The Chicago Bears extended their winning streak to four games with a 26–14 victory over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday at Soldier Field — their first four-game run since 2018.

While second-year quarterback Caleb Williams had a modest outing, completing 15 of 26 passes for 172 yards without a touchdown, Chicago’s ground game stole the spotlight. D’Andre Swift led the charge with 124 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries, while rookie Kyle Monangai added 81 yards and a score on 13 attempts.

Kicker Jake Moody remained steady, converting all four field-goal attempts, including a 39-yarder in the second quarter.

Defensively, the Bears continued their dominant stretch. Chicago forced four sacks, intercepted Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler three times, and recovered a fumble — marking their 16th takeaway of the season, the most in the NFL. Rattler finished with 233 passing yards on 20 of 32 while throwing two touchdowns.

Chicago will travel to Baltimore (1-5) next week looking to extend their winning streak. The Saints will host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-1) next week.

Chicago’s defense bullies Saints

The Bears have a recipe for success on defense, and it’s similar to what we’ve seen in Chicago when that unit is at its best. Takeaways come in bunches, and the Bears have forced at least three turnovers in four consecutive games, getting four on the Saints — three interceptions and a strip sack.

They’re up to 16 this season, the most in the league. “One of the big determining factors in winning and losing ballgames is the turnover-takeaway ratio,” defensive coordinator Dennis Allen said last week. “That’s probably been what we’ve done best, and we need to continue to do that.” Ironically, it’s Bears coach Ben Johnson who said the game is changing and the difference in quarterback performance is a better indicator of results, but old school turnover differential still matters a lot, especially for a Bears team that is still trying to work things out on offense.

Veterans Kevin Byard and Tremaine Edmunds have three picks on the year. Montez Sweat has a forced fumble in back-to-back weeks. And the defense is building an identity around taking the ball away, while also improving greatly against the run. Alvin Kamara was held to 28 yards on 11 carries, a 2.5-yard average. — Kevin Fishbain, Bears beat writer

Bears pound Saints on the ground

Ben Johnson was confident he would be able to use his team’s Week 5 bye week to find answers for his offense’s sluggish running game. Two weeks later, it appears the Bears have their ground attack unlocked. Swift topped 100 rushing yards for the second consecutive game and scored on an 11-yard run in the second quarter, showing additional signs of life as the Bears look to become more balanced and more explosive. After averaging 3.3 yards per carry in the team’s first four games, Swift has turned 33 rushes into 232 yards over the past two games, an average of 7.0 yards per attempt. Swift had 124 rushing yards Sunday.

Monangai, meanwhile, got in on the fun with 13 carries and 81 yards. This all bodes well for the Bears, particularly with quarterback Caleb Williams sputtering Sunday. Williams finished the day with a season-low 61.7 passer rating, throwing for 172 yards and delivering a first-half interception on a third-down pass intended for Rome Odunze. Williams never found much a rhythm with the passing attack.

But with the Bears’ defense providing optimal field position all afternoon and the running game coming alive, the Bears upped their winning streak to four without much difficulty. — Dan Wiederer, Bears beat writer

Rattler is rattled in Chicago

Over the first six games, Spencer Rattler had been solid in his efforts to take care of the football, throwing just one interception in 203 attempts. On Sunday, Rattler ran into a red hot Bears defense that forced him into three picks plus a lost fumble. You play with fire, you’re going to get burned. Most costly for Rattler was a second quarter interception on a pass over the middle to Mason Tipton.

Bears cornerback Nahshon Wright broke on the ball for a diving interception, then sprung up for a 36-yard return that positioned the Bears for an all-too-easy 30-yard touchdown drive.

That was the momentum swing that cost the Saints most significantly in a frustrating road loss. Rattler also lost a fumble on a strip sack on New Orleans’ opening possession and threw an on-the-move deep ball in the third quarter that safety Kevin Byard intercepted. —Wiederer