Despite five turnovers, the Chicago Bears were still able to claw out a 27-24 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday night. At 7-2, the Bears are a half game behind the Minnesota Vikings for the NFC North lead. In an effort to boost their defense, the Bears swung a trade for former Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons towards the end of last month.
So far, Simmons has provided a massive boost to the unit. ESPN's Marcus Spears, a former defensive lineman, broke down the impact Simmons has had on the Bears' scheme. The NFL on ESPN X (formerly Twitter) account shared Spears' analysis, where he said that the ex-Titan has “unlocked everybody” on the defensive side of the ball.
“Jeffery Simmons has unlocked everybody on this defense,” Spears stated on NFL Live.
If not for Los Angeles Rams edge rusher Myles Garrett's record-breaking campaign last fall, there's a solid chance that Simmons might have won NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Last year with the Titans, Simmons notched 11 sacks, proving why he's not only one of the league's best defensive linemen, but overall defenders. Adding him to the middle of Dennis Allen's scheme has certainly helped the unit across the board.
Bears GM Ryan Poles sent three picks to the Titans for Simmons and a 2028 fifth rounder, including Chicago's first rounders in 2027 and 2028. If Simmons can continue to unlock the defense's potential, then the price will certainly have been worth it. With the Vikings hoping to hold off not only Chicago, but the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions as well, the NFC North will continue to be quite competitive. Can Simmons and the Bears' defense help lead them to yet another division title and playoff spot? If so, the chase for the franchise's second Lombardi Trophy will be continue to thrive.