Chicago Bears named NFC North’s offseason winner

Moton wrote that hiring Johnson weakened NFC North rival the Detroit Lions.

“The Chicago Bears hired Ben Johnson, one of the league’s top offensive play-callers, as their head coach. In doing so, they also weakened the division-leading Detroit Lions, who fielded a top-five scoring offense with Johnson calling the plays for the last three years.”

Johnson’s offense scheme is expected to be built around quarterback Caleb Williams. The Bears added more boosts to their offense by drafting Colston Loveland and Luther Burden in the first two rounds of the NFL draft.

In addition to hiring Johnson, the Bears also hired top defensive coordinator and former New Orleans Saints head coach Dennis Allen to lead the defense.

Moton mentioned that he expects the Bears to fall into the top 10 of scoring defense with Allen at the helm. Moton said, “Defensive coordinator Dennis Allen can elevate the Bears’ 13th-ranked scoring defense into the top 10. As the New Orleans Saints’ play-caller, he fielded a top-nine scoring unit in four of the last five years.”

The Chicago Bears invested heavily in the trenches

One of the biggest takeaways from the Bears’ offseason was how they heavily invested in the offensive line. Signing center Drew Dalman and trading for guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson will give Caleb Williams some protection, finally.

They also invested in the defensive line, signing former Pro Bowl star Grady Jarrett. Jarrett brings a massive leadership presence to the defense and still can be a massive force on the football field.

The Bears also drafted left tackle Ozzy Trapillo in the second round of the NFL draft. Many analysts believe that Trapillo is a steal and could become a great starter in the NFL. Some analysts and fans think thhat Trapillo could be competiing with Braxton Jones for the starting left tackle spot.

Do the Bears have a shot at the playoffs in 2025?

With the upgrades the team made on both sides of the ball, Moton believes that the Bears “can find a way to make the playoffs this year”, and I agree with that.

With the offensive line finally getting upgraded, Caleb Williams should be able to show more growth in his second season. Alongside a way better play-caller, Williams should be able to improve his passing game even more. Having weapons such as DJ Moore, Rome Odunze, Luther Burden, Cole Kmet, and Colston Loveland should help the passing game excel.

Regarding the running game, D’Andre Swift should have a much better 2025 with an improved offensive line and a scheme that is better suited to his style of play. However, Chicago should still look into adding a solid veteran running back behind Swift.

Defensively, Dennis Allen should be able to get the most out of his defensive unit. I expect strong seasons from Kyler Gordon and Jaylon Johnson. Hopefully, the pass rush will do much better in 2025. Star pass rusher Montez Sweat needs to have a bounce-back season.

There is no doubt that this roster is much better than the 5-12 team from the 2024 season. Even though the NFC North is the strongest division in the NFL, Chicago should have a way better 2025 season and at least contend for the wild card round.

Hopefully, we can get some winning football and meaningful games back in Chicago.