Bears defense at the heart of new team confidence
Look who's No. 4 in the NFL in total yards allowed.
It's the Bears' defense that was getting no love or recognition just a couple weeks ago but is now among the elite — at least in some categories. The defense is also No. 3 in passing yards allowed, even though it started two rookies at safety in the 18-17 victory over the Chiefs.
Stingy defense has fueled back-to-back victories that have the Bears playing with more confidence on both sides of the ball. While it may seem as if it happened overnight, coach John Fox has been hammering home the same mindset almost since day one. He compares it to chopping wood.
“It's all part of coaching,” Fox said, “the idea of not giving up. Usually the tree doesn't go down on the first swing. It takes a few, and you don't know how many. You just keep swinging until the tree falls.”
The Bears still rank 28th in points allowed, but that's not all on the defense. Take away 2 kickoff-return touchdowns, Sunday's lost fumble in the end zone and a pick-6 against the Cardinals, and the Bears are middle of the pack.
With 11 games remaining, starting with this week's trip to Detroit to face the winless Lions, the Bears are starting to believe in themselves more each week. The defensive resurgence is at the heart of the heightened self-assuredness.
“When we got here, everyone talked about confidence,” Fox said. “(But) when nothing good happens, it's hard to have confidence. It's what came first, the chicken or the egg?
“You just go about your business, you do it right and eventually it turns. Over the last couple of weeks, they've gotten to experience that. With that comes some confidence and belief, and that can happen if you do the right things. Hopefully we can build on that.”
That new level of confidence was verbalized by linebacker Pernell McPhee on the field Sunday as the Bears began chopping away at the Chiefs' 14-point lead at Arrowhead Stadium.
“I came to the sideline, and we were down 17-3,” right tackle Kyle Long said. “(McPhee) grabbed me and looked me in my eyes and said, 'We gonna get this ball back. You just get your boys ready.'”
So Long did as he was told.
“I was like, 'You heard the man. Get ready guys. Stay loose. Pernell is going to get the ball back.' And sure enough.”
McPhee blocked a chip-shot, 27-yard FG attempt, the offense drove 73 yards, and Robbie Gould's 30-yard field goal set the stage for the 2 fourth-quarter touchdowns.
“Foxy always tells us 'Don't flinch; don't blink,'” Long said. “Things are going to happen, that's the nature of the game. It's not going to be all uphill or downhill for us. You're going to have some tough spots throughout the game, and you need to be able to survive the body blows and keep working.”
What quarterback Jay Cutler's leadership and clutch play in the fourth quarter during the back-to-back victories has done for the offense, McPhee has done for the defense — and, on Sunday, for special teams.
Fox credited the blocked field goal as a turning point.
“There's all kinds of ebbs and flows in games and shifts in momentum,” he said. “That was a big one that stands out.”
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