Three Things We Learned About the Bears in Week 8

We might only be halfway through the 2026 NFL regular season, but that isn’t stopping the Bears Talk Worldwide crew from planning how they’ll get to Super Bowl LXI.

It might be a tad early to be worrying about February, but after two relatively straightforward wins in primetime followed by three seemingly simple weeks ahead (one is the Bye), Da Bears have risen to third favourite for the Lombardi trophy!

But what did we learn in Week 8? Plenty is the short answer.

One thing that everyone who watched an NFL game in Week 8 learned is that players are at the whim of the officials. And one thing everyone who watched Monday Night Football learned is that the Seahawks’ receivers love to draw the officials’ attention to even the gentlest of contact.

There’s no way Jaylon Johnson dragged Kupp to the ground, but the receiver still ended up there.

The main lesson from a comfortable win against the Seahawks is that there’s more to come from a team that has meandered its way to the midpoint of the regular season. And that should excite everyone given how well Week 8 went.

We also learned that Ben Johnson loves a primetime game.

But after putting up 59 points in Week 1 against a team that fired their defensive coordinator in Week 7, the offense has been up and down. Injuries have played a part in that, but every team deals with injuries. One thing is for sure: the offensive line has been consistent all season.

And, as a result, the receivers are thriving.

Even if the Bears tax is real, penalties could become an issue going forward. The offense is explosive and efficient enough to overcome losing 10 yards on a flag, but the defense doesn’t work when it’s playing behind from the sticks.

On the subject of the Bears’ nerve-shredding defense, it needs to stop switching off in the last two minutes of the first half. The Patriots and Seahawks both failed to capitalise on the egregious errors, but more clinical teams will jump on those mistakes.

Ultimately, everything we learned about the Bears in Week 8 is incidental given how smoothly they sailed through the rough waters of Seattle. But there are still things that need to be tidied up if Ben Johnson’s team are going to make it to Los Angeles in February.

Ben Johnson Was Doing a Bit

Remember when Ben Johnson said that he would rather score a touchdown in one play than put together long scoring drives? He absolutely didn’t mean that!

Johnson produced that quote on the 23rd of October, and while it highlights how much confidence he has in his offense to produce explosive plays at will, that’s not what happened in Week 8.

The Bears dominated possession in Seattle, keeping the ball 10 minutes longer than the Seahawks could! That’s partly because the Bears’ defense smothered the Seattle offense and only allowed 18 first downs (six of those came on Bears penalties!), but Chicago’s offensive play calling also had a part to play.

Chicago ran the ball 35 times and passed 34. That may be down to Caleb Williams identifying how the defense was lined up and checking down at the line. But if Johnson was hell-bent on dialling up explosive plays, he wouldn’t have been very happy with his quarterback’s more sensible approach.

From the outside, they certainly seem to be on the same page, and when your run game ranks second for both yards gained and touchdowns scored, there’s no need to change a thing.

Special Teams is a Wild Ride

One punt blocked, one field goal missed, ed and then Austin Booker blocks a Seahawks field goal.

You only need to look at the Rams to see how often special teams play is overlooked, but the Bears need to ensure their season doesn’t go the way of Sean McVay’s last two.

At least the Bears have a reliable kicker.

Ryan Poles Might Need To Make Another Trade

But not for who you think.

Bears fans seem to have set their hearts on Khalil Mack returning to the Windy City. That’s a little odd considering he was drafted by the Chargers and has recorded more sacks in both Oakland and L.A. than he did as a Bear.

There are also 20 linebackers and defensive linemen on the roster already, and while cutting on the minimum salary guys wouldn’t cause too much financial pain, paying a 35-year-old $9 million for half a season would.

The Jeffrey Simmons trade improved the defensive front immensely, but the defensive backfield still managed to give up a 43-yard pass play.

Right now, cap space is a huge issue, but that can be solved by re-signing one (or more) veterans and converting their remaining salary into signing bonuses.

Finding teams who realise that their seasons are already over is also a problem. For example, the Cowboys are toast, but Jerry Jones recently said he’s happy with the direction they’re headed in!

C.J. Gardner-Johnson is a free agent after being cut by the Bills following his suspension for spitting, but behavioural issues would make signing him a gamble. And Coby Bryant may return from injury before the end of the regular season, so a cornerback would be more helpful than an extra safety. Especially while Jaylon Johnson is doing this.

If Poles wants to sign a guy who can tackle and is only making $885,000 in 202, he needs to give the Chargers a call and find out what they want for Isas Waxter.