No D in Chicago? Bears need wholesale improvement from Matt Eberflus' defense after offseason overhaul

Lake Forest, Ill. -- For all the high hopes surrounding the growth of Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields, there won't be much fun around this franchise if the defense doesn't improve. Fields can keep generating excitement with his improvisational ability. He can inspire big dreams if his passing skills develop even more in his third season. What he can't do is change the fact that he needs plenty of help around him, including much better play on the other side of the football.

There was no lousier defense in the NFL last season than the unit Chicago fielded. That's bad enough in its own right, but even more disturbing when considering the legacy of this particular franchise. The Bears have always been known for their defense, as all seems right in the Windy City when that bunch is dominant and downright nasty. Considering the ineptitude that occurred with that group in 2023, there should be an undeniable urgency to produce something far more respectable this fall.

Yes, this is a quarterback-driven league. Chicago is also a defense-loving town, one that should be desperate for a team that is as adept at limiting points as it is scoring them.

"I've been telling people all offseason that we're a hungry bunch," Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson said. "From the new additions we picked up to the rookies, everybody is coming in here determined to be the best defense in the NFL. We definitely have the intangibles to do it. It's just a matter of going out there and executing every week at a high level and being on the same page."

Chicago's D was bad in just about every possible way in 2022, as the team stumbled to an NFL-worst 3-14 record. The Bears gave up a league-high 27.2 points per game. They ranked 31st in rushing yards