The Chicago Bears have passed multiple tests in order to get to the post-Thanksgiving Day portion of the schedule. They enter Week 13 and a date with the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles in excellent position.
The phrase was repeated several times in the locker room by various players in so many words, and defensive end Montez Sweat said it again at a postgame press conference.
What the Chicago Bears have built in 2025 under new head coach Ben Johnson has been special and completely shifted the expectations of this team after an 8-3 start to the season entering Week 13.
During various points of this season, it's been apparent how key necessary parts of a winning team have kicked in for the Bears in coach Ben Johnson's first season.
All NFL players enter the season with high hopes, but sometimes seasons don't go as hoped. These 20 players have been some of the biggest disappointments early in the 2025 season.
Before this season began, Montez Sweat's tenure in Chicago was a tale of two halves. The Bears flipped a second-round pick to Washington for the pass-rusher ahead of the NFL Trade Deadline in 2023.
NOVEMBER 2: ESPN’s Rich Cimini echoes Breer’s report and says Quincy Williams is a player who could be on the move before the deadline. He believes Quinnen
The Chicago Bears' defense ranks 29th in the NFL in sacks per game (1.3). They rank 27th in the leasgue in quarterback hits per game (4.3). Yet, they supposedly have one of the NFL's top pass rushers in Montez Sweat.
It was back at the end of training camp and GM Ryan Poles addressed questions about the outlook for this Bears pass rush. "I think this was the best training camp Montez Sweat has had," Poles said.
For years, Thanksgiving belonged to the NFL, but Christmas belonged to the NBA. Occasionally, an NFL game would fall on Christmas, but it was anomalous, even avoided if possible.
Coaches traditionally paint a picture of the opposition each week that looks like Godzilla on steroids. It can be a winless team and they'll find a way to elevate the opponent.
The Chicago Bears defense only gave up six points in the first three quarters of the season. In the last five quarters, Chicago has surrendered 73 points in two losses to the Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions.
The Chicago Bears defense only gave up six points in the first three quarters of the season. In the last five quarters, Chicago has surrendered 73 points in two losses to the Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions.
The Chicago Bears pass rush was noticeable against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 1. The Bears sacked J.J. McCarthy three times in his debut for the Vikings on Monday night.
The Chicago Bears pass rush was noticeable against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 1. The Bears sacked J.J. McCarthy three times in his debut for the Vikings on Monday night.
The biggest question on the Chicago Bears' defense is whether there will be enough of a pass rush opposite Montez Sweat to challenge opposing quarterbacks on a weekly basis.
As the Chicago Bears wrap up their preseason preparations and look ahead to what many consider a pivotal 2025 season, a troubling pattern has emerged that threatens to undermine their defensive ambitions.
Several veteran edge rushers remain unsigned at this point in the offseason. Many will land deals in the lead-up to training camp, but Ryan Poles and the Bears may not be among the top suitors on that front.
The Washington Commanders traded Montez Sweat as part of their roster regeneration when Josh Harris' ownership group took charge. The Chicago Bears were only too willing to take the defensive end off their hands for a second-round pick, paying him handsomely almost immediately after.
While Montez Sweat led the Chicago Bears in sacks during the 2024 campaign, that only meant a measly 5.5. For a player of his caliber, the pass rusher has much higher expectations on himself.
While the Chicago Bears continue to build out their defense, Montez Sweat is the unquestioned leader on the defensive line. The Bears signed Sweat to a four-year, $98 million extension with the hopes of him being one of the most feared pass rushers in the league.
Edge rusher Montez Sweat was traded from the Washington Commanders to the Chicago Bears 10 months ago. The 2023 Pro Bowler discussed his first four-plus seasons in the nation's capital in a recent interview and didn't have the most pleasant things to say about his exit from the organization.
The Washington Commanders look entirely different heading into the 2024 NFL season. They had a franchise makeover, which means a revolving door within the roster as the team establishes a new era.
Pro Bowl defensive end Montez Sweat is thrilled to be a long-term member of the Bears. But, he recently revealed one of the many reasons he prefers it to his old home, hinting at deeper problems within the Commanders.