The seven-day break between their 31-7 beatdown loss in Green Bay and a second-straight game away from home in Atlanta was enough to make even the most level-headed of Bears fans lose it. In three hours, the Chicago Bears went from a great story that had started three quarterbacks in four weeks to a team that might not be very good. As usual, the narratives fly any time those two teams play, which can make it hard for anyone to turn the page. Luckily for head coach Ben Johnson and his team, they did just that. It helped that they got their starting quarterback back in the mix, but for the better part of four quarters, they looked like the same dominant team we’ve seen in four of their six games so far in 2026. Before quickly turning the page on this one for a Thursday night showdown with the New England Patriots, let’s take a deeper dive into Sunday and where they go next in Week 6’s edition of 10 Bears Takes.
1\. **Caleb Williams’ return on Sunday was much-needed, even after a weird media session earlier in the week– why fans should feel optimistic about his play after a three-game absence.**
Williams ended last week’s Friday practice session as a limited participant, before doing plenty of work in Green Bay before the start of last weekend’s game. Speculation all along has been that he would be close to ready for Atlanta, and despite a Wednesday walk-through, it was clear they felt they had given Williams’ hamstring injury enough time and were ready to ramp him up.
Then came Thursday, when his first media day in three weeks featured a long opening speech, some pointed statements, and a somewhat contentious set of answers. As always, people rarely take things at face value. Instead, everyone runs with their reactions, and it blows up into something bigger than it was.
In the end, Williams came out on Sunday with some clear motivation to prove his critics wrong and did exactly that. His 83.3% completion rate was a career-high, and he eclipsed 300 passing yards for just the sixth time in his career. Taking out the anomaly that was the Vikings game in Week 2, so far we’ve seen a new version of Williams where he’s not wildly missing throws. Even more impressive, he’s continued to take what the defense is giving him. Even if those checkdowns aren’t turning into explosives, they are keeping opposing defenses honest, which is allowing for more shots downfield.
To dive a little deeper into his six incompletions: four were throwaways, one was Colston Loveland overrunning a route in the end zone, and the last was a pass where his arm was hit mid-throw. Simply put, he didn’t come close to putting the ball into danger, and there were no egregious misses as we saw so often last season.
Even though the offense scored 31 points, it’s easy to see how much was once again left out on the field. Between the penalties and missed opportunities in Atlanta territory, there’s plenty of meat left on the bone for this offense to continue to get better. That should give fans plenty of faith that they’ll keep improving as a unit, and ultimately, 40-point games are far from out of the question moving forward.
No matter how you slice it, it was a great return for the Bears’ franchise quarterback. More importantly, the best is yet to come for this offense, assuming their core pieces stay healthy through the last 11 regular-season games.
2\. **Speaking of returns, Kyler Gordon’s first game of 2026 was a stark reminder that when he’s healthy, he’s one of their best defenders.**
Much has been made about his recent injury history and lack of ability. Frankly, it’s been justified considering these issues started after he signed his lucrative extension to make him the highest-paid nickel in the league. Despite his lack of availability going back to the start of last season, it’s impossible to debate that when he’s in the game, he’s one of, if not the best defensive players the team has.
Gordon was activated off PUP earlier this week, which made Sunday his first game of the 2026 season. Despite only playing 16 defensive snaps, his three sacks and two forced fumbles were the most that have been tracked from a defensive back dating all the way back to 1982. Even if Gordon isn’t the most dynamic coverage guy in the league, his versatility is a huge value to any defense. Defensive coordinator Dennis Allen has always been known for getting the most out of his nickelbacks, and when Gordon has been on the field, the results have been no different.
With the team’s secondary in flux due to injuries and their mix-and-match style, fans can expect Gordon’s snap count to rise each game until he’s settled into a full-time role. That likely means Tyrique Stevenson will go back to the bench, but considering how much both he and Jaylon Johnson have struggled down the field, I’m not sure that’s a bad thing. Fourth-round rookie Malik Muhammad should continue to see snaps on the boundary, and if that’s the end goal for him beyond this season, it makes sense to continue to play him there.
We’ll see how things look once everyone is healthy (if that ever happens), but the offseason plan is starting to show. Once Coby Bryant comes back (hopefully this season), this could be a very different-looking group than the one we saw to open up Week 1.
