Grading the Chicago Bears' Overall Performance Through Week Eight

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A commanding second half performance carried the Chicago Bears to a key 24-10 victory over the New York Jets last Sunday.

Considering the Bears had lost two consecutive games by a combined 10 points, Chicago was in a must-win scenario in order to stay afloat in the NFC North.

Not only did the Bears win to jump back over .500, but they were also rewarded with some help provided by the rest of the division. The Vikings, Packers, and Lions all lost on Sunday, putting Chicago back in first place heading into week nine.

Five of Chicago’s remaining nine games are divisional matchups, making each game increasingly significant as the season progresses. This is especially true given how tight the division race is. Every team in the NFC North has at least three wins.

Since we are about halfway through the season, it’s fitting to evaluate how the Monsters of the Midway have performed thus far in 2018. Let’s get into it.

Offense Grade: B+

Offensive production, especially from second-year quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, was the prime area of concern heading into the season.

Worries about the Trubisky-led offense have stuck around throughout the season, as the general consensus has been that Trubisky needs to perform efficiently in order for this team to succeed.

Trubisky looks a little better on paper than he truly has performed in 2018.

The North Carolina product has completed 65 percent of his passes through six games. But, Trubisky goes for more short, conservative throws than the average quarterback. So, that number may be a little skewed.

Trubisky has also averaged 259 passing yards per game. However, since Chicago has made a name off of catch-and-runs, often resulting from Tarik Cohen screen passes, that number is a little misleading as well.

Still, I truly believe Trubisky and the entire offense hasn’t been given enough credit thus far.

To date, Chicago ranks sixth in points per game (28.3) and 10th in total offensive yards per game, averaging 382.7 each contest.

Even if the offense isn’t as aggressive as fans may desire, the numbers don’t lie there. The Bears are still finding a way to get it done offensively.

Chicago’s quarterback is doing essentially everything that has been asked from him at this point of his career. Trubisky hasn’t made many mistakes, he’s thrown six interceptions and 15 touchdowns in 2018. The quarterback has also tossed one or less pick in five of the Bears’ games this season.

.@MTrubisky10 racked up 220 passing yards and 51 rushing yards in the @ChicagoBears' Week 8 win! #NYJvsCHI #DaBears https://t.co/4VFlRVN0pK

— NFL (@NFL) October 29, 2018

Progression is evident from Chicago’s project under center. Trubisky looks like an entirely different player compared to last season. He has even improved immensely from the first few weeks of the season.

Ranking 21st in pass yards per game isn’t great, but when you have a rushing attack as potent as Chicago’s, a problem isn’t created to the extent that you’d think.

The Bears have netted the third-best rushing offense in the NFL, with 138 yards from scrimmage each game.

Running back Tarik Cohen, not Jordan Howard, is the reason for the potent run game. Honestly, Cohen has been the overall offensive MVP so far.

The speedy, play-making back has rushed for 5.2 yards per carry while also leading Chicago in receiving. Cohen’s contributions on the ground have been notable, but it’s through the air where he has thrived the most.

Cohen has accumulated 398 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns. Impressively, Cohen’s average reception has gone for 13.3 yards. There hasn’t been a player as explosive as Cohen in Chicago in quite some time.

Through seven games, Cohen has totaled nine plays of at least 20 yards.

.@TarikCohen.

70 yards. GONE. 🔥🔥🔥

📺: CBS #DaBears https://t.co/pxE4kj9LiP

— NFL (@NFL) October 28, 2018

As previously stated, Howard hasn’t been great, but the once workhorse back is coming off of a productive outing. Howard rushed for over 80 yards for the first time since week one against the Packers, which is encouraging.

If the running back can continue to adjust to head coach Matt Nagy’s play-calling, he should slowly return to the form Bears fans once witnessed.

Receiving wise, Taylor Gabriel has been an extremely pleasant surprise. Before the season began, most assumed Allen Robinson would be the most exciting receiver to watch in Chicago. But, Gabriel has taken the cake.

Gabriel leads the Bears with 34 receptions and is close to hitting 400 total receiving yards. He’s been a reliable option for Trubisky and has made his presence known in both the deep attack and short-passing game.

Defense Grade: A-

Chicago’s defense assembled a much-needed bounce-back performance against the Jets last Sunday after a few recent hiccups. This puts them back in the A range, with the potential to consistently play at the caliber it did for the Bears’ first few games.

The Bears allowed 17 points or less in three of their first four games, leading them to a dominant 3-1 start.

Chicago’s defense looked basically unstoppable at that point. The unit appropriately drew early season comparisons to the 1985 defensive unit. The Bears led the NFL in almost every significant defensive category, headlined by 294.5 yards allowed per game as well as 11 induced turnovers.

Obviously, Khalil Mack led the inspired defensive charge. Mack combined for five sacks, four forced fumbles, and one pick-six over that span.

It's @52Mack_'s 🌎, we're just livin' in it.

NFC #DPOM | #MackAttack https://t.co/odv9qAwkoL

— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) October 4, 2018

Then, however, Mack experienced an injury that noticeably set him back. Simultaneously, the Bears’ defensive flaws began to get exposed.

Chicago allowed 31 points in its following game against Miami, before surrendering 38 to the Patriots.

The defensive miscues were highlighted by big plays allowed in the secondary, which has shaped itself into the most significant issue for the defense moving forward. Along with pass rush woes.

Chicago then exhibited that those two games may have been mere flukes by putting together its best defensive performance of 2018 against the Jets. The Bears allowed only 207 total yards, a season-high, and 10 points.

This is even more impressive considering Khalil Mack was wisely sidelined on Sunday.

