Chicago Bears Must Fix Big Plays and Run Game During Bye Week

The Chicago Bears enter their Week 10 bye week facing two distinct structural weaknesses that could derail a postseason run, according to a report from Athlon.

With the NFL trade deadline now closed, the roster is set. Any meaningful adjustments to the team’s performance must come from within the existing depth chart, placing immense pressure on Ben Johnson’s coaching staff to refine the team’s execution during this period of rest.

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The stakes for these adjustments are high. While the Bears remain in contention for the playoffs, the margin for error has narrowed as they prepare to face the more disciplined defensive units typically found in January football.

The most glaring vulnerability lies in the secondary. The Bears have allowed 12 pass plays of 40 or more yards, which represents the highest total in the NFL, Yahoo Sports reported.

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Whether these explosive plays stem from busted coverages or individual mismatches in one-on-one battles, the statistical reality is difficult to ignore. Defensive coordinator Dennis Allen and general manager Ryan Poles have constructed a unit that remains stout against the run and generally solid in short-to-intermediate passing situations. However, the tendency to surrender long gains remains a liability.

While Chicago’s pass rush has occasionally been able to mask these coverage lapses, the team cannot rely on pressure alone to prevent big plays. As the postseason approaches, the likelihood of facing elite quarterbacks capable of extending plays and targeting deep vulnerabilities increases significantly.

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On the other side of the ball, the offense must rediscover the identity it possessed during the first month of the season. Through the first four weeks, the Bears averaged 196 rushing yards per game, establishing a dominant ground game that propelled the team forward.

That momentum shifted when running back Kyle Monangai went down with an injury. Since his absence, the rushing attack has shown intermittent flashes of effectiveness but has lacked the consistent dominance seen in September.

Chicago Bears Must Fix Big Plays and Run Game During Bye Week

The bye week provides a crucial window for Monangai to heal, but the team’s long-term success may depend on their ability to maintain a high-level run game even when he is off the field. The difficulty of this task was highlighted in Week 9, when the ground game struggled against a high-level Tampa Bay defense.

If Chicago wants to compete for a Super Bowl, they must find a way to replicate their early-season efficiency against the caliber of defensive fronts they will encounter in the postseason.