NFL 2025: Chicago Bears Over/Under For Wins

• Oddsmakers have the Chicago Bears’ over-under wins at 8.5, a big jump for the 2025 NFL season after a disastrous 2024 season
• Caleb Williams had a tough rookie season, with questions asking if he was overrated, immature, and lacked leadership skills
• New head coach Ben Johnson comes over after a successful run as the innovative offensive coordinator for the Lions
• They have dramatically improved the offensive line to protect Williams

Caleb Williams’ Rookie Year Didn’t Go as Planned

Caleb Williams was perhaps the most heralded rookie quarterback since Andrew Luck. Coming out of college, he was polished, poised, and could make every throw.

After a 4-2 start, the Bears’ season unraveled, starting with a freakish Hail Mary touchdown pass against the Commanders from the quarterback picked right after Williams, Jayden Daniels. They lost 10 of 11 to finish at 5-12.

Of course, this wasn’t Williams’ fault, but it didn’t stop speculation that maybe the Bears would have been better off with Daniels. This was exacerbated as Daniels’ Commanders made a magical run to the NFC Championship Game.

Williams didn’t saddle himself with two head coaches, three offensive coordinators, or an offensive line so porous that he was sacked 68 times for 466 yards. However, he did make ill-advised throws, show poor situational awareness, and appear at times as though he was ready to break down and cry.

Even now, as training camp opens, he will inevitably need to deal with questions about the upcoming book, set for release in September, which claims that Williams did not want to play in Chicago.

The drama, dysfunction, sacks, and the team’s poor results aside, Williams’ overall numbers were respectable with 20 TD passes against 6 picks, 3,541 yards passing, and an 87.8 passer rating. He rushed for 489 yards on 81 carries.

With an offensive guru, Ben Johnson, taking over as head coach, Williams deserves a reasonable do-over for 2024.

Ben Johnson Gets To Be the Boss

After three years as the Lions’ offensive coordinator and becoming regarded as one of the most innovative offensive minds in the NFL, Ben Johnson gets a team of his own to run. Walking into a situation with a potential star QB is advantageous, but work needs to be done.

Williams can be the perfect weapon to implement Johnson’s mind-bending offensive wizardry. And Williams adds a wrinkle Johnson did not have with Detroit QB Jared Goff in that Williams can run. Make no mistake, there will be plays in the playbook to use Williams’ legs.

He has a veteran defensive coordinator in former Saints and Raiders head coach Dennis Allen. The defense held up well until late in the season during their 10-game losing streak.

The Offensive Line Was an Offseason Focus

Judging by the number of sacks he endured and that he was running for his life when he wasn’t sacked, Williams needed better protection from up front. The Bears took steps to give him that.

The Bears acquired veteran guard and four-time Super Bowl champion Joe Thuney from the Chiefs for a fourth-round draft pick. Thuney is a two-time All-Pro and a three-time Pro Bowler. They also brought in experienced offensive lineman Drew Dalman and Jonah Jackson. They selected another offensive lineman, Ozzy Trapilo, in the second round of the 2025 draft out of Boston

To give Williams more weapons, they drafted tight end Colston Loveland out of Michigan with the 10th overall pick. He joins Cole Kmet as a pass-catching tight end. They signed Olamide Zaccheaus as a free agent and took Luther Burden III in the second round out of Missouri.

D.J. Moore and Rome Odunze return to catch the ball. D’Andre Swift and Roschon Johnson return as the primary backs.

Their 2025 Schedule is Rough

As denizens of the NFC North, the Bears play the Lions, Vikings, and Packers twice each. Right off the bat, they’re in a tough spot.

They host the Cowboys, Saints, Giants, Steelers, and Browns. They visit the Raiders, Commanders, Ravens. Bengals, Eagles, and 49ers.

There are several teams in a similar position to the Bears, but that does not mean they’re going to be easy wins for Chicago.

Bears Over/Under For Wins

Simply having an offensive-minded coach to guide Williams will put the Bears in a better position than in 2024. Johnson will maximize what Williams can do and make sure he is not under siege from onrushing defenders as he was for most of last season.

The big problem for them is the schedule. Even if they play far better than they did in Williams’ rookie season, it might not reflect in the standings except in a minor way. The Bears will fall under 8.5 wins.