Bears vs. Colts: 3 keys for Chicago's offense in Week 3

The Chicago Bears (1-1) suffered a 19-13 loss at the hands of the high-flying Houston Texans (2-0) on Sunday Night Football, limping out of the contest with very little to find consolation in. The offense outdid themselves and collapsed in an even more embarrassing fashion than they did in Week 1, with the offensive line playing the role of a turnstile and allowing Houston defenders to hunt down rookie quarterback Caleb Williams on nearly every play. Chicago’s defense did all they could to stop the bleeding, but they couldn't supplant the offense’s lack of scoring as they did on opening weekend.

Though it’s difficult to find positives in the brutal loss, that doesn’t mean the Bears didn’t make some minor improvements, particularly on offense. Williams had been poised while working within a short passing scheme in the first half, offensive coordinator Shane Waldron flashed some variety in playcalling in certain instances, and the rookie signal-caller was fearless in his attempts to will his squad to a win, converting key third downs with his legs.

Make no mistake: Chicago is not where they need to be offensively, and it’s infuriating they’re so behind the curve despite having flashy weapons. It can only go up from here, and a Week 3 duel against the susceptible Indianapolis Colts (0-2) is the perfect opportunity to take a big step on that front. With that being said, let’s break down the three keys for Chicago’s offense in Week 3.

1. Improve pass protection and run blocking

It’s hard to extrapolate on such a fundamental pillar of successful football. The offensive line has been a well-documented problem since the onset of the offseason, though Chicago’s acquisition of star power had obscured the issue from the minds of most at the time. The discussion became a bit more lively through training camp and preseason, but the true depth of the problem wasn’t known until the Bears took to Soldier Field in Week 1. The offensive line was slaughtered then and they were butchered again in Week 2, and the season is already on the brink of collapse because of that Achilles’ heel.

To be blunt, they just have to be better. Next Gen Stats revealed that the Texans pressured Williams 36 times, with several pressures occurring on the same play. The unit has an opportunity to bounce back in Week 3 against the Colts, however, especially with former All-Pro defensive tackle DeForest Buckner being placed on IR this week. Center Coleman Shelton and right guard Nate Davis have been the weakest links in the group, but the established veterans have performed well below their usual standard. Left tackle Braxton Jones, left guard Teven Jenkins and standout right tackle Darnell Wright all need to elevate their play and give their contemporaries a chance to succeed.

2. Utilize creative playcalling

The Bears parted ways with notorious offensive coordinator Luke Getsy at the conclusion of the 2023 season after the team suffered through a woeful offensive scheme that failed to take advantage of respectable talent. General manager Ryan Poles looked to make a major upgrade at that area of need and settled on former Seahawks offensive coordinator Shane Waldron, who made a name for himself after molding veteran quarterback Geno Smith into a Pro Bowl-caliber passer last year. Along with several major upgrades that were made on offense in the offseason, the stage was set for Waldron to set off some fireworks to begin the year.

If the Bears’ OC had planned to ignite some fireworks, his attempt had emphatically fizzled out – his unit has been horrible in the early goings of the season. Not one part of the offensive machine is working properly: the offensive line fails to execute on the most basic levels and has been thoroughly beaten by opposing defensive lines; virtually all of the skill players have been non-factors, with only receiver DJ Moore making himself available to his quarterback as he often attempts to save a broken play, and Williams himself looks like a rattled rookie playing on a bad team. To paint the situation with a broad stroke, the offense is out of sync and it needs their offensive coordinator to congeal them into a respectable unit. Waldron needs to analyze the offense’s game tape with a critical eye and discover how he can get his guys into a groove in spite of their fundamental issues.

Miraculously, the Bears came out of these brutal first two weeks with a 1-1 record, with an advantageous matchup against the Colts in Week 3. The Bears have a real chance of stringing together successful touchdown drives this week if Waldron can get creative with his scheme. I’d expect him to alleviate a downtrodden offensive line by moving the pocket and calling QB rollouts, all in an attempt to avoid putting his rookie signal caller in harm’s way. Whatever scheme he deploys this Sunday, he has to be sure it’ll work, or else some tough questions about Waldron’s future in Chicago will start being asked.

3. Get the ball in the hands of playmakers

This entry serves as an extension of the improved offensive scheme Waldron will rack his brain to figure out this week. It seems counterintuitive that he has not made his electric playmakers more of a focal point of the offense, and that is a leading contributor to their porous play so far. Running back D’Andre Swift, tight end Cole Kmet, and wideouts Keenan Allen and rookie Rome Odunze have played second fiddle to less impactful skill players, and Waldron’s approach this week should include a healthy dose of all of them.

To start, Swift should be more of a factor in the passing game. He only managed 18 yards on 14 carries last Sunday, which is indicative of the line’s poor play. If he can’t be a contributor on the ground, then his impact needs to come from the short passing game. It would benefit Williams if he had Swift as an outlet on plays when he needs to go off-script. Kmet saw a small uptick in work in Week 2, bringing in four catches for 27 yards. Clearly, the Bears’ franchise tight end needs the ball more, and he should be involved in more route concepts that attack downfield – he succeeded in that role in past seasons. Allen will get his targets, as he did in Week 1. He’ll be a major part of the operation if he returns from injury this Sunday. Odunze’s role has been the most frustrating for fans; Waldron has made no attempt to take advantage of his elite skill set. He only caught two balls against the Texans, but his drop in the endzone is all that’s remembered from the loss. His ineffectiveness can’t be blamed solely on him, however, as I suspect it’s hard for him to find his footing when he’s not being targeted.

Their looming game against the Colts can by no means be considered a “get right” game – that’ll come in Week 5 against the Panthers – but Indianapolis is working through their own issues in the early part of the year, and the Bears can find some traction in the contest.

This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears vs. Colts: 3 keys for Chicago's offense in Week 3