3\. **With a short week upcoming, it will be hard for this team not to look too far ahead to their 10-day mini-bye.**
It might only be six games into the regular season, but these last few weeks have taken a toll on this team’s health. It started with Braxton Jones a few weeks ago, and has since led to Dayo Odeyingbo going on Injured Reserve, while other players like T.J. Edwards, Stevenson, and even Kyle Monangai are on the “week-to-week” timeline. At first glance, the only notable injury the team sustained on Sunday was right guard Jonah Jackson leaving with a hip injury. I guess that we won’t get a better idea of what that injury looks like until closer to their game on Thursday, but combine that with Montez Sweat’s suspension, and this team is missing a lot of starting talent heading into their Thursday night showdown with a very good Patriots club.
The Bears are in the midst of a tough three-game stretch that started with a road game in Atlanta, followed by a short turnaround with the Patriots, and then a Monday night showdown with the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks in Week 8. Before their win in Atlanta, going 2-1 felt like the “goal”. It would leave them at 5-3 overall, and ideally, it would give them tie-breakers over Carolina, Philadelphia, Atlanta, and Seattle, plus a 4-2 conference record heading into a stretch where they’ll see a 1-5 Buccaneers team, a Week 9 bye, followed by another favorable matchup against a 2-4 Saints team.
That said, Week 9’s bye feels like a long time away, which means the early focus will be on getting through Thursday night and hoping for improved health during their 10-game break before heading to Seattle to face the Seahawks. No one would blame the Bears for looking ahead, and ultimately, if they can get some other important pieces back, it’s a win.
The goal now should be to get as many wins as possible before heading into the bye week. For instance, going into their bye week at 6-3 would put them in a prime position to push for the division, or at least a playoff spot, heading into the second half of the season. The regular season is in full swing, and the Bears, like every other team in the league, must find a way to weather the storm and come out better on the other side. A small reprieve is just days away, but first, there’s a big game on a national stage waiting for them at Soldier Field on Thursday night.
4\. **Following an ugly 31-7 loss at Lambeau Field, it would have been easy for the Bears to lay down and go into Thursday night at 3-3. Instead, they came out and dominated for 3 ½ quarters.**
We’ve seen this story play out before. Of course, that was before Ben Johnson and company, but the lengthy history of crumbling after a bad loss is well documented. So, in some ways, the reactions to last Sunday’s loss against the Packers were understandable.
Going into Atlanta, it felt like a toss-up game that would come down to how successful the Bears’ offense could be. Ultimately, they dominated most of the game, and if not for taking their foot off the gas early in the fourth quarter, coupled with a Roschon Johnson fumble on the next drive, the score would have reflected how dominant Chicago was for most of the game.
No matter the final score, make no mistake: Sunday was a statement game for the Bears, and it was good to see them rebound after such an embarrassing and emotional loss the week before. In reality, this has just been the DNA of Johnson-led teams since he took over in Chicago last season. After losses, the Bears are now 5-2 following a loss in the Ben Johnson era. To take it a step further, the Bears have yet to lose more than two in a row since last season.
That should give fans confidence that no matter how bad things look and/or feel in the moment, there’s a good chance that they’ll find a way to rebound the next week, and usually in convincing fashion. It’s a good trait for any team to have, but something to keep in mind following any loss.
5\. **Williams’ return and 31-point effort was a prime example of what this offense is capable of, even with all the meat left on the bone from penalties and prematurely ended drives.**
Although it seems clear that this offense isn’t going to set the records that Johnson had sought during the preseason, there’s still a lot of meat on the bone for a team that is averaging 25 points per game, while starting backup quarterbacks for half of those games. Their red zone woes have been well documented, but to their credit, they were 4-of-5 on Sunday.
The biggest key is trading field goals for touchdowns and not getting bogged down in opponent territory. One remedy is cutting down on penalties, and after a few good weeks in that department, they took a big step back on Sunday with 12 accepted penalties that accounted for 133 yards.
Missing Monangai has hurt their red zone offense, especially inside the 10. That said, the more Williams can get back into the swing of things, the more they can dial in their red zone and goal line offense. They have the weapons and versatile personnel to improve in that department and could also stand to get a bit better on third downs.
All in all, these are situations most Bears fans have dreamed of being in before the arrival of Johnson and company. Their quarterback is playing at a high level, and in his three starts, the offense is averaging 31 points per game with Williams under center. Improvements will always be a focus for an improving contender, but the fact they are having this type of success with so much still to clean up is a very encouraging sign. The best is yet to come for this offense, and as long as Williams stays healthy, improvements should continue in the coming weeks.
6\. **Injuries have continued to mount. Couple that with Montez Sweat’s two-game suspension, and the focus on improving the defense through the trade deadline needs to be a priority.**
Those who didn’t watch the game will see Atlanta’s 23 points and assume the Bears struggled to stop the Falcons’ offense. The reality was quite different, especially in the first three quarters. In total, they had five sacks, six quarterback hits, and seven tackles for loss, in addition to keeping quarterback Michael Penix under 100 yards passing until the second-to-last drive of the game for Atlanta.
