National media remains foolishly bearish on Caleb Williams, Ben Johnson’s Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears‘ success was one of the most shocking developments across the NFL, as first-year head coach Ben Johnson guided his squad to overtime of the NFC Divisional Playoffs, after winning the NFC North crown.

Thanks in large part to second-year quarterback Caleb Williams ascending as the season progressed and he became more comfortable and efficient in Johnson’s system, and young weapons hitting their stride, the Bears went from a team on the rise, to one that knocked off the defending Super Bowl champions behind a powerful running game, came back to beat the Packers in the regular season, before orchestrating the largest postseason comeback in franchise history over their rivals from Green Bay.

However, not everyone is buying into these Bears’ success being sustainable.

National Analyst suggests Chicago Bears could take step back in 2026

Over at CBS Sports, Bryan DeArdo suggests the Bears could be among the playoff teams from 2025 most likely to regress in 2026.

“Chicago won eight one-possession games in 2025,” DeArdo writes for CBS. “[That] was largely the byproduct of Caleb Williams’ uncanny play in the clutch and a defense that led the league in turnovers forced. Those strengths largely overshadowed Williams dreadful 58.1% completion percentage Chicago’s defense finishing 23rd in the league in points allowed.

“In 2026, the Bears will need more consistent play from Williams and better overall play from their defense if they are going to avoid becoming next year’s version of this year’s Washington Commanders.”

It’s understandable to be skeptical of the Bears’ ability to continue to embody their “Cardiac Bears” persona next season, but just as understandable to expect Chicago to be taking part in fewer one-possession games than they did this season.

After all, when Johnson, Williams, and the offense take the field at Halas Hall in the spring to begin installing the offense, it is going to have evolved significantly from where it began at the start of last season. Likewise, the Bears are relying on young receivers such as former first-round pick Rome Odunze, second-round selection Luther Burden, and first-round tight end Colston Loveland to continue playing significant roles in the passing game.

The youth that the Bears have assembled on offense, behind a veteran and dominant offensive line should give plenty of optimism that Chicago’s run is sustainable, especially if Poles and the front office allocate significant resources to build out a similarly dominant and efficient defense to back it.

The signs point to the Bears being a team on the rise, much rather than one that was merely a one-hit wonder in 2025, and might just have all the pieces in place to be the team to beat in the NFC North in the years ahead.

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