The Bears’ defense talked the talk throughout training camp: Watch us, we’ll be one of the NFL’s best. But too often early in the season, it was merely so much more wind along the lakefront.
The statistics were fine, but the results were not. Failing to stop the Washington Redskins and the offense-impaired Cleveland Browns at game-deciding moments, plus big-play meltdowns against the Cincinnati Bengals, put the lie to any claim about being anywhere close to elite.
No longer. The defense has become what it said it would. It has allowed nine or fewer points in four of the Bears’ six games, including the last two, and is No. 2 in the NFL in fewest points allowed per game (11.3) behind Indianapolis (11). The Bears are the only NFL team not to allow a rushing touchdown.
“We made some mistakes that hurt us earlier [in the season],” coach Lovie Smith said. “But they’ve definitely bought into our system and they’re playing hard.”
It is the same defense that, as of the debacle in Cleveland, was finding ways to lose. Always, according to safety Mike Brown. Now, a scant two weeks later, it is finding the plays to win. What has happened to make the difference?
1. Statement makers
Alex Brown and Ian Scott are the only linemen without at least a share of a sack through six games. But they also are the two leading tacklers among the defensive linemen, according to NFL.com calculations. This is not insignificant, given that the Bears have played two teams (Washington, Cincinnati) that ran the ball nearly 50 percent more often than they passed it and one (Baltimore) with a marked preference for the run.
“We had no control over what [the Ravens] did and we just got after them,” Brown said. “A lot of people were saying they had the best defense and everything was about their defense, so we made a statement out there (in Sunday’s 10-6 victory). We’re vying to be the best defense in the NFL.”
2. Plumbing the depths
The defense received boosts from non-starters Alfonso Boone, Michael Haynes and Tank Johnson in the pass rush against the Ravens. They are far from the only backups having an impact.
Safety Todd Johnson has quietly muscled up the Bears’ run defense in packages that have seen 314-pound Boone moving outside to end. As the run dries up, the pass rush ratchets up.
3. Friends in low places
The Bears can take some of the credit because they contributed to opponents’ scoring problems. But before the comparisons with the greats begin, realize the Ravens are the NFL’s lowest-scoring offense (69 points) and the Vikings are the worst in the NFC (90).
The Bears face Detroit (17.3 points per game), New Orleans (17) and San Francisco (16) the next three games. They are supposed to throttle these kind of offenses.
4. Taking offense
With Kyle Orton and the offense going turnover-free against Baltimore–Orton has thrown only one interception in his 80 attempts over the last three games and fumbled once–the Bears are not spotting opponents either field position or momentum swings with giveaways.
The 1985 Bears won with a ferocious defense that was helped by an offense built around Walter Payton. The 2005 Bears are finally getting help from an offense built around Thomas Jones, the NFL’s No. 5 rusher and a unit that is not putting them at risk.
Bears special teams also have set up the defense nicely. The punting of Brad Maynard and coverage units have forced opponents to play on long fields, the friend of every defense.
5. Brown-out
A number of players took offense at Brown’s measured tirade after the Cleveland game as he went beyond admitting that the Bears had a bad game and declared that they were just plain bad. The anger was palpable after the Minnesota game and the Bears continue to answer Brown the right way: Don’t tell him he’s wrong; show him. Show everybody.
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jmullin@tribune.com
