Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the Bears' defense struggle so much against the run in 2025?
The Bears ranked 7th-worst in rushing yards allowed (131.4) and 4th-worst in yards per carry (5.0) because their defensive tackles couldn't hold the point of attack in Dennis Allen's two-high safety scheme. When you play two-high, you're asking six guys to do the job of seven or eight, and the Bears' interior line had "the anchor of a pool noodle" according to the analysis.
What is Dennis Allen's defensive scheme and why isn't it working for the Bears?
Allen runs a two-high safety shell on 45% of snaps (third-highest in the league) designed to disguise coverages and eliminate deep throws. The scheme requires dominant defensive tackles who can command double teams and still make plays, but the Bears' interior line gets "washed out like laundry" on basic run plays.
How did Gervon Dexter perform in 2025 and what are his strengths and weaknesses?
Dexter had 6.0 sacks and ranks 4th in PFF pass-rush grade among DTs at certain stretches, showing he's got pass-rush juice. However, he's struggling to adapt from being a one-gap penetrator under Matt Eberflus to Dennis Allen's more disciplined gap-and-a-half style, causing him to flash then disappear.
Why is Grady Jarrett considered a problem for the Bears despite his reputation?
Jarrett had only 1.5 sacks in 14 games while carrying a nearly $19 million cap hit, which the article calls "malpractice." In the Divisional Round loss to the Rams, the interior defensive line generated only two pressures on Matthew Stafford out of 14 total.
What made the championship teams' defensive lines so much better than the Bears?
All the Final Four teams had elite interior duos: Seattle's Byron Murphy and Leonard Williams both had 9+ sacks with elite run defense, while the Rams had Kobie Turner and Braden Fiske who "literally ended our season." These teams could stop the run while playing nickel and dime packages, something the Bears couldn't do.