Ben Johnson declared his insane goal this offseason: highest-scoring offense in NFL history. He meant business. And with Thursday’s blockbuster trade for Jeffery Simmons, the Bears put the entire league on notice that they are not messing around. They got a one-man wrecking crew to shore up a defense that has been, frankly, holding this team back from true greatness.
The Defensive Hole They HAD to Plug
Look, the Bears made the playoffs in 2025, no doubt. Caleb Williams took a huge leap, for sure. But let’s be real, their defense was an absolute liability. They ranked 29th in yards per play allowed last year. TWENTY-NINTH! They only survived because they led the league in turnovers forced, but that is not a sustainable way to win. They went 11-6, but were a dismal 2-6 when they failed to force multiple turnovers. And how did their season end? Against the Rams in the divisional round, where they didn’t force a single turnover. Ouch. Johnson’s main goal in 2025 was fixing Williams and the offense, and he did it magnificently. Anything else was gravy, and they got a lot of gravy with their first playoff trip since 2020 and first playoff win since 2010.
But expectations were rightfully sky-high coming into 2026. Johnson even knew the 2013 Broncos record of 37.9 points per game. But it wasn’t just about offense. The other part of his quote, the one that truly fueled the Simmons trade, was: “I want shutouts. I want blowouts.” Right now, the 2026 Bears are 5-2, even with Williams missing three games and part of a fourth. The offense, when Williams is on the field, is a top-five/top-10 unit. But the defense? It’s been a thorn, seriously. Chicago currently ranks dead last in yards per play and explosive play rate allowed. They’re 12th in success rate and EPA per play, showing they’re timely and can force turnovers, but overall, this is *not* a championship-level defense. Not even close.
Jeffery Simmons Is the Game Changer
This offense, with Caleb Williams tearing it up, deserves a defense capable of supporting championship aspirations. Enter Jeffery Simmons. This dude is an absolute force. He leads all interior defensive linemen in ESPN’s pass rush win rate. Let that sink in. He has 24 pressures, tied for third-most among interior defensive linemen according to PFF, and he’s tied for the most sacks among defensive tackles with four. But it’s not just the pass rush, no way. He leads all interior defensive linemen with 24 tackles. TWENTY-FOUR.
Simmons is a disruptor every single down. He’s wrecking plays even when he’s double-teamed, which happens a lot. His arrival isn’t just going to massively boost the interior pass rush, it’s going to free up the edge rushers, who have been inconsistent. This trade screams “all in.” It’s the kind of move that tells you the Bears are done just making the playoffs. They want those shutouts and blowouts Ben Johnson talked about, and with Simmons on board, that defensive unit might just finally catch up to their superstar quarterback. The 5-2 record is impressive, but for them to reach their full potential this season, that defense absolutely had to get fixed. Now, they have Simmons. The stakes for this season just went through the roof.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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