons.

Justin Jones has been solid, too, but the Bears need more from their edge rushers and interior defenders. If Jones and Billings are the best the Bears can field, the defense will never rise out of the NFL’s basement.

Montez Sweat will help … big time. He’s a three-down stud who’s equal parts pass-rusher and run defender. Ignore the outside noise that will criticize the trade if Sweat doesn’t light up the box score. He doesn’t need to have a multi-sack game to make an impact. His presence alone will result in more pass-rush production. The Bears are lucky to have him locked up for the next four years.

Linebackers: C+

Tremaine Edmunds and TJ Edwards were the big-ticket free-agent signings, and both are playing well. Edmunds got the massive deal … four-years, $72 million … but it’s Edwards who’s playing the best of the Bears linebackers. He’s been a Lance Briggs-lite, his intensity and non-stop motor has been refreshing.

Jack Sanborn continues to beat the odds, too. He’s a tackle machine despite his limitations in coverage. There’s no reason for the Bears to replace Sanborn during his rookie contract. He’s a salary cap cheat code who’s earned the right to be a starter as long as he’s healthy.

Defensive Backs: C+

Jaylon Johnson continues to be the Bears’ best all-around defender, yet there’s a chance the Bears won’t re-sign him before he becomes an unrestricted free agent this offseason. It would be a massive mistake by Poles if he lets Johnson walk. Quality cover cornerbacks, regardless of interception totals, are hard to find. Johnson is fundamentally sound. He doesn’t make mistakes on the field. He’s a reliable player when healthy. The Chicago Bears can’t afford to lose him. He has the Bears’ highest Pro Football Focus grade on defense this season for a reason.

Kyler Gordon’s second season is still an incomplete evaluation. He suffered a hand injury in Week 1 that landed him on injured reserve for a month. He’s a rangy athlete with freakish quickness. There’s no reason to think he won’t be a long-term starter for the Bears, but it’s still too soon in Year 2 to know exactly what kind of cornerback he’ll develop into.

Tyrique Stevenson’s rookie season has been a mixed bag so far. He’s a super-physical defender who can sometimes be too physical, leading to penalties and costly mistakes. He’s been targeted 66 times this season and has allowed 49 catches for 490 yards and seven touchdowns, per PFF. The numbers aren’t great, but he’s a good football player with a very high ceiling.

Safeties Jaquan Brisker and Eddie Jackson have the potential to be an elite tandem, but injuries continue to interfere with their chemistry. Brisker’s played seven games, Jackson’s played just four. The Bears need both of them on the field to maximize turnover opportunities. Their lack of availability is a big reason the pass defense has struggled.

Defensive Coordinator: F

Alan Williams was a disaster before he became a disaster and “resigned” from his position earlier this season. Who knows what the real reason for his departure was. Speculation ran wild on social media, and it was downright crazy. It made the Bears the laughingstock of the NFL.

When Eberflus took over defensive playcalling, the hope was the unit would improve. It’s Eberflus’ specialty, after all.

It hasn’t.

The Chicago Bears are a franchise known for its tough defenses. The 2023 Bears have been soft and embarrassing. The buck stops with Eberflus. He’s been a failure on many levels.