Bears Defense Still Wreaking Havoc in One Key Area

Sep 13, 2026; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (9) is tackled by Chicago Bears defensive tackle James Lynch (97) as linebacker T.J. Edwards (53) helps defend in the second half at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Bears Defense Still Wreaking Havoc in One Key Area

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jobe Morrison | Last updated Oct 3, 2026 2:30 PM ET

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The Chicago Bears have undergone plenty of changes on defense, but one thing hasn’t changed: their ability to take the football away. Despite featuring several new faces, Dennis Allen’s unit continues to make creating turnovers a priority.

That emphasis has helped the Bears consistently create extra opportunities for their offense. If Chicago can maintain that production while continuing to improve defensively, the takeaways could become an even bigger weapon once quarterback Caleb Williams returns.

“I think a ton of it is that you have to live, sleep, eat and breathe taking the ball away every single day,” Allen said. “Now that doesn’t guarantee that you’re going to get them. But if you’re not doing that, then it’s highly unlikely that you’re going to get those takeaways. So, we really focus on that. We talk about it every day. We go out and practice that way. And I think that shows up in the games. Our guys believe in it … Our guys have bought into that culture and done a good job of that.”

Bears Pacing to Exceed 2025 Production

In 2025, the Bears led the NFL with 33 takeaways. Right now, they’re pacing to slightly exceed that total with 34. Obviously, a lot can change over the course of a season, but it shows that Allen’s message about making turnovers a priority is getting through to his players.

After all, the top five teams in turnover differential last season all made the postseason. Forcing turnovers alone doesn’t guarantee that kind of success, though. The Bears must also continue taking care of the football themselves.

What makes the turnovers so critical for the Bears defense is the fact that their offense is opportunistic. Chicago not only creates its own points but will gladly take the turnovers its defense creates and turn them into points. That became a critical component last season as the Bears defense continued to develop.

Chicago Defense Creating Opportunities for Its Powerful Offense

Sep 13, 2026; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) runs the ball in the second half against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

We saw in Week 1 that the Bears offense scored 59 points, but their defense also allowed 37. Since then, Chicago has allowed just eight points per game, taking a major step forward. Last season, the Bears allowed 24.4 points per game while scoring nearly 26 per game on offense. That’s a very thin margin for error.

Part of the reason for Chicago’s success has been its ability to force turnovers. With the Bears defense appearing to take a massive step forward over the past two weeks, takeaways are becoming the sprinkles on top.

Perhaps this defense could soon remind some older fans of a legendary unit that was just as opportunistic in the 1980s.

OK, that’s a bit much of a comparison.

But if this defense can continue keeping opposing offenses in check when Williams returns, those turnovers could become candy for Ben Johnson and the Bears offense.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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