There is little hope or optimism surrounding the Chicago Bears and their fanbase after just two weeks into the Ben Johnson head coaching era.
After blowing an 11-point lead at home to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 1, the Bears were dismantled by Johnson’s former team, the Detroit Lions, 52-21 on Sunday, showing incompetence on all sides of the field. Not only are the Bears now 0-2 after their first two games of the season, but they’re also 0-2 in the NFC North division, where the Packers reign supreme at 2-0, and the Lions and Vikings sit at 1-1 on the year.
There’s very real cause for concern but there are 17 games in a NFL season, which means some reactions can be considered, overreactions. Here’s a look at the top three overreactions following the Bears second consecutive loss to open the 2025 season.
All the blame should be placed on Caleb Williams
First and foremost, yes, Caleb Williams made a very bad throw when throwing his first interception of the season this year on Sunday. Later describing it as him trying to make a play, the easiest narrative around the Bears franchise is to put all the blame on the young quarterback. In comparison to last season, Williams has shown more athleticism at the quarterback position, he’s shown the ability to make really good throws at times, and while he’s still hampered by some of the negatives that held him back last year, it’s not all on him. The offensive line was accounted for six penalties against Detroit and as a team, the Bears have committed 20 penalties. That same offensive line unit has also not held up through two games, with Williams being sacked 6 times in two games, even after all the investments the front office made in the offseason.
Montez Sweat was not worth the contract extension
Montez Sweat has not been the edge rusher that the Bears paid him to be during the 2023 season, when they traded a second-round pick for him while signing him to a four-year, $98 million extension. In comparison to other top pass rushers in the league, Sweat is in the middle of the pack in terms of average salary per year with his new contract, and that’s about where he ranks as a pass rusher in the NFL as well. Sweat is with his third different defensive coach since coming to Chicago, which doesn’t help anyone, but he’s got to improve as a leader of the defense. Sweat is not playing up to his contract, but to say he’s not worth the money is a stretch, right now.
Bears wasted a first-round pick on Colston Loveland
Never mind just Colston Loveland for a moment, the Bears have failed to get the tight ends involved in the passing game at all throughout the first two games. What might be more surprising than the Bears taking Loveland with the 10th overall pick in this year’s draft, is the fact that he’s had 3 targets in his first two NFL games, and his running mate Cole Kmet has had six targets. A total of nine targets in two games for pass-catching tight ends seems head-scratching at the least, and shows the lack of power in the offense right now. To put it in perspective, last season, rookie tight end Brock Bowers, who set a new standard at the position, had 17 targets in his first two games, with Gardner Minshew as his quarterback. The Bears are doing themselves no favors right now, but they have to utilize the tight end position more moving forward. Loveland didn’t forget how to catch a pass or play his position, he just needs the opportunities.
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: 3 biggest overreactions to Bears’ Week 2 loss vs. Lions
Reporting by Mike Pendleton, Bears Wire / Bears Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
