4 things that can make or break the Chicago Bears 2023 season

Can the Chicago Bears’ defense generate a pass rush with its front four?

The Chicago Bears defense was awful last season.

They gave up the most points in the NFL and were 29th in yards allowed. The pass rush was non-existent.

The team leader in sacks was Jaquan Brisker. He plays safety. You do not want your safety leading the team in sacks.

Ryan Poles was able to upgrade the linebacker corp. when he signed Tremaine Edmunds and T.J. Edwards.

He bolstered the secondary when he drafted Tyrique Stevenson in the second round and Terrell Smith in the fifth round. Stevenson should be able to start alongside Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon.

Those three could develop into an elite unit. They still need a pass rush to help make their lives easier. The Bears also need a highly productive three-technique defensive tackle and right now the team is lacking one.

Poles passed on drafting Jalen Carter, the best defensive tackle in the draft because of character concerns.

Instead, he is hoping one of the two defensive tackles he drafted, Gervon Dexter Sr. in the second round and Zacch Pickens in the third round, can develop into a three-technique. He also signed Andrew Billings who provides depth at that position. Justin Jones returns and he can be disruptive from time to time.

The team still needs edge rushers. Poles signed DeMarcus Walker and Rasheem Green, but these are not exactly pass rushers who strike fear in opposing offensive coordinators.

The hope is Trevis Gipson and Dominique Robinson can develop into rushers that can harass quarterbacks. Gipson regressed last season and Robinson did not show much after a great
Week 1.

Head coach Matt Eberflus does hope with the upgraded talent at defensive tackle that it can generate an interior pass rush. As we saw what the New York Giants and Washington Commanders did to the Chicago Bears with an interior rush, it can really make a quarterback uncomfortable.

If Walker can improve upon his seven-sack season and Gipson can get back to his 2021 production, then the Bears might be able to scare quarterbacks off the edge.

Is there enough depth to overcome injuries?

Injuries wreaked havoc on the Bears last year. Attrition via injury is something every NFL team deals with. The hope is the injury bug does not bite the roster too hard.

That is why depth is so important and the Chicago Bears did not have that last season.

A lot of rookies were forced into action because of injuries.

Getting game action was still valuable reps for a lot of the players the Bears rolled out because of injuries. Hopefully, that experience helps build backups who can come in and not be such a huge drop-off.

If that happens, maybe the Bears have enough to get to nine or 10 wins this season. That is good enough for a wild card spot and making the playoffs which would be certainly welcomed after going through a season of losing in 2022.