Toronto Star
· collected 2026-10-05 · by Jay Cohen The Associated Press
Chicago Bears have maintained their winning streak despite quarterback Caleb Williams being sidelined by a hamstring injury since Week 2. With Tyson Bagent starting in Williams’ place, the team has secured two impressive victories, boasting strong defensive performances that limited opponents to under 13 points for three consecutive games for the first time since 2005. The Bears’ rushing offense continues to excel, with running backs Kyle Monangai and D'Andre Swift leading the league in yards gained through four weeks of play. However, concerns persist regarding their efficiency in converting red-zone opportunities into touchdowns, currently ranked last in the NFL.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-05,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Chicago has two impressive wins since Williams went down with a hamstring injury in the fourth quarter of its Week 2 loss against Minnesota.
asserted
Williams → have → Minnesota
Helped by the offense controlling the time of possession, the defense has surrendered just 19 points, 21 first downs and 405 yards over the past two games.
asserted
defense → help → games
“We are playing pretty good complementary football, something that we got to do each and every week to be at our best,” coach Ben Johnson said.
asserted
Johnson → play → best
Williams has been ruled out for Chicago’s Week 5 game at Green Bay.
asserted
Williams → rule → Bay
Tyson Bagent is expected to start against the Packers after he passed for a career-high 268 yards in Sunday’s 23-12 victory over the New York Jets.
asserted
he → expect → Jets
A cautious approach was always the most logical plan for the No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft, and the way Chicago has played has only reinforced the likelihood of that course of action.
asserted
Chicago → play → action
“He’s doing a great job with his rehab,” Johnson said Monday.
asserted
Johnson → do → rehab
“He’s not going to be there this week for us, but we think it’s still a week-to-week deal for us.”
asserted
it → go → us
The defense was a major concern going into the season, but it has delivered since Chicago’s 59-37 victory at Carolina in the opener.
asserted
it → go → opener
The Bears (3-1) have allowed fewer than 13 points in three straight games in a season for the first time since a four-game streak in 2005.
asserted
Bears → allow → 2005
They sacked Geno Smith three times while surrendering just 157 yards in the win over the Jets.
asserted
They → sack → Jets
Johnson said he has a ton of confidence in Chicago’s defense.
asserted
he → say → defense
“We had two sudden changes yesterday and they didn’t bat an eye,” he said.
asserted
he → have → eye
“They went out on the field and held them to two field goals.
asserted
They → go → goals
I thought it was outstanding.
asserted
it → think → ?
That’s kind of who they are.
asserted
they → ’ → ?
We talk all the time about it’s a long game, 60-minute game, and yet they’re a poised group.
asserted
they → talk → ?
What’s working
The Bears rushed for 232 yards against the Jets.
asserted
Bears → work → Jets
They lead the NFL with 785 yards rushing on 159 attempts.
asserted
They → lead → attempts
Kyle Monangai (324 yards) and D’Andre Swift (311) are the first running back duo to each gain at least 300 yards rushing in the first four weeks of a season since Lawrence McCutcheon and John Cappelletti for the Los Angeles Rams in 1976.
asserted
Monangai → gain → 1976
What needs help
asserted
needs → need → help
Chicago scored two touchdowns on seven trips to the red zone against New York.
asserted
Chicago → score → York
It turned the ball over on downs at the 1 on its first drive, Cairo Santos kicked three field goals and Chicago ran out the clock on its final drive.
asserted
Chicago → turn → drive
The Bears have finished 42.1% (8 for 19) of their red-zone drives with a TD, ranking 30th in the NFL.
asserted
Bears → finish → NFL
They are averaging 3.58 points per red-zone drive, last in the league.
asserted
They → average → league
“I feel like everything needs to get cleaned up if we want to go where we’re trying to go,” receiver Luther Burden said.
asserted
Burden → feel → ?
We all have to come together and fix it.”
asserted
We → have → it
Stock up
Dayo Odeyingbo has one sack in each of the last three games.
asserted
Odeyingbo → have → games
Odeyingbo signed a $48 million, three-year contract with Chicago in March 2025, but the edge rusher played in just eight games last season before he was sidelined by an Achilles tendon injury.
asserted
he → sign → injury
“Really pleased with where he’s at,” Johnson said.
asserted
Johnson → please → where
“His high effort, high intensity shows up week in and week out.”
asserted
effort → show → ?
Stock down
Swift was stuffed on fourth-and-goal at the 1 on Chicago’s first drive.
asserted
Swift → stuff → drive
He also lost a fumble at the Bears 28 in the third quarter, leading to a field goal for the Jets.
asserted
He → lose → Jets
Swift fumbled at the Minnesota 1 on Chicago’s first possession of the second half in a 9-3 loss to the Vikings on Sept. 20.
asserted
Swift → fumble → Sept.
The veteran running back lost a total of two fumbles all of last season.
asserted
back → lose → season
Johnson described Monangai’s thumb injury as more of a day-to-day situation.
asserted
Johnson → describe → situation
“We’ll see what it looks like as we go through the week here,” Johnson said.
asserted
Johnson → see → week
Key number
9 — The Bears have allowed an NFL-low nine third-down conversions in 38 attempts.
asserted
Bears → allow → attempts
The 23.6% rate for opponent third-down conversions ranks second in the league behind Minnesota at 22.6% (12 for 53).
asserted
rate → rank → 53
Next steps
Chicago, which visits Green Bay on Sunday, won the last two of three meetings with the Packers last season, including a wild 31-27 win in the playoffs.
asserted
which → visit → playoffs
The Aporia
