Great defenses have a certain quality that can often be overlooked. Sure simply shutting down opponents is great and all. However, the best ones show a trait where they get knocked around early in a game and then, all of sudden, completely shut the opponent down. The Chicago Bears defense showcased that rare quality in the teams’ huge comeback win over the Arizona Cardinals.
It was about as awful a start as could’ve been expected. The Cardinals went right down the field on the opening drive for 75 yards including two bad busted coverages by the secondary, one of which went for a 35-yard touchdown. Not too long after, a Mitch Trubisky fumble set up a short field and another busted play led to a David Johnson 21-yard TD.
Things were starting to look bleak. Then, all of sudden, that was it. The Cardinals offense went completely silent the rest of the game. Just look at the subsequent drives they had through the end of the game for an idea.
- Punt
- Punt
- Punt
- Interception
- Interception
- Fumble recovery
- Interception
- Game-ending sack
It was an insane display of excellence and a sign that this defense is completely different from what it was last year. They’ve learned how to finish games and they’re making more plays than ever before.
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Chicago Bears defense had so many positives during the game
It starts with the emergence of the young players. Everybody knows who the stars are, but there were a ton of Bears first and second-year names who stepped up big in this game. Roquan Smith had four tackles and was around the ball a lot. Rookie 5th round pick Bilal Nichols had a gigantic stop on 3rd down that led to a Bryce Callahan interception a play later. The big name though that is starting to emerge is Eddie Jackson.
Coaches and teammates have started calling him the quarterback of the secondary and it’s showing. He had three tackles in the game and a big interception early in the third quarter. He also had a pick-six that should’ve ended the game but it was called back because of an offsides penalty. He’s finding his ballhawk instinct more and more each week.
Yet the big cheese of this swirling maelstrom of a defense is no doubt Khalil Mack.
The Bears haven’t had a genuine superstar since Brian Urlacher retired. That streak is officially over. Mack is incredible. There’s just no other way to put it. He’s played three games in a Chicago uniform and has already earned every penny of that new contract. So far this is his stat line:
- 4 sacks
- 3 forced fumbles
- 1 fumble recovered
- 1 interception
- 1 touchdown
He is a one-man wrecking crew that the Cardinals literally threw two and three blockers at all game long and still couldn’t stop him. He changes games and makes everybody around him better. It’s showing up in a big way. There’s no telling how far this defense can go as it continues to gain confidence with each week.
