{"id":96490,"date":"2020-10-19T15:07:32","date_gmt":"2020-10-19T19:07:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/?p=96490"},"modified":"2021-03-20T08:57:20","modified_gmt":"2021-03-20T12:57:20","slug":"chicago-bears-flawed-and-in-first-place","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2020\/10\/19\/chicago-bears-flawed-and-in-first-place\/","title":{"rendered":"Chicago Bears: Flawed and in First Place"},"content":{"rendered":"

We may just have to accept the Chicago Bears<\/a>, no matter how flawed they may be, are for real. After their 23-16 win over the Carolina Panthers, they sit in first place over the Green Bay Packers. Their pass rush is waking up and matching the play of the secondary. One key person is fired up about this team’s prospects.<\/p>\n

Flawed Bears Still in First Place<\/h2>\n

Pressure Bursts Pipes<\/h3>\n

It’s a theme as old as time. The best way to neutralize an opposing offense is to pressure the quarterback. Chicago has recorded a sack in every game this season, has multiple sacks in four of six games, and is undefeated in those games. They are 1-1 when they record one sack. On Sunday, they got Teddy Bridgewater<\/a><\/strong> down four times while the secondary picked him off twice; once by Tashaun Gipson<\/a><\/strong> and the game-winner by DeAndre Houston-Carson<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Khalil Mack<\/a><\/strong> and Akiem Hicks<\/a><\/strong> have been getting pressure and disrupting the run all season. But the Bears getting production from the likes of Mario Edwards<\/a><\/strong> and the recently-elevated James Vaughters<\/a><\/strong> has been a pleasant surprise. They should have had a pick-six by Eddie Jackson<\/a><\/strong> but Kyle Fuller<\/a><\/strong> was called for defensive pass interference. The ball may have been tipped looking back on the replay. It was Jackson’s second return touchdown to be called back this season but he forced a fumble later. Fuller, who has been playing at an All-Pro level, was also flagged for an illegal hit that appeared clean on review.<\/p>\n

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For the second week in a row, Bears OLB Robert Quinn was closer to an opposing quarterback than any pass rusher had been all season.<\/p>\n

Last week it was Brady. This week it was Bridgewater. Quinn\u2019s average separation was 3.81 yards from the Panthers QB per @NextGenStats<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/fktEKztmZg<\/a><\/p>\n

— Kevin Fishbain (@kfishbain) October 19, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n