Season Pulse Check
The Chicago Bears are 3-2 on the season and are riding high off of 3 straight wins, with the most recent one coming last Monday night against the Washington Commanders. This is the second win coming off the bye week for the Bears since 2014, and damn does it feel good with Ben Johnson at the helm, 5 games into the season. After every win in the Bears locker room, there is a certain way the team responds to Johnson’s cadence to the team’s mantra, “Good, Better, Best… Never let it rest, until your good gets better, and your better gets best.”
The energy in that room is palpable, and it feels like the team is very much bought into him and his leadership. The last coach that I can confidently say commanded the respect of the team like this is the only one in my lifetime as a Bears coach to do that, Lovie Smith, who led the Bears to multiple division titles, NFC championship game appearances, and one Super Bowl appearance. But enough about Johnson, let’s dive into a recap on the game last week and the week 7 preview against the Saints.
Bears Vs Commanders Recap
Stop me if you’ve heard this, but the Bears vs Commanders went down to the last play of the game, resulting in ecstasy for the victors and heartbreak for the losers. That is exactly what we had on Monday night, except the Bears edged out the Commanders, 25-24, their second game and win in a row with that score. Last week I predicted Caleb leading the Bears down the Field to win the game with a touchdown 27-24, not too far off, but if I had to be wrong, I’m glad it resulted in a Bears dub, erasing the misery of losing on the Fail Mary last year.
D’Andre Swift’s Breakout Game: Swift was the engine of the Bears’ offense, amassing 175 total yards—108 rushing yards on 14 carries (7.7 YPC) and 67 receiving yards on 2 catches, including a game-changing 55-yard touchdown reception. On the final drive, he carried the ball five times for 34 yards, setting up Jake Moody’s winning kick. Swift’s performance marked his best game as a Bear and showcased his dual-threat ability, especially against a Commanders defense that had previously ranked among the league’s best against the run.
Caleb Williams’ Growth: Caleb Williams continued his steady development, completing 17 of 29 passes for 252 yards, with 1 passing and 1 rushing touchdown, and no turnovers. He led the Bears on a nine-play, 36-yard drive in the final minutes, converting a key third down with a 6-yard pass to Colston Loveland. Williams has now thrown for 200+ yards in all five games this season, totaling 1,179 passing yards and 9 TDs with just 2 INTs, showing improved decision-making and clutch execution
Defense Defense Defense: The Bears’ defense forced three turnovers—an interception by Jaquan Brisker, and fumble recoveries by Kyler Gordon and Nahshon Wright. Montez Sweat, facing his former team, helped force a fumble that led to a touchdown. Tyrique Stevenson, often criticized for last year’s Hail Mary misplay, had a solid outing, contributing to a secondary that held Washington to 211 passing yards despite giving up three TDs. The defense also recorded three sacks and held the NFL’s top rushing attack to 124 yards, below their season average.
Bears Vs Saints Preview
Top Story Lines
Saints’ Offensive Identity Crisis: The Saints are struggling to find their rhythm offensively, ranking near the bottom of the league in scoring. Despite Spencer Rattler’s efficient stat line—139 completions on 203 attempts with 6 touchdowns and only 1 interception—the offense lacks explosiveness and consistency. Their inability to finish drives has been a major factor in their 1-5 start.
Turnover Differential Battle: Chicago’s defense has been a takeaway machine, tied for first in the NFL with a +8 turnover differential and 8 interceptions. This opportunistic unit thrives on disrupting opposing quarterbacks, and they’ll look to pressure Rattler into mistakes. The Saints, however, have been careful with the ball, committing only four turnovers all season, setting up a classic ball security vs. ball-hawking showdown.
Dennis Allen Facing His Former Team: Dennis Allen spent 14 and ½ seasons with New Orleans, serving as defensive line coach, secondary coach, and defensive coordinator from 2015–2021 and head coach from 2022–2024. Under his leadership, the Saints’ defense consistently ranked among the NFL’s best, including multiple top-10 finishes in scoring defense and pass defense. He was part of the Saints’ Super Bowl XLIV championship staff and coached stars like Cameron Jordan and Marshon Lattimore. It will surely be an emotional game for Allen, inspiring his players and giving them something to prove against the Saints.
Caleb Williams vs. Spencer Rattler: College Roots and NFL Reunion:
Caleb Williams and Spencer Rattler’s story is a football saga that began as teammates at Oklahoma in 2021 and now collides under NFL lights. Rattler opened that season as the golden boy and projected No. 1 pick, but everything changed when Williams stormed off the bench during the Red River Shootout, engineering a comeback that shook college football and ended Rattler’s Sooners career.
