As the Chicago Bears continue a push for the postseason through the most difficult stretch of their schedule, it makes sense they will lean into the strength of the roster, which is the offensive line.
Naturally, it took time for a new coaching staff to figure out where the team would excel, but for two months now, they’ve had a powerful running game that harkens back to the days when Walter Payton was the face of the franchise.
No, they don’t have a Payton in the backfield, but the combination of D’Andre Swift and rookie Kyle Monangai has been highly productive behind the rebuilt line, and the Bears might just go as far as that group can push them.
The question is what will the Bears (9-4) get in the final stretch of four games. Something like the Black Friday dismantling of the Philadelphia Eagles, a stunning display of brute force against one of the league’s wisest defensive masterminds in Vic Fangio. Or more like the uneven effort that was on display in last Sunday’s 28-21 loss to the Green Bay Packers.
Bears running back D’Andre Swift runs the ball against the Eagles on Nov. 28, 2025, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
The Bears are in a position — with the Packers (9-3-1) and Detroit Lions (8-5) in the NFC North race three teams in the NFC West with nine wins or more — in which they probably need 11 victories to feel secure about making their first postseason appearance since 2020.
The offense was totally out of sorts in the first half Sunday — converting just 1 of 7 third downs — and the only reason the Bears had a shot at the end in Green Bay when Caleb Williams’ pass for Cole Kmet was intercepted in the end zone with 22 seconds remaining was they somehow trailed only 14-3 at halftime.
The 28-21 loss to the Packers didn’t shake the Bears, but it sure shook up projected NFC playoff seedings. That’s how tightly bunched the race is. There’s a rematch with the Packers on Dec. 20 at Soldier Field, but maintaining focus on the task at hand, coach Ben Johnson declared his team desperate for a victory against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. That’s because there’s no wiggle room.
The Packers were the best run defense (ninth in the NFL) the Bears have faced this season. The offense ran for 138 yards on 32 attempts (4.3 average). While it certainly looked as if the Bears were leaning on the opponent late in the game, a lack of explosive gains kept the figures somewhat modest in the second half — 90 yards on 19 carries.
While the Browns rank 13th, allowing 107.7 yards per game, that’s a little misleading. Opponents have been running late in games with big leads. The Browns are fourth in yards per carry at 3.85.
After Sunday, there’s Round 2 against the Packers before the San Francisco 49ers (12th in run defense) and Lions (10th). The Bears could be in a position in which they also have to score against the Lions, who in the post-Johnson era lead the league in scoring at 30.3 points per game.
“I think all year we’ve been through the gauntlet,” right guard Jonah Jackson said. “Every team has had one weapon inside, one weapon outside, and some teams have multiple. They just so happen to have a lot of guys up front — Cleveland and Green Bay.
“I feel like we prove it every week what we’re able to do.”
The Bears need to prove it against better defenses to achieve a goal few may have figured realistic before the season started but is now very much in front of them. The immediate challenge for the offense is not allowing Browns defensive end Myles Garrett, who enters with 20 sacks (four fewer than the Bears defense) to ruin the game plan. Jackson referred to Garrett as an “alien,” and it will be every bit of the challenge Micah Parsons was last week.
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Williams talked about trying to get off to a faster start. The Bears have not produced points on their opening possession since the Nov. 2 road game against the Cincinnati Bengals — who have one of the worst defenses in the league — but they have scored a touchdown on their second possession in four of the last six games.
It’s about being more cohesive as an offense all the way around. Monangai needs 52 yards rushing for the Bears to have two running backs with 700 yards for the first time since 1978, when Payton ran for 1,395 yards and Roland Harper 992. Swift enters Sunday’s game with 837 yards.
Williams is a major reason the offense ranks fifth on third down at 44.4%, which is just ahead of the franchise-best mark of 43.9% from 1989. His passer rating on third down is 103.0, highest in the NFL, and he has eight passing touchdowns (second in the league), 868 yards (fifth), 55 total first downs (seventh) and 39 completions of 10 yards or more (second).
So, there are elements of his game that have been very good mixed in with others — completion percentage and his ability to play on time — that remain in need of significant improvement. Combine it all — the success rushing since the first month of the season and the collection of big plays the offense is producing — and you have a unit that can be very formidable.
Against some of the best defenses the Bears will face all season, the offense needs to step up. On defense, they cannot seem to generate a pass rush, and the third-down numbers have fallen from the top of the league toward the middle of the pack. When the unit isn’t producing turnovers, which will be difficult to do against Jordan Love and Jared Goff, it’s a mediocre group giving up too many explosive plays.
The offense — and the line — conquered the challenge in Philadelphia and came up a little short and a little late in Green Bay. The best teams find ways to lean into their strengths when games matter the most. That’s precisely what the Bears need to do.
Scouting report
Carson Schwesinger, Browns middle linebacker
Browns linebacker Carson Schwesinger during a game against the Raiders on Nov. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Information for this report was obtained from NFL scouts.
Schwesinger, 6-foot-3, 242 pounds, is a rookie drafted in the second round out of UCLA at No. 33 overall. He was named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month for November. He went from being a walk-on at UCLA and playing on special teams his first two seasons to being an All-American in 2024.
Schwesinger leads all rookies with 111 tackles, the most by a Browns rookie since 1999, and also is tops in tackles for a loss and tied for second with two interceptions. He has posted double-digit tackles in five games, including each of the last four.
“He’s a guy who cut his teeth on special teams in college,” the scout said. “Anytime you get a linebacker who is a highly productive special teams player in college, it tells you a couple things. One, great instincts. Two, they can tackle in space and play at top speed and are excellent with their hands. All of that stuff translates to when you’re playing linebacker. His tape was super impressive. Excellent blitzer who can build up speed on a runway. He can run through running backs in protection or set them up to get home to the quarterback. He’s got good pursuit range and he plays faster than his timed speed because of the instincts he has to see plays develop quicker than the average linebacker. Solid wrap-up tackler and has some grit and nastiness to him. Good second-level defender in terms of zone coverage.
“Under Jim Schwartz, it’s an ideal defense for him. If the Browns make a coaching change this offseason, it’s one thing to take into account. How does it affect a young player with my next defensive coordinator? Because Schwartz puts him in attacking positions and he’s really thrived. You don’t want to take that away from him. He’s a good athlete and a great football player. The Bears have to account for him, especially in the run game.”
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