The Bears are 7-3 and are in 1st place in the NFC North.
Let that sink in.
If I told you in August that the Bears would have the same record as the Patriots in late November and be 4 games above .500, what would your reaction have been?
Ryan Pace, Matt Nagy, Vic Fangio, etc. deserve all the credit in the world for what they have put together this season and it’s so enjoyable to have winning football back in Chicago.
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As I do every week, it’s time to look back and check whose stock went up and whose came crashing down.
Stock Up: Anthony Miller
Anthony Miller has slowly developed into a real weapon for this Bears offense.
He has solid hands, is an excellent route-runner and brings passion each and every single game.
While other NFL analysts might be talking about other rookie wide-receivers like Tre’Quan Smith or Calvin Ridley, Miller is quietly having an impressive rookie campaign.
A rookie campaign that has seen him snag 26 receptions for 357 yards and 5 touchdowns.
After missing badly on other wide receivers in the draft in years past, trading up for Anthony Miller in the 2nd round is looking like one of Pace’s smartest decisions.
Party on. It’s Miller time.
.@AnthonyMiller_3 got them hands! #Bears 🐻⬇️ pic.twitter.com/XYXEIpm1r6
— ✶ Sports Mockery ✶ (@sportsmockery) November 19, 2018
Stock Down: Adam Shaheen
Shaheen’s return off of IR was highly anticipated.
He brings an element to the Bears offense that not many players can. With a unique blend of speed and size, he’s a red-zone mismatch and it was put on display on Sunday night with the two-point conversion thrown his way.
However, after being out for several weeks recovering from injury, Shaheen came up injured on the play.
Bears TE Adam Shaheen is being evaluated for a concussion. He apparently got hurt on the 2-point play.
— Rich Campbell (@Rich_Campbell) November 19, 2018
He can be a big contributor to this offense, but he has to stay healthy. He was considered raw coming out of Ashland in the draft, so getting playing time is key for his development.
Here’s hoping that the injury isn’t too severe and that he can play on Thursday against Detroit! But getting injured in your first game off of IR is definitely not the way you want to come back…
Stock Up: Cody Parkey
Congratulations, Cody!
After having a down week (putting it lightly) against Detroit, Cody came back and went 3 for 3 on field goals.
Kicking is as much mental composure as it is physical, so for Cody to come back and keep his cool and drill three field goals, I give him a lot of credit.
(And apparently so do his teammates…)
#ClubDub now open 7-3.#DaBears pic.twitter.com/cW9so7X17O
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) November 19, 2018
Also, whoever the fan was that brought the bullseye to Soldier Field for between the goal posts, keep that up. It worked.
Stock Down: Taquan Mizzell
Some of you may be reading this and wondering who the hell this player is…
Exactly.
Mizzell is a running back who spent some time with the team last year, was assigned to the practice squad early on this season and was recently called up.
The only issue is that he’s not anything spectacular, yet he continues to get snaps on offense. In an offense that features so many different playmakers that can play multiple positions, it’s extremely confusing.
Tarik Cohen should be receiving any snaps or touches that would be going to Mizzell. Taquan is not going to be the guy that breaks off a 40 yard run or makes multiple defenders miss for a chunk gain, so why put him out there?
It does go to show just how far this Bears offense has come in a year though. Last year, we would’ve loved to see Mizzell involved because he at least brought something to that stale offense. Now, there’s no room for him.
It’s a minor flaw to pick at in this offense, absolutely. But it’s hard to see why a player like Mizzell is being involved at all…stock down for the second-year player.
Stock Up: Akiem Hicks
How did New England and New Orleans let this guy get away?!
Hicks was an absolute terror all night long for the interior offensive line of the Minnesota Vikings. They simply didn’t have an answer for him.
Hicks finished with 1 sack and 6 total tackles. FIVE of which resulted in a loss of yards for the Vikings.
Those are great stats for a defensive lineman, but if you watched the game at all you know his contribution was much more than that. He took over the game.
Constantly blowing up plays, forcing pressure on Kirk Cousins and the list goes on and on. He played lights out and he needs to begin to be talked about as one of the best defensive lineman in football.
Akiem Hicks (@The_Dream99) goes circle/club/arm over just as Elflein pulls his arm back, but Hicks does a great job reducing his pad surface for the sack! #Bears
via @BearsBacker pic.twitter.com/FOb0r3My1o
— DLineVids (@DLineVids) November 19, 2018
Mack may be identified as the face of this defense, but Hicks is the true leader.