Williams followed Lincoln Riley to USC, won a Heisman, and became the top pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, while Rattler rebuilt at South Carolina and fought his way to a fifth-round selection by New Orleans. Their journeys—one toward superstardom, the other toward redemption—set the stage for Sunday’s showdown, where Williams enters with nine touchdowns, two picks, and a 98.0 rating, while Rattler counters with six scores, one interception, and a 90.4 mark. This isn’t just a game; it’s a clash of pride and history, a rivalry reborn on the biggest stage.
Saints’ Dominance in the Series: Despite their current struggles, the Saints have historically dominated the Bears, winning eight straight matchups. This includes a 24-17 victory in 2023. The Bears vs. Saints rivalry has been played 34 times (including 3 postseason games), with the Chicago Bears winning 15 games and the New Orleans Saints winning 19 games. That streak looms large over this game, as Chicago looks to finally flip the script and prove that this new era under Williams and Johnson is different.
Key Matchups
Caleb Williams vs. Saints Secondary: The Saints’ pass defense ranks 25th in the NFL, allowing 213.3 passing YPG and 14 passing TDs through six games. Opposing QBs have a completion rate of 69.5% and a passer rating of 111.0 against them. Williams, who has a 7.4 YPA and a passer rating of 98.0, will look to exploit this weakness, especially with Rome Odunze (328 receiving yards, 5 TDs) emerging as a top target and breakout star.
Alvin Kamara vs. Bears’ Run Defense: Alvin Kamara has 314 rushing yards on 83 carries (3.8 YPC) and 122 receiving yards on 22 catches this season. He’s facing a Bears defense that ranks 31st in rushing defense, allowing 156.4 YPG on the ground and 6.5 yards per play, the worst in the league. Historically, Kamara has averaged 4.2 YPC and totaled 309 scrimmage yards in 3 games vs. Chicago. This could be a get-right game for the Saints’ star back.
Spencer Rattler vs. Bears’ Pass Rush: Rattler has been sacked 9 times in 5 games, but he’s shown poise under pressure, completing 67.2% of his passes with a 90.4 passer rating. However, his red zone struggles are glaring—he’s completed just 46.2% of red zone passes with a league-low 2.5 YPA in that area. The Bears’ pass rush, while not elite (only 8 sacks, T-27th), has been timely, especially with Kyler Gordon and T.J. Edwards returning to form.
D’Andre Swift vs. Saints’ Front Seven: Swift has rushed for 295 yards on 70 carries (4.2 YPC) and added 152 receiving yards on 15 catches (10.1 YPR). He’s coming off a breakout game vs. Washington with 108 rushing yards and a 55-yard TD reception. The Saints’ run defense ranks 17th, allowing 114.0 rushing YPG and 4.0 YPC. This matchup will test whether Swift can maintain his momentum against a disciplined front led by Demario Davis (48 tackles).
Red Zone Efficiency: Bears vs. Saints: The Bears are scoring touchdowns on 57.1% of red zone trips, ranking 18th in the NFL. Meanwhile, the Saints’ red zone defense has allowed 12 touchdowns, tied for 24th in the league, and opponents are scoring TDs on 66.7% of red zone possessions. This is a critical area where the Bears can capitalize, especially with Williams’ ability to extend plays and Swift’s versatility as a receiver out of the backfield.
Game Prediction
The Bears are primed to defeat the Saints 27–17, thanks to a potent combination of offensive consistency, opportunistic defense, and superior coaching. Under Ben Johnson’s leadership, the Bears have become the only team in the NFL to score at least 21 points in each of their first five games, a testament to their offensive rhythm and adaptability. Even more impressively, they’ve scored in 18 of 20 quarters this season, showcasing their ability to sustain drives and apply constant pressure on opposing defenses.
Against a Saints team struggling to find its offensive identity and fielding a vulnerable secondary, Caleb Williams and his emerging weapons—particularly Rome Odunze and D’Andre Swift—are poised to exploit mismatches and capitalize in the red zone.
Meanwhile, Chicago’s defense, tied for the league lead in turnover differential at +8, is built to disrupt Spencer Rattler’s timing and force rare but costly mistakes.
While Alvin Kamara may find success against the Bears’ weak run defense, it won’t be enough to overcome Chicago’s offensive firepower and defensive opportunism. This game marks a turning point for the Bears, not just in the standings, but in rewriting the narrative of their long-standing struggles against New Orleans. The Bears are hungry for their first win against New Orleans in 17 years.