The Bears defense finally proved it can operate efficiently without Mack, which is a very good sign. Although, Mack’s injury isn’t very serious, so it is not as if Chicago will be required to do this continuously.

Mack returning to full health will give the defense the boost it needs to perform at an elite level once again.

Overall, the defense ranks eighth in points allowed per game (20.6) and 12th in yards allowed per game (350). So obviously, the defensive success hasn’t only been from Mack. Chicago’s defense possesses a good amount of depth.

Linebacker Danny Trevathan leads the team with 49 total tackles and is on pace to eclipse 100 for the third time in his seven-year career.

Eighth overall pick Roquan Smith has proved his worth since being let off his leash by defensive coordinator Vic Fangio.

Smith has totaled 41 tackles despite being limited in Chicago’s first two games. Simply put, the Bears’ linebacker unit is its strongest right now defensively.

As I said before, allowing big plays has been a problem for the secondary. But, once Prince Amukamara is fully healthy, this flaw should be patched to an extent.

It’s also worth noting that cornerback Kyle Fuller has been solid in the secondary. Though Fuller’s dropped interception gave Aaron Rodgers the second chance he needed to beat the Bears week one, Fuller leads Chicago with three interceptions.

Undeservingly, Bryce Callahan hasn’t been given enough credit at cornerback. The fourth-year Rice product could be Chicago’s most improved defensive player this season.

Callahan has already made 28 tackles this season. His season-high is 32, which came in 2016.

Bear Up. Bryce Callahan pic.twitter.com/K6m0eD80xs

— Barroom Network – Aldo Gandia (@BarroomNetwork) October 28, 2018

Special Teams Grade: C+

Chicago has been searching for a kicker who consistently performs with ice water in his veins since making the ill-advised decision to let Robbie Gould walk three seasons ago.

Cody Parkey came in and performed well to start the season, giving Bears fans confidence in the young leg.

Parkey converted 9-10 kicks in Chicago’s first four games combined. Since then, the fifth-year kicker has been a little shaky though.

Parkey has converted just 2-4 kicks since. Sure, the overtime kick in Miami was a 53-yarder. But, the ideal kicker is one who comes through in the clutch. That was Parkey’s first opportunity to win a game for the Bears, and he failed.

Cody Parkey has missed three field goals in seven games this season. Robbie Gould has missed three field goals since leaving the Bears — in 2 1/2 seasons (63-for-66) pic.twitter.com/9XtxGt6pkt

— BearDigest (@BearsOnMaven) October 29, 2018

Parkey has definitely been decent, but it’s a little concerning that he has already missed three field goals this season after going 21-23 last season for the Dolphins.

This doesn’t provide a reason for Chicago to search for another kicker, but I’d like to see Parkey improve.

Punter Pat O’Donnell is putting up similar numbers compared to last season. It’s uplifting that his percentage of punts within the 20-yard line has improved.

However, compared to the rest of the NFL, O’Donnell is an average punter at best. Chicago’s amount of punts landed within the 20 is the third worst in the NFL, while O’Donnell’s net average of 44.3 yards per punt ranks 21st.

O’Donnell has been solid to his standards. His standards aren’t great when looking at numbers across the league though.

Overall Grade: A-

It may seem a little unusual that a 4-3 team barely in first place has received such a high grade. However, you have to consider the circumstances.

Following the Rams’ blueprint, Chicago was expected to be competitive this season but still a little while away from being a true contender.

The Bears are a true contender right now. Chicago’s three losses have come by a combined 11 points. Feeling that the Bears really could be 7-0 right is not far-fetched.

Chicago has established itself as a team that will have an opportunity to win every game. For the past few seasons, the Bears rightfully weren’t taken seriously in any contests against above average teams.

The Bears have an equally realistic chance at winning the NFC North this season as the Vikings and Packers. That says a lot.

There are also many reasons to believe Chicago will improve exceedingly before the season concludes.

Offensively, Trubisky’s level of play to this point indicates that he will continue to advance.

If the quarterback’s production increases to the point where he formulates how to win games in the fourth quarter, Chicago will be a further difficult team to defeat.

As deep as the receiving core is, the unit isn’t playing to its full capabilities either.

Allen Robinson has been injured. Robinson should be able to emerge as the top receiver sooner later, as was intended when signing him. Putting Gabriel in a complementary role creates matchup nightmares for opposing defenses, given the explosiveness of the Bears’ receivers.

Rookie receiver Anthony Miller is only going to get better as well. Even though Miller hasn’t been playing at 100 percent all season, the rookie has scored three touchdowns and has made some awe-inspiring plays.

Defensively, as I mentioned earlier, if health issues can be eliminated there is no excuse for this defense to not perform like a top-five unit. This is assuming the recent pass rush woes can be fixed. But, they should somewhat be solved once Mack is back.

The minus sign next to the A comes from the hand full of losses in which the Bears did enough to win. As this team continues to grow, coming together as a team in the fourth quarter will be learned.

If everything plays out how the Bears intend, that minus will be erased in the next two seasons or so. There is a likely chance of that.

For the time being, Chicago fans have to be happy with where their team is at heading into week nine.

What they said. 🐻⬇️ https://t.co/aNsv73KBXg

— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) October 28, 2018

About Post Author

Eddie Herz

Born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago, Eddie Herz is a senior journalism major at Colorado State University. He has been a beat reporter for CSU's newspaper, the Rocky Mountain Collegian, since he was a freshman. Eddie has also contributed to the BTPowerhouse.com, a sister website of SBnation. Eddie will be the CSU Football beat reporter for the Rocky Mountain Collegian this coming Fall.

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