Chicago Bears Overwhelm the New Orleans Saints To Improve To 4-2

Sunday at Soldier Field felt like watching your favorite sitcom rerun – you know exactly how it’s going to end, but you’re still entertained by the chaos along the way. The Bears managed to stumble, fumble, and flag their way to a 26-14 victory over New Orleans, extending their winning streak to four games while giving fans enough heart palpitations to last until Thanksgiving.

Let’s be honest here – this wasn’t exactly a masterpiece. If football games were graded like term papers, this one would’ve gotten a C+ with a note saying “shows potential but needs improvement.” The Bears defense did most of the heavy lifting, forcing four turnovers that had Saints Quarterback Spencer Rattler looking like he’d rather be anywhere else on Earth.

Bears’ Defense Shows Up When It Matters Most

Dennis Allen’s defensive unit came to play Sunday, and boy, did they make themselves known. The Bears’ defense transformed Rattler into a turnover machine, collecting four takeaways that had the Soldier Field crowd actually cheering instead of reaching for their anxiety medication.

Montez Sweat set the tone early with a strip-sack that Gervon Dexter recovered, leading to the first of four Jake Moody field goals. Watching Sweat plow through the Saints’ offensive line was like watching a hot knife through butter – effortless and extremely satisfying for Chicago fans who’ve been starving for consistent pass rush.

The secondary got in on the action too, with Nahshon Wright, Kevin Byard, and Tremaine Edmunds each picking off passes. Wright’s first-half interception set up D’Andre Swift’s 11-yard touchdown run, while Edmunds sealed the deal in the closing moments. For a defense that’s been criticized all season, Sunday felt like a statement game – even if it came against a Saints offense that’s been about as threatening as a wet paper bag.

Bears Running Game Carries the Load

When Caleb Williams looked shakier than a paint mixer at Home Depot, the Bears turned to their ground game like a security blanket. Swift rumbled for 124 yards while Kyle Monangai added 81 yards and his first career touchdown – a moment that probably had his family losing their minds somewhere in New Jersey.

Swift’s performance was particularly impressive, showing the burst and vision that made Chicago trade for him in the first place. His 11-yard touchdown run in the first half gave the Bears some breathing room, though “breathing room” is a relative term when your quarterback is having the kind of day that makes you question everything.

Monangai’s 1-yard touchdown dive was a thing of beauty for anyone who appreciates old-school football. Sometimes you don’t need fancy routes or trick plays – sometimes you just need a running back who’s willing to lower his shoulder and punch it into the end zone.

Bears Quarterback Struggles Tell Familiar Story

Here’s where we need to have an uncomfortable conversation about Williams. The young quarterback looked like he was playing his first NFL game all over again, fumbling snaps and making decisions that had offensive coordinator Ben Johnson probably questioning his life choices.

Williams finished 15-for-26 for 172 yards and one interception, posting a 61.7 passer rating that was his fifth-worst of the season. The fumbled snaps were particularly concerning – you can teach a quarterback to read defenses, but handling the snap from center should be automatic by now.

The most telling moment came in the third quarter on fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line. Williams took the snap under center and promptly dropped it like it was covered in hot sauce. Fortunately for Chicago, Center Drew Dalman was called for a false start, giving the Bears another chance to kick a field goal instead of watching their lead evaporate.

Saints Never Really Threatened Despite Late Push

Give credit where it’s due – the Saints didn’t roll over and play dead. After falling behind 20-0 in the first half, New Orleans managed to claw back within 20-14 in the third quarter, thanks largely to Chris Olave’s two touchdown catches.

Rattler showed flashes of why he was once considered a top quarterback prospect, completing a beautiful 57-yard strike to Olave late in the first half and following it up with a 21-yard touchdown pass. For a brief moment, it looked like the Bears might Bears their way out of another victory.

But this Saints team is 1-5 for a reason. Their defense couldn’t generate consistent pressure, their running game was virtually non-existent, and their offensive line looked like they were playing with oven mitts. When you’re facing a Bears team that’s been prone to self-destruction, you need to capitalize on every opportunity – something New Orleans failed to do repeatedly.

Bears Win Despite Themselves

The most Chicago thing about this victory was how ugly it looked despite the final score. The Bears were flagged multiple times, turned the ball over, and generally played like a team that was trying to make things more difficult than necessary. It’s like they looked at a 20-0 lead and thought, “You know what? This is too easy. Let’s make it interesting.”

But here’s the thing about winning streaks – they don’t care how pretty you look while collecting them. The Bears are now 4-2 and sitting in a playoff spot, which would’ve seemed impossible after their brutal start to the season. Sometimes ugly wins are more valuable than pretty losses.

The defense is starting to gel under Allen’s system, the running game is showing real promise, and Williams is still learning on the job. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither are championship-caliber football teams.

Looking Ahead: Bears Face Real Test

Next week brings a trip to Baltimore to face the Ravens, and that’s where we’ll really find out what this Bears team is made of. The Saints are 1-5 and playing like it – the Ravens are a different animal entirely, even if they’re struggling at 1-5 themselves.

For now, though, Bears fans should enjoy this moment. Four straight wins in the NFL is nothing to sneeze at, regardless of how they happen. The defense is creating turnovers, the running game is effective, and Williams is still developing. Sometimes that’s enough.

In Chicago, we take our victories however they come – ugly, pretty, or somewhere in between. Sunday’s win over New Orleans wasn’t a work of art, but it was a step forward for a team that’s still figuring out its identity. And in a season full of surprises, that might be exactly what the Bears need.