NFL Analyst: Chicago Bears’ playoff loss shines spotlight on glaring need

The Chicago Bears shocked the NFL world, going from worst-to-first, winning the NFC North and toppling the Green Bay Packers in comeback fashion in the NFC Wild Card, before first-year head coach Ben Johnson’s team’s season came to an end in an overtime loss to the Los Angeles Rams in the NFL Divisional Round.

These Bears rode steady improvement from quarterback Caleb Williams, a dominant running game, and a penchant for clutch performances in the waning moments to a franchise record seven comeback victories and a playoff win.

However, sustaining the success Chicago saw this season, and continuing to build around a young and ascending core will be a major test for Poles and Johnson, in their second offseason working together.

Chicago Bears’ glaring need revealed

Over at NFL Media, analyst Eric Edholm shone a bright light on the Bears’ biggest need; fortifying coordinator Dennis Allen’s defense.

“There’s obviously a bright future in Chicago with Ben Johnson and Williams and the rest of the crew,” Edholm writes. “But there’s also work needed to make this team a true Super Bowl contender. Chicago’s defense turned in a valiant effort in the Rams loss, but that’s the unit I would be seeking to upgrade first this offseason, even with a few lingering offensive issues.

“I can’t wait to see what the Bears do to try to address it, but I am also realistic about the idea that progress is rarely linear. That’s very important context to keep in mind, especially for a team so wholly dependent on defensive takeaways and late-game heroics.”

Edholm is right.

The Bears made their living, defensively, and largely as part of their emerging identity, by leading the league both in takeaways and turnover differential. Who knows how sustainable that is from season-to-season, and Chicago needs to find a way to add some big pieces to Allen’s unit this offseason.

Whether it is adding a dynamic pass rusher, additional linebacker depth, and another playmaking cornerback, this needs to be the offseason that the Bears invest the same kind of resources on defense that they have around Williams and the offense the past two years. Especially if the Bears are going to make the big leap from division winners to legitimate Super Bowl contenders.

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