All in all, Allen and his defense did an outstanding job keeping steady pressure on Penix, getting off the field on third down, and holding the Falcons to 0-for-3 on fourth-down attempts. With that in mind, they’ll face a completely different animal on Thursday against the Patriots. With Penix, the book is out: if you pressure him, he’s a bottom-10 quarterback throwing the ball. Keep the ball out of Bijan Robinson’s hands, and you have a good chance of stopping their offense. With the Patriots, Drake Maye is a top-tier quarterback, and they have plenty of weapons on all levels of their offense.
Overall, Allen has done a nice job of getting the most out of this defense, but injuries have continued to mount for this group, especially on the defensive line. Odeyingbo going on IR was a tough blow, especially after how well he played as an interior pass rusher. Sweat’s two-game suspension hurts, if even from a name-value standpoint. Edwards had been playing well this year, and Stevenson’s continued hamstring injury hurts their depth at cornerback.
Simply put, the Bears don’t have enough horses to win the race. The versatility at defensive back has been compromised due to injury and performance, but ultimately, they need another quality pass-rusher up front. Even when Odeyingbo returns from IR and Sweat from suspension, they don’t have enough difference-makers. The trade deadline won’t be a “be-all-and-end-all” fix to their problems, but it might be enough to keep them around league average. More importantly, it might help them stay more consistent week to week.
We’ll see what shakes out in the coming weeks, and although I don’t expect a big move that sends any high-round picks away, players like Khalil Mack and maybe even Zach Sieler could make sense as lower-cost targets. At most, I wouldn’t expect either player to go for more than an early Day 3 pick. Don’t rule out another addition at cornerback, especially on the boundary. An old friend in Nahshon Wright could provide quality depth for a low price, especially if they aren’t happy with what they have right now.
7\. **These next two games won’t be easy, but at 4-2, the Bears have allowed themselves some breathing room if they can simply split them– More on how big of a win Sunday might turn out to be.**
Before Sunday, Pro Football Focus’ playoff odds had the Bears heading in two different directions depending on how the results panned out.
* With a win, their playoff probability went to 64.3%.
* With a loss, their chances would have dropped to 36.7%.
Now, it’s worth keeping in mind that the season is still very young. Injuries and general inconsistencies will help cloud, and eventually clarify, the playoff picture in both conferences over the next two-plus months. That said, the difference between 4-2 and 3-3 was big. Now, with two big games against both Super Bowl contestants from a year ago, a split in those games would yield a 5-3 record heading into a pair of winnable games with a bye week sandwiched in between.
More than anything, seeing Williams back in action under center was a big confidence boost, not only for fans, but for this team to know what they are capable of. The next two games won’t be easy, and they have another tough stretch starting around Thanksgiving, but they’ve given themselves some breathing room, at least for the time being, with a chance to build on their early-season success. It might be easy to forget, but this same team went on a 9-1 run in the middle of last season’s schedule. If this team gets hot, watch out, because it won’t matter who they play; they’ll have more than a puncher’s chance in each one.
8\. **Last Sunday’s loss to Green Bay and the overall reaction to it was a great lesson in not making one game more than it is- one game.**
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: The Chicago Bears are a good football team. Sure, they have their flaws, but every team in the league does. No team opens the season and runs away and hides from everyone over the first four to six games of the season. It simply doesn’t happen.
Was last Sunday’s blowout loss disappointing on almost every level? Absolutely. The Bears talked a big game, had bragging rights for nine months, and despite not having their starting quarterback, they were still favorites on the road at Lambeau. By all accounts, it was an extremely deflating and borderline embarrassing loss to their most-hated rival.
With that in mind, it was still just one game. In total, the Bears went 2-1 while starting backup quarterbacks. It just so happened that their one loss with a backup under center came against the Packers. Sure, their continued struggles in the division are a concern. Sure, you always want to beat the Packers, but I’m not sure losing by an interception in the end zone, or a 31-7 blowout, makes it any better or worse. The reality is, they got punched in the mouth, and now they have to live with that until they see Green Bay again on Christmas night. It is what it is.
What surprised me was how many hot takes flew around about this team as a whole and their head coach. I’ll be the first to say that Week 5 might have been Johnson’s worst-coached game of his career, and that includes their Week 2 loss to Detroit last season. Context matters, and he has a great handle on this team now, compared with his second career game as a head coach.
