Bears Defense Has a Growing Weakness Ben Johnson Can't Ignore

Sports admin October 13, 2026 0 Comments

Bears Defense Has a Growing Weakness Ben Johnson Can’t Ignore

The Chicago Bears defense has struggled to contain explosive passing plays at times this season, and their Week 5 loss to the Green Bay Packers exposed that weakness once again. Chicago surrendered 31 points in the 31-7 defeat, with the secondary struggling to limit the damage through the air. Although the Bears had steadied their coverage after some early-season issues, Sunday’s performance raised new concerns about their ability to defend against more dangerous passing offenses.

Head coach Ben Johnson and the Bears must find a way to address those concerns before they become a recurring problem. Chicago’s cornerbacks and safeties have shown flashes of solid play, but inconsistent coverage and costly breakdowns have put the defense in difficult situations. With the secondary struggling to produce reliable results, the Bears need better performances from their top defensive backs to keep opposing quarterbacks from exploiting this growing weakness.

Sunday Filled With Big Plays Against Bears Secondary

Going into Monday Night Football, the Bears’ defense ranked 26th in dropback expected points added (EPA) at 0.429 and 21st in dropback success rate allowed at 50.0%. Packers quarterback Jordan Love posted an average depth of target (ADOT) of 10.9 yards per throw as he looked to exploit Chicago’s shaky secondary. Throughout the season, the Bears’ cornerbacks and safeties have surrendered multiple plays of more than 40 yards downfield and five touchdowns in coverage.

On Sunday, each of the four Bears defensive backs who logged the most snaps allowed a big play of at least 36 yards in coverage. The longest went for 53 yards and came at the expense of rookie safety Dillon Thieneman, who had enjoyed a strong season up to that point. However, Sunday’s performance was more than an isolated bad outing. It highlighted a persistent issue with the defense. The Bears surrendered explosive plays in Week 1, but largely kept them under control from Weeks 2 through 4. Now, they must find a way to improve their secondary’s consistency against stronger passing teams.

Bears Cornerbacks Must Step Up

The issue becomes even more concerning when considering that Pro Football Focus (PFF) ranks the Bears’ coverage unit 22nd in the NFL with a 54.0 grade. The season-long performances of top cornerbacks Jaylon Johnson and Tyrique Stevenson are particularly troubling. As the two cornerbacks who have logged the most snaps, both have struggled to deliver the level of play Chicago needs from its starters.

Together, Johnson and Stevenson have allowed 28 receptions for 492 yards and three touchdowns in coverage this season. Stevenson has surrendered all three touchdowns, but Johnson has allowed 77.3% of the passes thrown his way to result in completions despite earning $19 million per season under his contract. Whether the problems stem from scheme, individual technique, or a combination of factors, both cornerbacks must improve. If Chicago hopes to shore up its pass defense, it needs more consistent coverage from its top defensive backs.

This story was originally published October 13, 2026 at 1:00 PM.