49ers vs. Bears preview: San Francisco looks to play spoiler in Week 16
By Chris Wilson
Week 16 by the numbers
After four consecutive last-place finishes, the Bears have gone from worst-to-first in 2018, and they have their elite defense and an improved offensive attack to thank.
Per Football Outsiders, Chicago boasts the NFL’s top defensive unit against both the run and the pass. This has led to a Defense-adjusted Value Over Average number — or DVOA — of -25.6 percent, while the NFL’s second-ranked Baltimore Ravens team comes in at just -12.9 percent.
Along with a defense that is essentially twice as efficient as any other defense in the NFL, the Bears’ offense has made major strides in 2018 as well, due to a number of offseason moves. The most significant change was the removal of head coach John Fox and his offensive coaching staff, and the addition of new head coach Tom Nagy.
Under Fox, quarterback Mitchell Trubisky had a rookie season to forget in 2017. Despite benching starting quarterback Mike Glennon for the first-round draft pick, Fox and offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains simply didn’t trust Trubisky, who averaged less than 10 complete passes over his first four starts.
By limiting Trubisky’s attempts, the Bears’ coaching staff limited the rookie’s ability to develop. Allowing Trubisky to sling the ball and learn on the fly in 2018, Nagy and offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich have received mixed results from their second-year quarterback, but Trubisky’s improvement in his sophomore season has been undeniable.
It still remains to be seen whether Trubisky will become a franchise quarterback worthy of a No. 2 overall selection, but at least the quarterback has been able to begin to prove his worth in 2018. Given the opportunity to air it out, Trubisky’s interception rate has risen by over half this season, while his touchdown percentage has nearly tripled.
The Bears also added a number of new targets for their young quarterback, including stud wide receivers Allen Robinson, fellow wideout Taylor Gabriel and tight end Trey Burton. Chicago retained their one-two punch of veteran running back Jordan Howard and second-year runner Tarik Cohen, who has already amassed 1,118 scrimmage yards on the season.
Chicago’s biggest 2018 acquisition was stud edge rusher Khalil Mack, who the team obtained from the Oakland Raiders in a blockbuster early-September trade. Mack, who currently leads the team with 12.5 sacks, has proven to be the missing piece that has helped transform former 49ers defensive coordinator Vic Fangio’s defense from a top-half unit to a group that is truly elite.