Bears 1st and 10: More of the same? Maybe not

The Bears are 2-2 under Ben Johnson, which is the same record they had after four games last season under Matt Eberflus. And their victories aren’t that impressive, coming against the Cowboys (2-2-1), who have beaten only the Jets (0-5) and Giants (1-4); and the Raiders (1-4), who lost to the Colts 40-6 on Sunday.

But the eye test says they’re making progress, and there’s evidence to back it up:

• The Bears are converting 45.5% of their third-down plays, which is sixth in the NFL. They converted 32.9% of their third downs last season, which was 31st.

• The Bears already have scored more points in the first quarter in four games this season (31) than they did in 17 games last season (27). They are fifth in first-quarter points this season and first in first-quarter points per game (7.8). They were last in the NFL last season.

• The Bears have scored two touchdowns on their opening drive this season. They had none in 17 games last season.

• Quarterback Caleb Williams has been sacked seven times in four games (1.8 per game). He was sacked an NFL-high 68 times in 17 games last season (four per game). His sack percentage has dropped from 10.8 per drop-back last season to 5.1 this season.

• While still avoiding interceptions (two in 130 passes, 1.5% — up slightly from 1.1% last season), Williams’ yards per pass play is up significantly, from 6.3 last season (33rd among qualified quarterbacks) to 7.1 this season (16th).

It will take a much larger sample size to confirm those improvements. But on Monday night against the Commanders, the Bears will get a chance to make their biggest statement yet about the dawn of a new era by exorcising a demon that exposed more coaching and roster-makeup flaws than they realized and destroyed their 2024 season.

Johnson will say this week he wasn’t here for that game. The players will tell you they’ve moved on. But make no mistake: This isn’t just another game. From the Jordan Bulls to the ’85 Bears, championship teams have had a memory. And, more often than not, developing teams get there by embracing moments of redemption instead of ignoring their failed past.

The ‘‘Hail Mary’’ disaster against the Commanders and its aftermath — nine more consecutive losses — defined the 2024 Bears as a team that lacked heart and leadership as much as talent. General manager Ryan Poles tacitly acknowledged that when he implored his veteran players after the season to be more proactive and to say something if they see something.

This is one of those games that can show they’ve made improvement in that department, as well. If the Bears are tired of hearing about the ‘‘Hail Mary,’’ the best way to mute that narrative is to redeem themselves.

2. On that subject, this will be a big week for cornerback Tyrique Stevenson, the main culprit in that season-turning loss. And that doesn’t just go for Monday night but all this week, when Stevenson figures to be the focus of media hype for the game.

The Bears would be well-advised to coach Stevenson up for that part, as well, and to remind him his role in that game is a legitimate story — and his own doing — and he would be better off dealing with it like a pro than being combative. It’s part of the maturation process for a talented young player, and handling it responsibly makes a bigger difference than he might think.

3. The game against the Commanders will be a key measuring stick for Williams, who is closing the sizable gap between him and Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels from last season and might pass him with a standout, winning performance.

Entering the game last season against the Commanders, Williams was coming off three consecutive performances with a 100-plus passer rating (74.1% completions, seven touchdowns, no interceptions) and a bye week. He completed 10 of 24 passes (41.7%) for 131 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions for a 59.5 passer rating.

4. The quarterbacks in the 2023 and 2024 draft classes seem to be pushing each other to greater success. They’re 10-1 in the last two weeks, including 5-0 on Sunday, with Daniels, the Patriots’ Drake Maye, the Texans’ C.J. Stroud, the Broncos’ Bo Nix and the Panthers’ Bryce Young all winning. (The only loss was by Young, in a 42-13 defeat to the Patriots and Maye in Week 4.)

They were 8-15 in Weeks 1-3 this season.

5. For What It’s Worth Department: The Bears are 4-0 in Monday night road games after a bye week. The won in 2013 (27-20 against the Packers with Josh McCown, when Aaron Rodgers was injured in the first quarter), 2011 (30-24 against the Eagles), 1997 (36-33 in overtime against the Dolphins) and 1996 (15-13 against the Vikings).

6. The bye in Week 5 is generally not ideal, but it’s still useful for a formative Bears team playing under a first-year coach and with early injury issues. The Bears got an extra week of rest for cornerback Jaylon Johnson (who is on injured reserve), linebacker T.J. Edwards, defensive tackle Grady Jarrett, right tackle Darnell Wright and rookie tight end Colston Loveland.

The early injuries might be a red flag, but the Bears can accelerate their rebuild by winning the NFL’s war of attrition. Already this season, the Ravens (1-4), Bengals (2-3) and Chargers (3-2, with back-to-back losses) have been devastated by key injuries. The Bears play the Ravens and Bengals on the road in Weeks 8 and 9.

7. Cardinals running back Emari Demercado committed an unforgivable and infuriating football sin when he carelessly lost possession of the ball at the end of what should have been a 72-yard touchdown run Sunday against the Titans. Instead of leading 28-6 with 12:40 left, the Cardinals imploded after the touchback and lost 22-21.

Not only has it happened too many times before for any player to commit that boneheaded play, but it had happened the previous week, when Colts wide receiver Adonai Mitchell lost possession of the ball as he approached the goal line on an apparent 76-yard touchdown against the Rams, who rallied to win 27-20. Mitchell played six snaps Sunday against the Raiders after playing 54 against the Rams. It’ll be interesting to see how Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon handles this one.

Fun fact: Gannon and Colts coach Shane Steichen were coordinators for the Eagles under Nick Sirianni, who was a coordinator for the Colts under Frank Reich, who played in Super Bowl XXVII in January 1993, in which Leon Lett’s fumble at the hands of hustling Don Beebe on a fumble return became the symbol of football carelessness.

8. Oh, the irony: Demercado played a key role in the Bears’ implosion last season, scoring on a 53-yard run with four seconds left in the first half of the game after the ‘‘Hail Mary’’ loss. That’s the only touchdown run of 50 or more yards in the final 25 seconds of a half in at least the last 30 seasons. The Bears, trailing 14-9 before the touchdown, never recovered in a 29-9 loss.

9. Josh McCown Ex-Bears Player of the Week: Niners kicker Eddy Pineiro was 4-for-4 on field goals, including a 59-yarder in the fourth quarter and a game-winning 41-yarder in overtime, in a 26-23 victory Thursday against the Rams.

10. Bear-ometer — 8-9: at Commanders (L); vs. Saints (W); at Ravens (W); at Bengals (W); vs. Giants (W); at Vikings (L); vs. Steelers (W); at Eagles (L); at Packers (L); vs. Browns (W); vs. Packers (L); at 49ers (L); vs. Lions (L).