The Bears have limited their last three opponents to a total of 28 points, the fewest in a three-game span since they also allowed 28 in 2012.
One key factor has been a stingy third-down defense that has held the Vikings (3 of 13), Eagles (2 of 9) and Jets (0 of 7) to a combined 17.2% success rate. For the season, the Bears rank second in the NFL in third-down defense at 23.7%.
"Our guys are executing the play," said defensive coordinator Dennis Allen. "Our assistant coaches do a great job of making sure that everybody understands what we're trying to get accomplished within each defensive call. And so our guys have gone out there and really understood what we're trying to do, and they've executed. That's really what it's about."
The Bears defense also ranks second in the league in sacks per pass play and first downs, third in total yards and passing yards and fourth in points.
"Throughout the course of the week, we spend a lot of time within the installs," Allen said, "a lot of tape, all those kinds of things, and I think our guys are going outside the building and really studying and doing the extra work. That's what it takes in our league to be really successful.
"We're certainly not the finished product right now four weeks into the season. The last three weeks we've executed more consistently, and yet there's still some things that we have to improve on."
Getting closer
Cornerback Kyler Gordon, defensive lineman Shemar Turner and linebacker Noah Sewell continue to practice and are eligible to be activated off the physically unable to perform (PUP) list this week. But if and when that happens, they will be gradually eased back into game action.
"To think that any of them would be ready to go in there and play 50, 50, 70 plays in a game, that would be unrealistic," Allen said. "With all of these guys, as we begin to get some of them back, I think the prudent action would be [to] start to incorporate them in and yet don't expect them to be full-time players initially."
Asked about Gordon, who has excelled at cornerback and nickel back, Allen said: "He's working hard. He's competing out there on the practice field, and that's good to see. I'm excited about all these guys that are coming off the PUP list and what I think they can help and what I think they can bring to the table."
On the rebound
Allen is confident that cornerback Tyrique Stevenson will bounce back after allowing a 58-yard touchdown pass in last Sunday's win over the Jets.
"When you play corner in this scheme, it's like being a window washer on a high-rise building," Allen said. "You can't make mistakes. You can't have a bad day because bad things really happen. So, that's part of the business in this scheme. We put those guys out there and give them a tough job.
"All the great ones, every one of them, have been beaten at some point in time. And so really it's about 'go onto the next play, line up again, play with the same confidence, aggression,' and it's just part of the business."
Asset to defense
Allen has been impressed with linebacker Devin Bush in pass coverage and is working with the eighth-year pro to hone his skills defending the run.
"I've seen some good things out of him, probably in particular in the coverage aspect," Allen said. "I still think there's things that we're coaching in terms of just coming downhill more in the run game and creating a wall on the line of scrimmage. Some of the attention to detail we've talked to him about improving there.
"He's been a really good asset to our defense. And yet him, like everybody else, we're not finished products, and so our job is really just continue to work to improve each and every day and each and every week."
