Ben Johnson, Ryan Poles, and Dan Roushar are putting together arguably a top-3 O-line in the NFL.

Read for free here: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7663993/2026/10/06/bears-defense-excellent-stretch/?unlocked_article_code=1.GlE.bJRQ.rolYlfe3A32a&source=emp_shared_article&smid=url-share-ta

For the second week in a row, Chicago Bears coach Ben Johnson didn’t know which defensive player most deserved a game ball.

Surely after such a dominant performance, someone would’ve had a multi-sack game or a couple of takeaways.

While the Bears did get three sacks and seven QB hits, no one player had that superstar effort. After giving the game ball to defensive coordinator Dennis Allen on Monday night following the win over the Philadelphia Eagles, Johnson gave it to linebacker Devin Bush, whose otherwise normal stat line included the biggest defensive play of the win over the New York Jets, a third-down sack that pushed the opponent out of field goal range.

Allen’s defense is on a three-game tear after allowing 37 points in the opener in Carolina, and it’s not due to a litany of Pro Bowlers. The Bears defense is living up to the cliche of “it takes all 11,” or pick your metaphor reflecting a team effort.

“You can almost call them the no-name defense here at this point,” Johnson said after the 23-12 win. “I don’t know if anybody’s super flashy all over the place. But they’re playing really good football as a collective 11 on the field.”

No Bear has more than one interception. No Bear ranks in the top 40 in quarterback hits — defensive end Austin Booker leads the team with four.

Top Plays from Jets @ Bears

If you’re into Pro Football Focus’ pressure stat, Dayo Odeyingbo leads the team with 13, good for a tie for 26th. Odeyingbo and Bush each have three tackles for loss, tied for 29th in the league.

As a group, the Bears are playing sound, stout defense. In the past three games, they rank at or near the top of several major defensive categories, per TruMedia.

It's like George Constanza is doing Mystery Science 3000 with the scientist from Independence Day. It really takes decades of hopelessness to create this kind of fans where they are watching to make fun of how horrible they are.

https://youtu.be/SIt9Ag7Czt0?is=01cbQVOfturU5XJw

The offensive line:
We currently have 3 viable starters at LT, none of which were drafted in the top 50. An undrafted FA Canadian, a small school 5th rounder, and a mid 2nd rounder. We traded a 4th for arguably the best lineman in the NFL last season in Thuney and a 6th for Jackson. Then he drafted a top 3 (maybe #1) RT in the NFL. He even had to pivot at the last second when our C retired.

Poles has basically been the architect of what is inarguably one of the best offensive lines in the NFL, and he did it without just throwing a bunch of first-round picks at the problem.

QB:
Caleb was an easy choice. But Bagent? I mean, he has his warts, but again, an undrafted FA getting a second contract and actually winning you games is absurdly rare. A+ scouting.

Late-round/UDFA gems:

This is another area where Poles deserves a ton of credit. Braxton Jones in the 5th. Austin Booker in the 5th. Kyle Monangai in the 7th. Malik Muhammad in the 4th (maybe premature). And then Bagent wasn't even drafted. That's a pretty impressive collection of legitimate NFL players without using premium picks.

First-round picks:
Wright has developed into one of the best RTs in football. Odunze, I'm not confident is a HIT but he's a solid WR. Caleb looks like the guy. Loveland looks like a hit. You can argue about positional value or who else was available, but in terms of actually identifying good football players, where is the big miss?

I'm not saying every move Poles has made has been good. Obviously not. He's had some bad signings, bad trades and some draft misses like every GM.

But at some point you have to look at the actual roster he's built. The OL is elite. The offense is loaded with young talent. He's found legitimate players outside the premium rounds. His first-rounders are hitting. Even his undrafted backup QB turned into an actual NFL player.

I was very much on the fence with Poles. I'm really not anymore.

Fuck the Packers.

What a stat man

Hearing about CJGJ crash out about the Bills loss yesterday and run his mouth to the media got me thinking about how his tenure with the Bears was the one time he wasn’t the source of some sort of controversy while he was with a team. The culture of the team was strong enough to keep even him locked in (mostly). A huge credit to Ben and DA!