5 key moments from the Bears 2023 season.

Here are five significant events from the Chicago Bears’ 2023 season, ranging from the trade of wide receiver DJ Moore to the effect of Montez Sweat.

Now that the NFL season of 2023 has over, Ryan Poles and the Chicago Bears are focusing on assembling their squad for the 2024 season. The Bears, who finished 7-10 in 2022, increased their win total by four games. Even though Chicago finished last in the NFC North, there were enough positive developments on both sides of the ball for supporters to feel optimistic about the upcoming season.

You can’t tell me you don’t see the difference if you genuinely take a look at where we came from and where we are now. We’re moving forward quite quickly. We’re approaching it correctly. It’s based on a strong foundation, Poles stated at the team’s news conference at the end of the season.

The offensive output of the Bears increased by two points from 19.2 points per game to 21.2 points per game this season. Chicago’s biggest improvement was on the defensive end. The Bears’ scoring defense, which allowed 27.2 points per game in 2022—the lowest in the league—was reduced to 22.3 points per game in 2023. They also led the NFL in interceptions (22). Chicago’s “D” also increased its sack total by one, concluding with thirty after accumulating only twenty in 2022.

While there was more to be excited about on the defensive side of the ball, there were also some encouraging moments on offense, as well. Here are five key moments from the Bears’ 2023 season.

This was the pivotal point in Chicago’s 2023 season since defensive lineman Montgomery Sweat’s signing strengthened the defense. Even though Sweat played his first game with the Bears in Week 9 against the New Orleans Saints, by the end of the season he had led the team in sacks (6.5). Sweat was so dominant in 2023 that he led the Commanders in sacks as well.

Through their first eight games of the previous season, the Bears recorded just 10 sacks, five of which came in a single game. The team scored 20 points in its last nine games after Sweat joined the team. Two multi-sack games were had by Chicago’s defense in the first nine weeks of the campaign. Throughout its final eight games, the team had seven multi-sack games. Sweat’s influence in Halas Hall is known as the “Tez Effect.”

Regarding Sweat, Poles remarked, “You wanna talk about being a multiplier—a multiplier on the field.” He was helpful to the defense as a whole, and we discussed this with our guys during the year as we conducted departure interviews. I believe you could suddenly tell that everyone had a little more swagger when players like that were added. I believe the back end was impacted. Interceptions increased, as you witnessed. We won more games than you watched. There’s the Tez Effect.”