• The Chicago Bears enter their bye week with a 2-2 record after winning their last two games.
• Despite recent wins, the Bears’ run defense is ranked last in the NFL, allowing an average of 164.5 yards per game.
• Second-year receiver Rome Odunze has scored a touchdown in every game this season.
• Quarterback Caleb Williams has 28 touchdowns and eight interceptions through his first 21 career games.
• Chicago’s defense has forced eight turnovers in the last two games and ranks first in the league on third down.

The Chicago Bears are sitting at 2-2 heading into the bye week, where they’ll get time to rest, heal up and improve heading into the final 13 games.

It’s been an up-and-down start for the Bears, who lost their first two games of the season to divisional opponents (blowing a fourth-quarter lead to the Minnesota Vikings and getting blown out by the Detroit Lions) and are now riding a two-game winning streak after big wins against the Dallas Cowboys and Raiders.

While Chicago will be enjoying an off week, there are still plenty of storylines that came from the first quarter of action in 2025. Here are six things to know about the Bears heading into the bye week:

Bears have the worst run defense in the NFL

The Bears run defense hasn’t just been bad; it’s been the worst in the NFL through the first four games. Chicago has allowed 658 rushing yards through the first month, which is an average 164.5 yards per game. The Bears’ worst showing came in last Sunday’s win over the Las Vegas Raiders, where they allowed 240 rushing yards (including 138 to rookie Ashton Jeanty). Unfortunately, it doesn’t get any easier for Chicago. They’ll face the second best rushing attack in the Washington Commanders in a Monday night showing in Week 6.

Rome Odunze has scored in every game this season

Second-year wide receiver Rome Odunze has been a breakout player in the NFL through the first month, where he’s established himself as the team’s WR1 and finds himself among the best wideouts. Odunze has 20 receptions for 296 yards with five touchdowns (second most in the NFL behind Amon-Ra St. Brown). But Odunze has also done something no other pass catcher has accomplished this season: He’s scored in every game. Odunze’s five receiving scores are tied for the most (with Brandon Marshall) by a Bears pass catcher through the first four games of a season since at least 1948.

Bears defense has totaled 8 takeaways in last 2 games

Chicago’s defense has seen its share of struggles with pressuring the quarterback and stopping the run. But they’ve shined in a couple of other areas, including most recently forcing turnovers. The Bears defense has totaled eight takeaways in their last two games (four vs. Dallas, four vs. Las Vegas). Safety Kevin Byard is responsible for three of those, recording one interception against the Cowboys and two against the Raiders. Byard and linebacker Tremaine Edmunds (two interceptions vs. Dallas) are the only NFL defenders who have recorded multiple interceptions in a game so far this season. Byard’s three picks are also tied for the most in the league through four games.

Caleb Williams making NFL history as former No. 1 pick

Second-year quarterback Caleb Williams has already shown impressive progress through four games with new head coach Ben Johnson. Williams had the best game of his career against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 3, with a career-high four touchdowns and 142.6 passer rating, which earned him NFC Offensive Player of the Week. Despite some unwarranted criticism surrounding Williams, he’s had the best start to a career by a No. 1 overall pick in NFL history. Through his first 21 games, Williams has 28 touchdowns and just eight interceptions. Williams continues to make strides, and it’ll be exciting to see how he progresses now through the remainder of his second season.

Bears have best third-down defense

The Bears defense is overall one of the worst in the NFL, from a points and yards perspective, but they are at their best on third down. Chicago has the top-ranked third-down defense in the NFL through four games, which comes on the heels of holding the Raiders to 2-of-8 (25%) last Sunday. It’s certainly a change of direction for a Bears defense that historically has struggled on third down. Now, if only they can get a pass rush and shore up the run defense.

Bears offense has been among the best in the first quarter

Last season, the Bears didn’t score on a touchdown on their opening drive in any of their 17 games. This season, they’ve accomplished the feat twice. But, more than that, Chicago has been one of the better teams in the first quarter through the first four weeks. The Bears have totaled 31 points scored in the first quarter, which ranks fifth in the NFL. While Chicago has gotten off to fast starts, they need to find a way to build on those heading into the second and third quarters.