Bears offense will be 'explosive' - but can Chicago be more efficient?
Yahoo Sports NFL analyst Nate Tice is joined by ESPN's Mina Kimes to share some optimism for Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson entering the season - while acknowledging there is room for improvement in 2026. Check out the full conversation on "Football 301" - and subscribe on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , YouTube or wherever you listen.
Video Transcript
Mina, when you look at the Bears in 2026 and their offense, what stands out to you?
What are you kind of focusing on?
What do you think could kinda swing the season for them?
I think it'll look pretty similar to last year, and last year obviously they made a huge leap into being a top 10 offense.
One of close to the most explosive offense in the NFL.
I think this offense will continue to be explosive.
I think the question is whether or not it can be more efficient, with- Mm-hmm some more consistent, play from Caleb Williams, who had the, the razzle dazzle moments, but was a little bit up and down, on the easy stuff.
I know this has been kinda discussed ad nauseam, but his continued development, 'cause he took such a big leap from year one to two in terms of sack avoidance and, hitting on those explosive plays.
Now we can see year two to three, can he hit some of the, the checkdowns, the layups, the, uh- Right short and intermediate throws more consistently.
But you know, I think from a skill player perspective, you know, I, I am interested in seeing, looking at this group as a whole, whether speaking of, Williams making leap, whether we can get a little bit of a bounce back from Rome Odunze, who was injured for- you know, some of last season.
Colson Loveland, you know, you talk about fantasy, I would gnaw off my, like, right hand to get him in fantasy right now.
But, seems to be the focal point of this offense.
Burden I think was amazing.
If Odunze, Nate, can be anything close to what I think you and I both thought he could be as a prospect coming out of Washington, then this is a machine on offense.
Yeah.
Yeah.
A- and that's, that's really where it's at.
It's like they, even though they lost some faces, I guess with DJ Moore in the center, it's like, yeah, but have you seen their guys all on their rookie contracts, including the quarterback, including Colson Loveland, like you said.
They drafted Sam Roush, so it's even, the tight end looks are gonna be interesting, but I- Yeah that's something that I'm glad you just highlighted Loveland, because he's just, I, I think he's just phenomenal.
But just how they're gonna use him is gonna be really just interesting because of those tight end looks and how, because of- Yeah his athleticism splitting out at receiver.
And it's not all And you and I laugh about it sometimes too, like, but no, just like when people get described, oh, they're a weapon.
You know, they're not just a tight end, they're not just a running back, they're not just a receiver.
Oh, look at the running back.
Get, use him as a receiver and look at him like, and you can expand his role.
But I think a guy like Colson Loveland and Ben Johnson, he already has proof of concept that he actually knows how to use these guys and shows that he- Yeah can use these guys, so that makes me a little bit more, like, optimistic that they can build on it, as opposed to like, yeah, they did run hot last year-
