The Chicago Bears, after an exciting season come-up short against the Los Angeles Rams, but ended the season with a B grade.
After all was said and done, the Bears finished with an 11-6 record, which is a win in itself. Last season, they went 5-12 and missed the playoffs. This season, not only did they win the division, but they also made the playoffs and made it to the NFC Divisional Round. Unfortunately, they fell short to the Los Angeles Rams by a score of 20-17 in overtime. This season, the Bears’ offense shone with Caleb Williams at the quarterback spot. Also, their first-round pick, Colston Loveland, had a breakout second half during the season.
According to the NFL, Loveland had 47 receptions for 597 yards. With the help of Williams, they were able to make some pretty good highlights together this year, like the Bengals game in week 9. Williams had 7 game-winning drives this year and 8 fourth-quarter comebacks according to Pro-Football Reference. The help from his offensive line was a huge improvement from last year. Joe Thuney, a left guard, has allowed zero sacks in 589 snaps this season, which allows Williams more time in the pocket and can make better throws, according to The Chicago Bears.
“I would give the Bears an A because they made the playoffs for the first time since 2020,” senior Noah Jezior said. “I was so happy with the season they had seven fourth-quarter comebacks, which is amazing, from starting the season 0-2 to winning the division and beating the Packers twice.”
“I would give the Bears a B+,” local Bears fan Candice Widerski said.
The final grade
The reason they get a B on the season is that some games were not played well, either on the defensive side or the offensive side of the ball. For example, in week two at Detroit, the Bears lost 21-51. Now, some factors did go into this game: new coaches, new players, new playstyle, but no excuses. The defense allowed big plays and resulted in letting up 51 points. Unacceptable. Offense scored 21 points, which is okay, but the defense was a big letdown this game. Moving on from this game, they had a lot of great moments.
From winning drives against the Packers at Soldier Field to game-winning field goals and a field goal block, these are the moments that made fans, like myself, have an unforgettable 2025-2026 season. The offense this year was a huge step up from last year. Loveland had a great rookie year, and Williams looked better in the pocket this year. The O-Line was arguably one of the best this year. According to Statmuse, Williams was sacked 24 times in 17 games. Last year, he was sacked 68 times last year. Ryan Poles, the General Manager of the Bears, knew that the line had to change this year, so he drafted linemen and made a few moves in free agency.
“To me personally, it is defense we need more defensive pieces to add to this team, like a Maxx Crosby or a Myles Garrett, one of those would push this team over the edge to the Super Bowl,” Jezior said. “I don’t want them to trade Dj [Moore], but there’s a very big possibility for that.”
How can the Bears improve for next season?
Many people have heard the rumor: trading Dj Moore for Maxx Crosby or Myles Garret. He should not be traded, because he is a great receiver, and the Bears have such a young team that they could afford to give away a few draft picks for a big name.
They put up a good fight against one of the best teams in the league, the LA Rams, and if they put pressure on Stafford, there is a good chance they would have won that game. Pressure on a QB is vital because it makes them make quick decisions on throws and possibly a pick or a sack. The offense looked good this year, but the games were ugly. Defense wins championships, but without tight coverage on receivers, games will be lost.
“My favorite part was seeing our season take on such a scrappy edge,” history teacher and lifelong fan, Maggie Haas, said. “Even though all those come from behind wins took years off my life, they were so exciting to watch. After years of having meh quarterbacks, it was refreshing to have Caleb Williams be capable of launching the ball down the field, and there being a good chance of a receiver being down there to catch it.”
