After the bye week, the Bears hope to keep the momentum going for the next few key games

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) – Given a week off after their offense started against Jacksonville in London, Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears might have been better served without a Week 7 bye.

They’ll pick up the rest and face the Washington Commanders (5-2) on Sunday ready to compete in an NFC North that’s quickly looking like the toughest division in the NFL.

“I will say I think the guys were ready for some rest considering how long we showed up to camp and the camp we went through,” Bears tight end Cole Kmet said.

The Bears had a July 19 report date because they were in the Hall of Fame game and went through their first six games without major injuries until a series of minor injuries to defensive tackles in and just before their most recent

Coach Matt Eberflus said Monday that safety Jaquan Brisker is still in the NFL’s concussion protocol after a hit he took in the Oct. 6 win over Carolina. He saw improvements in cornerback Tyrique Stevenson (calf), cornerback Kyler Gordon (hamstring) and cornerback Terell Smith (hip), but can’t say yet if any of them will return to face the Commanders.

Even with their recent injuries, the Bears’ defense ranks sixth overall, fourth in points allowed and third in sacks.

However, they have beaten teams with difficulties. All four wins came against teams with a combined 7-20 record, while their two losses came to the Colts (4-3) and Texans (5-2).

“I mean, I feel like we played well, we did some really good things in every facet of the game,” linebacker TJ Edwards said. “But I think for us, we know we can be much better.

“It’s a group that doesn’t get complacent about anything we do and that starts with (defensive coordinator Eric) Washington and that stuff.”

Eberflus said his team’s biggest positive change is simply Williams’ improvement from his 1-2 start.

In the past four games, Williams has nine touchdown passes, three interceptions for 1,050 yards, and a 106.4 passer rating. He’s connected with DJ Moore for three TDs, Cole Kmet for three, Keenan Allen for two and Rome Odunze for one.

“You can really see the improvement over the weeks,” Eberflus said. “And I always say, every unit faces its struggles every week. It could be a pass rusher. It could be a scheme. It could be certain players that threaten your unit, particular unit, offense, defense or teams specials. And I think he’s learning as we go.

“I think he’s learned to do a good job in the noise, to work with those things and also the basic operation of a good quarterback. And you can see that with the way he’s executed the last few weeks.”

Williams and the offense will need to be even sharper with the tougher schedule for the Bears.

“In the run game there are still things we need to clean up,” Kmet said. “It happens in terms of the game, there is still a lot. In our protection game, there are still things we can be better at and I think you look at the film and there are actually some big mistakes that we need to correct that we know. Once we go against these top teams in the NFL and start fighting for a playoff push here as the season goes on, we’re going to have to get those things.”

All six divisional games come down to the last eight games and all NFC North teams lead them by five wins.

“Yeah, I mean, it’s pretty crazy, right?” Edwards said. “I mean, obviously, we know these teams pretty well. But there’s some good football being played right now.

“Yesterday (Sunday) was probably the first time we sat down, or at least I just sat down and watched some football for a second and it’s at a high level now, man. So we’re excited about this stretch that we have, for sure.”

___

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl