Chicago Bears Pass Key Test Against the Los Angeles Rams

The Bears didn't play well, especially in the first half, and they committed too many penalties. They struggled to stop the run. But they got the win, and that's what matters.

We saw offensive adjustments by the Bears that allowed D'Andre Swift to get untracked. We saw continued growth from rookie quarterback Caleb Williams. Most importantly, we saw a team that was able to bounce back from a disappointing loss to an Indianapolis Colts team they should've been able to beat.

Really, that's a big part of the story here. Williams' growth and offensive adjustments will dominate sports-talk radio all week here in Chicago -- I know, I've heard those two topics discussed already -- but a win like this is big for confidence when it comes to a rebuilding team that isn't necessarily expected to be a playoff contender but is expected to show growth, if not more wins, compared to 2023.

Two wins against two losses looks much better than 1-3, and it also gives the team a better chance at a playoff push. Again, however, if the team simply grows compared to 2023, that will be considered a success.

A mild success, but a success nonetheless.

With only four games down, it's still too early to tell where the Bears will end up after 17 games of regular season football. But it is clear that this team, more so than last year's team, seems able to recognize problems and adjust. An offensive disaster against Indianapolis followed two other debacles on that side of the ball. The Bears only managed to beat the Tennessee Titans due to special teams and defense, and Chicago looked outclassed while visiting the Houston Texans.

The Bears should've beaten the Colts, but they struggled to get it into the end zone -- and continued to struggle to block. But against the Rams, the team seemed to utilize a struggling offensive line better and finally got running back D'Andre Swift untracked. They also seemed to use running back Roschon Johnson effectively.

There's a lot of work to be done, but the Bears are showing signs of life -- and that's key to their development and growth.

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