Despite ranking top-10 in most offensive categories last season, the Chicago Bears had one of the league's worst defenses. However, a new metric tells a completely different story.

According to SūmerSports on X, the Bears defense was eighth best for the 2025 EPA/pass allowed on late downs. However, a Green Bay Packers reporter, Peter Bukowski, argued that the numbers gave a wrong impression of the Bears’ defense.

“Another red blinking light for Bears regression,” Bukowski wrote on X. “This is basically the best defenses in the NFL…and Chicago. These other defenses were all good play-to-play. The Bears were very bad. It’s not sustaining.”

In the rankings, the Bears were behind some of the best defenses in the NFL last season, with the New England Patriots ranked first with -0.39 compared to the Bears’ -0.21.

Chicago was ranked behind the Philadelphia Eagles, Jacksonville Jaguars, Seattle Seahawks, Cleveland Browns, Los Angeles Rams, and the Denver Broncos.

Meanwhile, their divisional rival, the Detroit Lions, didn't even make it to the list. As Detroit's defense ranked 22nd in points allowed and 18th in yards allowed last season.

Chicago enters the 2026 season with high expectations, especially after winning the NFC North last season and reaching the Divisional playoff game.

They were able to reach the divisional round after erasing a 21-6 third-quarter deficit to defeat the Packers 31-27 in the Wild Card round.

While the postseason run set a high bar, Chicago’s roster depth is already creating a good problem for next season, with one NFL analyst predicting a sophomore riser to claim a starting role.

Seventh-round pick predicted to take over as starter by the end of the season

The 2025 NFL Draft for the Chicago Bears has given them some key pieces, and one of their later picks has been touted to become a more important player.

Sports Illustrated’s Jerry Markarian predicted that the Bears’ seventh-round pick from the 2025 NFL Draft, Kyle Monangai, would not only start by the end of the season but also surpass 1,000 rushing yards.

“Kyle Monangai is coming off one of the most impressive rookie campaigns among anyone in the 2025 NFL Draft class...He not only made the roster, but also finished fifth in rushing (783 yards) among rookie runners despite being the 22nd back off the board,” wrote Markarian.

“With [D'Andre] Swift entering a contract year at the age of 27, I think the Bears are going to want to see if Monangai can sustain his level of play with more opportunities out of the backfield.”

Markarian also mentioned that for either back to be productive, the offensive line of the Bears would also have to play well. Yet, he still picked Monangai to be the one to cross 1,000 yards amongst both backs.

However, current starter D’Andre Swift is coming off his best year as he finished with 1,087 rushing yards and nine touchdowns.

Do you think Kyle Monangai will take over the starting backfield by the end of the season, or will the Bears' defense regress like Bukowski warns? Let us know in the comments!

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Written by

Dhruv Vishnu Nair

Edited by

Shubhi Rathore