2 Bears bold predictions for 2026 NFL season as Caleb Williams tries to finally make 4,000-yard history appeared first on ClutchPoints . Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
The Chicago Bears face significant pressure in 2026. They found a winning combination last season as head coach Ben Johnson and second-year QB Caleb Williams meshed and the Bears rose from last-place to win the NFC North title and then found success with a Wild Card playoff victory.
The reason the pressure increases significantly this season is that the Bears are now the hunted this season. While Johnson was tough and demanding of his players last year — especially Williams — the pressure from outside the organization was minimal. The competition in the NFC North from the Lions, Vikings and the hated Packers looked too tough. The Bears were not expected to be much more than a .500 team — and a 9-8 record would have been considered a success.
Instead, the Bears became one of the hottest teams in the NFL, particularly in the second half of the season. Williams tapped into his remarkable talent and he was at his best in the late stages of important games. His big-play ability led to memorable victories over the Bengals, Giants, Vikings and Steelers.
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That 4-game winning streak led to an impressive road victory over the Eagles that sent the message that the Bears could play with anyone. When they beat the Packers in overtime at home in Week 16, the conclusion was clear. The Bears had perhaps the best quarterback they have ever had in Williams and that the team was going to be a force in the NFC for the foreseeable future.
Williams combined a powerful arm with special ability to get away from the pass rush. Even though he had been the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, his escapability had been somewhat underestimated by scouts. His instincts and quickness allowed him to buy extra time for his receivers. Those extra split seconds were vital in multiple victories.
He completed 330 of 568 passes for 3,942 yards with 27 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. Williams will exceed his yardage totals and become the first Bears QB in history to throw for more than 4,000 yards.
He has a brilliant tight end in Colston Loveland and two wide receivers in Rome Odunze and Luther Burden who could be ready to join the elite wideouts in the league. D'Andre Swift is a solid running back who can do more than just take pressure off of Williams. He ran for 1,087 yards and 9 touchdowns a year ago, averaging 4.9 yards per carry.
On the negative side, Williams was not always the most accurate quarterback. He completed 58.1 percent of his passes and that did not compare with the most accurate quarterbacks in the game. Drake Maye of the Patriots completed a league-leading 72.0 percent of his passes, while Brock Purdy of the 49ers and Josh Allen of the Bills both completed more than 69.0 percent. Jared Goff of the Lions completed 68.0 percent of his passes. Williams finished way down the accuracy list in 34th place and that has to change.
The other potential problem is the absence of veteran wideout D.J. Moore, who was traded to the Bills in the offseason. While the Bears think Odunze and Burden can make up for his absence, Moore provided veteran leadership and 50-682-6 last season.
Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images
Loveland became the Bears' most productive receiver last season with 58-713-6, and he is also a brilliant athlete who can use his remarkable size — 6-6 and 217 pounds — and athleticism to dominate against opposing linebackers and safeties who will try to cover him.
Loveland has been at his best when the game is on the line, and he proved himself in the Week 9 victory over the Bengals. He caught the winning 58-yard TD pass from Williams with 17 seconds remaining in the 47-42 victory. It was a spectacular catch and run that few tight ends could have produced.
The Bears will use multiple-TE formations throughout the season and Cole Kmet is good enough to be the lead tight end on many teams he will support Williams and Loveland with his ability to get open on third-down plays.
The Bears had multiple issues on defense last year as they ranked 29th in yards allowed. Opponents were regularly able to move up and down the field as the Bears lacked a significant pass rush and that allowed opposing quarterbacks to find open receivers throughout the secondary.
They Bears made up for it by leading the NFL in takeaways with 33. Safety Kevin Byard led the NFL with 7 interceptions last season and he left to play for Mike Vrabel and the Patriots. Nahshon Wright (5 interceptions) and Tremaine Edmunds (4 interceptions) were right behind Byard in picks for the Bears, and they are no longer with the team either.
The Bears picked up safety Coby Wright from the Super Bowl champion Seahawks to make up for the loss, but he suffered a devastating knee injury this summer and won't have a chance at a return until mid-December. This means the Bears defense will be vulnerable and the key to the team's overall success is Williams and the Bears offense carrying the load.
The Bears must have a huge year from Williams, Loveland and the offense or the results could be quite disappointing.
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