The Chicago Bears were ranked as the best defensive team in the NFL through two weeks by Pro Football Focus on Tuesday.
Statistically, the Bears have been one of the better units in the league, but to see them so highly ranked is a bit surprising. After Monday night’s win against the Seattle Seahawks, the Bears have allowed the 11th-lowest points per game with 20.5, with 35 of their 41 points allowed having come in the fourth quarter. They also rank eighth in yards allowed per game with 323.
However, the Bears do have their fair share of high rankings. They rank first in the league in sacks with 10, and they hold a first-place tie with the Cleveland Browns with five forced fumbles. Chicago’s 71.5 rushing yards allowed per game is also the fourth-lowest total in the NFL.
Here’s how the Bears stack up with the five defenses below them on PFF’s list:
Our top 6 graded defenses thorough two weeks (courtesy of @PFF Premium stats https://t.co/HcCwLovb2S )
— Neil Hornsby (@PFF_Neil) September 18, 2018
Why 6?
Well......
BTW that tackle grade of 88.2 is #1 pic.twitter.com/oyfIqkOiX4
Compared to the other top-tier defenses, the Bears have held their own in every category. The real booster that gets them over the top is their run-support grade, which is 7.8 points higher than any other defense in the top six.
Specific details regarding each team’s grades are a part of PFF’s premium plan and can be accessed by subscribers of the website.
Not taking the fourth quarter into affect, the Bears have been the most dominant defense in the NFL. With the likes of Khalil Mack, Akiem Hicks, Eddie Goldman and Danny Trevathan all having played at a high level to start off the year, the potential of this group is palpable. Being able to close their games could make them truly worthy of being the best unit in the league.
Jacob Infante is a Chicago Bears writer at SB Nation’s Windy City Gridiron. He is also the lead NFL Draft analyst for The Blitz Network, and he additionally covers the NFL Draft for USA Today’s Draft Wire. He can be reached through Twitter @jacobinfante24 or e-mailed at jacobinfante1208@gmail.com.