Defense, defense, defense: this is the key to a successful season for the Chicago Bears. Despite the numerous amount of injuries this defense has seen so far this year, they have played pretty well (if you do not include week one against the Buffalo Bills). The defense was embarrassed in week one giving up a staggering 5.8 yards per carry, two of which were over 45 yards. They gave up one of those 45+ yard carries in overtime; that run set the Bills up for an easy game-winning field goal from only 28 yards out.
The Sunday Night Football game in week two against the San Fransisco 49ers, though, things changed a little bit. There was a blocked punt on the first drive of the game for the Bears, and the Niners were able to start their drive from the Bears 10-yard line. You cannot blame the defense too much for that opening touchdown for Kaepernick and Niners, as they only had 10 yards to get into the endzone. After that though, the defense capitalized on San Fran’s mistakes, and limited their scoring despite the 49ers having such a high powered offense.
In their most recent game on Monday Night Football against the New York Jets, the Bears started the game off with a bang, an interception return from back up free safety Ryan Mundy. The most impressive stat coming from the Bears defense in the game from Monday night, however, was their red zone defense. The Bears allowed only 16 points on SIX trips to red zone (one touchdown and three field goals allowed). That stat is quite impressive, even against a team like the New York Jets.
Unfortunately, the one thing the Bears needed to stay away from this season on defense, and overall, is the injury bug. The defense has suffered a few injuries already through only three games, but there has been some stellar play from the guys who have come in for the injured starters so far. Starting with Charles “Peanut” Tillman, who re-injured the same triceps that ended his season last year. As a Bears fan, that was one tough thing to see. His replacement, first round pick Kyle Fuller, has played insanely well so far since coming in for Peanut. He produced two interceptions in the game against San Fransisco, one in the game against the New York Jets and also forced two fumbles in the Monday night game against the Jets as well. Finally a first round pick for the Bears is producing like a first round pick (Offensive guard Kyle Long, the first pick in last year’s draft, has been one heck of a first rounder so far as well). On the other side, CB Sherrick McManis has a quadriceps injury and is questionable for Sunday. Staying in the defensive backfield, both of the Bear’s free safeties, Chris Conte and Ryan Mundy, have shoulder injuries and are questionable to play this Sunday against the Green Bay Packers. Both Conte and Mundy have been surprisingly successful, despite the first game against the Bills, helping the run defense and producing some interceptions. Linebacker Shea McClellin suffered a hand injury and has been ruled out of the game against the Packers. On the defensive line, Jeremiah Ratliff has been ruled out with a concussion.
Defense is going to be absolutely huge in the upcoming game on Sunday against division rival Green Bay. It seems as though with two good offenses, it is going to be a shootout. Whichever defense can step up and produce more turnovers will be the winner. The Bears cannot suffer many more injuries this season, on defense especially, if they want to be a contender in the division. Their pursuit of the NFC North crown starts this Sunday against the biggest rival, Green Bay. Boy, would it be sweet to have the Packers start 1-3 and the Bears be two games ahead of them this early in the season.
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