NFL Winners and Losers: Can the Bears ever get it together?

October 27, 2025

Bears’ Defensive Struggles and NFL Highlights

It’s been, what, seven games since he started playing against Ben Johnson? I suppose it’s a bit early to judge how things are going. Yet, there’s a point to be made that we should see some signs of improvement, given the length of time. Unfortunately, what happened during the recent game was quite the setback.

It’s not just the loss itself that’s concerning, but the manner in which the Bears were defeated—especially against a team that has been struggling like the Ravens. They’ve recently lost to the Rams and were heavily beaten by the Texans, and without Lamar Jackson, they seem to struggle. In their latest matchup, the Bears fell to the Ravens 30-16 without much of a fight.

Looking at the game tape, the Bears’ defense was almost laughable. They were playing a soft zone with no urgency, which allowed Tyler Huntley to take advantage. Completing 11 out of 12 passes for over 100 yards in the first half should have raised a red flag for adjustments, but the Bears only made minimal changes. They focused more on preventing big plays rather than just stopping drives, creating an untenable situation.

This defensive strategy clashes with what Dennis Allen aims to achieve. His philosophy is all about aggression and forcing turnovers. Bringing someone like him on board signals a desire for a proactive approach, but this mindset wasn’t evident in their defensive display against Huntley.

Now, it’s not like Allen is devoid of talent, but the Bears should have anticipated this when hiring him. With Huntley as the quarterback, the strategy felt straightforward: overload him and create confusion. Unfortunately, that simply didn’t transpire, revealing deeper issues with the team’s approach this entire season.

It’s a bit like trying to fit square pegs into round holes, really. That’s one of the main worries with Caleb Williams at quarterback. He looks promising at first, throwing well on scripted plays, but things begin to unravel when he has to read defenses. So far, he hasn’t shown an ability to adapt to what the defense is doing, and rather plays in a one-dimensional way.

Williams, physically, can hit all the throws up to about 20 yards. But deep throws have been inconsistent, and one major issue against the Ravens was his inability to deliver passes with the right touch, which made it challenging for his teammates to gain yards after the catch. Besides a few basic swing passes, he often appears to be a “one-and-done” passer.

He tends to hesitate when under pressure, especially when tasked with making critical plays. There are certainly aspects that can improve as he matures, like his mechanics and decision-making through coaching and practice. However, the instinct to make those crucial plays is something you’re either born with or you’re not. At this point, Williams is starting to resemble players like Trevor Lawrence and Kyler Murray—not bad, but not quite elite either.

Perhaps Ben Johnson realizes this truth as well. There’s potential for success without having an elite quarterback, but that window narrows each week Williams fails to make the necessary contributions, like during his disappointing game against the Ravens.

I genuinely hope for Caleb Williams’ success, but my faith in the Bears right now isn’t exactly strong.

Now, let’s shift our focus across the NFL and take a look at some of the week’s big winners and losers.

Winner: Drake Maye Shines

There’s a certain energy around Drake Maye—it feels like we might be witnessing the rise of a significant player. And, no, I’m not bringing up Tom Brady here; despite the shared position, they play very differently.

When I think about Maye, I’m reminded of a young Peyton Manning. Now, he’s not fully there yet in terms of commanding the line and reading defenses, but his mechanics? Very Manning-like.

Take a look at that touchdown pass to Kyshon Boutte. The young QB senses pressure, steps up, buys time, and delivers a perfect throw. It was the kind of pass you’d expect from Manning back in the day.

Maye isn’t shy about pushing the ball downfield. He trusts his teammates, which is crucial for stretching defenses. This is how the position should be played, and it’s hard not to acknowledge that New England already has a solid roster.

Winner: James Cook Dominates

The Bills devised a brilliant strategy against the struggling Panthers. Knowing that their passing game wasn’t ideal, they opted to lay waste with their run game, effectively flipping the script.

This approach worked wonders. James Cook was phenomenal, driving through the Panthers’ defense and racking up big yardage. He finished the first half with a staggering 153 yards.

As a result, the Panthers became one-dimensional, forced to throw and relying on Andy Dalton—who just can’t carry that weight anymore. The game essentially felt academic afterwards, with the Bills enjoying a commanding victory, and Cook finishing with over 200 rushing yards. Quite the performance!

Winner: Tua Tagovailoa Bounces Back

Tua Tagovailoa has been under scrutiny since Week 7. His performance against the Browns was dismal—he attempted 23 passes, gained a mere 100 yards, and threw three interceptions. All of it served as an indictment on the Dolphins.

However, heading into Week 8, Tua made a statement against the Falcons. Sure, Miami’s fans still have concerns, but he managed to step up and deliver a decent performance amidst the chaos that surrounded him.

If we’re being honest, Tua had his share of struggles again. He missed opportunities, turning the ball over when faced with pressure, and most of his gains relied on designed plays. That said, taking the win is what mattered, even if it wasn’t a noteworthy game.

Loser: Questions Surrounding the Falcons

What can we even say about the Falcons right now? Even the most dedicated fans must be scratching their heads. They can pull off surprising wins one week and then lose to underwhelming teams like the Panthers the next. It’s confusing, to say the least. When up-and-down performances persist, you have to question the coaching decisions.

Allowing Kirk Cousins to throw 31 passes without adjusting for missing players seems like a misstep. It felt like the team had made a plan but didn’t pivot when they needed to. The choice to let Bijan Robinson only run nine times against a weak defense was baffling, especially when the passing game wasn’t working.

Sure, the running game has had its issues, but losing that balance makes it much easier for opponents.

Loser: Giants’ Defensive Woes

Letting an underperforming player like Saquon Barkley gain yards isn’t ideal. The Giants’ defense struggled immensely against the Eagles, and the sloppiness of the line was quite embarrassing.

This game was meant to confirm that the Giants were on the right track. They didn’t even need a win, just a showing of competitiveness. Losing Kam Skatebo was particularly rough, tipping the scales against them.

Ultimately, the Giants allowed 427 yards and managed a mere 276 on the ground themselves.