Allen's defense dominates against
former team as Bears beat Saints 26-14 for 4th straight win
[October 20, 2025]
By ANDREW SELIGMAN
CHICAGO (AP) — As much as Dennis Allen downplayed going against his
former team, his players weren't buying it. This one had to mean a
little more.
Allen’s defense dominated, and the Chicago Bears beat the New
Orleans Saints 26-14 on Sunday for their fourth straight win.
Allen, the Bears’ defensive coordinator, was facing the Saints for
the first time since they fired him as head coach midway through
last season after 2 1/2 years.
“He didn't make it about himself this entire week, he didn't mention
anything about it,” safety Kevin Byard said. “But just me being a
veteran, I know. This meant a lot for him.”
Allen spent 15 of the past 20 years in New Orleans either as an
assistant under Sean Payton or head coach. He was part of a Super
Bowl-winning staff.
Allen was the Saints' defensive coordinator for six years before
getting promoted in 2022 when Payton retired. He led New Orleans to
an 18-25 record with no playoff appearances before he was fired last
November.
“I know what it feels like to go against your old team,” said
veteran linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, who had a sack and an
interception. “He probably had a lot of emotions into it. I'm glad
he was able to celebrate and smile after the game.”
Allen brushed this off as “another game” during the week. But it was
clear he was feeling pretty good afterward.
Allen got the game ball from coach Ben Johnson, then told the team:
“Sometimes, the good Lord just has a freakin' plan for you that you
don't know about. And sometimes, you ain't good enough for somewhere
else. That's perfectly fine. I love being here. I love being with
this group of guys.”
Take it away
The Bears forced four turnovers in their fourth straight game with
three or more, giving them 16 takeaways this season. They had four
sacks and three interceptions against Spencer Rattler.
Montez Sweat set the tone with an early strip-sack that led to a
field goal. Nahshon Wright set up the game’s first touchdown with a
long interception return, and the Bears (4-2) overcame a spotty
performance by Caleb Williams to match their best streak since the
2018 NFC North championship team closed the regular season with four
straight wins. They also had a much easier time after winning 25-24
at both Las Vegas and Washington.
New Orleans (1-6) continued its worst start since opening 1-7 in
1999 under then-coach Mike Ditka, the Hall of Famer and Super
Bowl-winning coach with the Bears.
“We can’t stop," running back Alvin Kamara said. "We got to find
some energy, find some inspiration. Everybody got to just dig deep
and find that want-to.”
Williams completed 15 of 26 passes for 172 yards and an
interception. But Chicago got huge contributions in the run game,
racking up 222 yards on the ground.
D’Andre Swift, coming off a 108-yard outing against Washington, ran
for a season-high 124 yards and a touchdown.
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New Orleans Saints head coach Kellen Moore, left, greets Chicago
Bears head coach Ben Johnson after an NFL football game, Sunday,
Oct. 19, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Huh)
Rookie Kyle Monangai added a career-high 81 yards
and a touchdown, helping Chicago stop an eight-game losing streak
against the Saints. They hadn’t beaten New Orleans since 2008.
Rattler was 20 of 32 for 233 yards while throwing three
interceptions.
Chris Olave caught five passes for 98 yards and two touchdowns. His
57-yard reception near the end of the first half set up a 21-yard
TD, and he hauled in a 14-yarder on the opening drive of the third
quarter to pull the Saints within 20-14.
Shut down
Kamara said the Bears didn't pressure as much as he expected, but
Allen picked the right moments to dial it up.
"He does well with the things he wants to get to,” he said. “Got
those guys playing physically, and they’re playing pretty sound
defense.”
The Bears held New Orleans to 13 yards before a 91-yard touchdown
drive near the end of the half. Olave beat cornerback Tyrique
Stevenson on a 57-yard reception to the 21, and he hauled in a
21-yard touchdown two plays later, cutting it to 20-7 in the closing
minute.
The Saints went 80 yards for a touchdown on the opening drive of the
second half, with Olave's 14-yarder cutting it to 20-14.
Chicago then drove from the 28 to the 1, only to settle for a field
goal by Jake Moody after center Drew Dalman got flagged for a false
start when he double-clutched on a fourth-down snap at the goal
line.
Moody, filling in for the second straight game with Cairo Santos
sidelined by a quad injury, added a 33-yarder midway through the
fourth, making it 26-14, and Edmunds intercepted a tipped pass
thrown by Rattler to help seal the win.
Injuries
Saints: RB Kendre Miller (knee) and C Erik McCoy (biceps) left the
game, and coach Kellen Moore said there's “concern for both those
guys.”
Bears: Stevenson (shoulder) and TE Cole Kmet (back) exited the game.
Up next
Saints: Host Tampa Bay next Sunday.
Bears: At Baltimore next Sunday.
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