That said, the Bears are where they are largely because of their head coach. He’s instilled a new culture. A winning culture. He’s taken on the “bad guy” persona and has challenged his team to embrace not only the Packers rivalry, but daring to be great by blowing out opponents. Again, Johnson’s ego (to an extent) was on full display last weekend, but he’s proven time and time again that he can take something like that and learn from it. There was no reason for some of the columns to be written that everyone saw. There was no reason to question his viability as the team’s head coach or question his job status. That was all complete nonsense and emotional talk after one loss.
Maybe this team never wins a Super Bowl under Johnson. Maybe they do. The one thing that is clear just a year and a half into Johnson’s tenure is that he’s the best head coach they’ve had in two decades and the sky is the limit for this group over the long haul. It’s easy to overreact to any one game, but in the end, it’s one game. That’s an important lesson to remember moving forward, because over the course of a 17-game season, losses will happen. How they respond has been the bigger tell, and so far, the team is 5-2 coming off a loss in the Johnson era.
9\. **NFC North Lookaround: The Vikings and Lions enjoy early bye weeks, while the Packers hosted the Cowboys on a Sunday Night Football showdown.**
This week, both the undefeated Vikings and three-win Lions enjoyed an early bye week. For a team like Minnesota, maybe it wasn’t as welcome as it was for a banged-up group like Detroit.
The Vikings are riding high, and if history repeats itself, they are well on their way to finding themselves back in the playoffs after a disappointing 2025. According to Alec Lewis of The Athletic, the Vikings are expected to be active at the trade deadline, although it’s worth wondering what they will target. The defense has been elite, but the offense has been about as uneven as it gets. Starting in Week 8, the Vikings will face one of the league’s toughest schedules for the remainder of the season. While they’ve started hot, that will be challenged in the coming weeks.
The Lions face much less certainty. Getting into the bye week above .500 felt like an accomplishment, considering their injuries and poor defensive performances. With a 4th-place finish, they’ll face a lighter schedule for the rest of the division, but their inconsistency has been concerning to a certain extent. The offense is still top-tier, but without a better defense, it’s worth wondering what their ceiling can be. They come out of the bye with back-to-back home games against division rivals, the Packers and Vikings. We’ll see how they fare in those games, but overall, their schedule is the most favorable thing working for them, outside of the high-scoring offense.
Finally, we get to the Packers, who came into Sunday night riding high on a two-game winning streak, and an offense that is finally figuring things out. Despite expectations, it was not a high-scoring game as the Cowboys struggled to get their offense going all night. The Packers are now on a three-game winning streak and have looked markedly better than they did at the start of the season. Their defense is playing much better, and the offensive line has stabilized significantly. Starting next week, their schedule tightens up, but with the way they are playing, each game is winnable.
Here are the standings after Week 6:
10\. **Week 7 Look Ahead: Hosting the red-hot New England Patriots on Thursday Night Football.**
After a slow start, the Patriots have figured things out. Not only have they won three games in a row, but they also have a +38-point differential in those three contests. Quarterback Drake Maye had a miserable start to the season, causing many to wonder if something was “broken”. The good news for Patriots fans is that his last three games have looked much closer to his MVP-caliber self than the first three games, when they went 1-2. Over his last three games, Maye has a 10:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio, while averaging 292.6 passing yards per game during that stretch.
So far, New England’s defense has more good than bad, and as usual, they are starting to get after the quarterback more as of late. As a whole, they have looked like a completely different team during this three-game winning streak, but it’s worth noting that they are just 1-2 on the road so far this year.
For the Bears, this matchup challenges them in multiple areas. We’ll have to see what Jonah Jackson’s injury status is. Still, assuming he misses the game on a short week, the Patriots have a decided advantage on the interior with the likes of Milton Williams and Christian Barmore. New England has been borderline Top 5 against the run and has allowed less than 200 yards per game through the air. Offensively, they’ll have star receiver A.J. Brown back, and even if Romeo Doubs can’t go, they can stress opposing defenses in multiple different ways between the pass game and rushing attack. One potential saving grace for the Bears is the health of New England’s offensive line. They lost three starters on Sunday and are already without their starting center. With a short week ahead, the Patriots could play Thursday night with multiple reserves in the starting five.
All in all, this looks like a quality matchup on paper, but as we’ve learned, Thursday night games have produced unpredictable results. This is far from a “must-win” game for either team, but the difference between 5-2 and 4-3 is massive, especially with both groups chasing first place from behind the curve. Buckle in; we should have a good game on our hands.
See More:
* [Chicago Bears Analysis](/chicago-bears-analysis)
* [Chicago Bears Scores and Results](/chicago-bears-scores-results)