The way the games ended in Denver and Detroit shouldn’t surprise anyone, but I think they found something.
“It’s definitely a mental thing,” coach Matt Eberflus said.
The Bears are in the thick of playoff contention and have a solid lead just short of becoming a .
500 team.
Instead, they just try to keep improving.
“Mentality, that’s a great thing and that’s what we think about.
Offensive mentality, making good decisions on offense and defense, and the players and plays that we run to make those plays.
It’s the manufacturer’s step-up mentality,” Everflus said.
Here are the Bears’ greatest playmakers this season leading up to the bye, ranked in order of most impactful players of all time.
1.WR DJ Moore.Of course. He has over 1,000 yards rushing and has the potential to break the Bears’ franchise rushing yards record (Brandon Marshall, 1,508 yards).
His 70 catches probably won’t come close to Marshall’s other record of 118 catches.
That everyone is unhappy with Luke Getsy’s play calling and the fact that he had to play his four-and-a-half games with undrafted Division II free agent quarterback Tyson Bagent.
When you think about it, this is pretty impressive.
Plus, he’s a great leader and a great person in the locker room.
Carolina made a huge mistake by including him in the trade.
Even if he acquires a QB, he is said to be thinking about the future of the franchise.
2. LB T.J.
Edwards No one epitomizes the rise of the Bears defense more than the former Eagles linebacker.
Heading into this week’s game, he led the NFL in tackles.
People keep comparing Roquan Smith’s play in Baltimore to Edwards.
These two players are in really different positions.
Edwards is weak with 4 wins and 3 losses.
Smith will play one of two spots at inside linebacker for Baltimore, which is 3-4.
The connection between the two is that Edwards, who is 4-3, plays the weakside position better than Smith when he was in Eberflus’ scheme with the Bears.
His play in terms of how Smith played in the 4-3 meant that when Eberflus and the Poles decided they could live without Smith at a price of $100 million This confirms that he was thinking that he wanted to be on the weaker side at Backer.
An important position for the Tampa 2 style.
And the Bears paid him $19.5 million over three years instead of $100 million over five years.
3. CB Jaylon Johnson He bet on himself and won, so if the Bears decide to keep him they have to pay him now.
If he intercepts the pick-sixes that keep coming at him now with the Bears’ better pass rush, it will become even more obvious that the ball could be too fast or miss.
But Johnson has three picks and could get more.
He is Pro Football Focus’ No.3 prospect among all cornerbacks.
The two rookies the Bears drafted are very favorable to them, but they are nowhere near Johnson’s level.
If the Bears really want to win, they’ll pay for their Pro Bowl level talent.
4. QB Justin Fields Had he not missed four and a half games, he would have led in his first two games.
The Bears’ run game this year wasn’t as dominant on back carries as last year, so the run game was very important, even if it was a short gain.
Fields was responsible for only two wins at quarterback, but he scored enough points for two more wins.
5. NT Andrew Billings The simple fact is the Bears were 31st against the run last year.
Now they’re No.1 and Billings is a constant.
GEVEN JENKINS, 5. Jenkins’s early recovery from a preseason injury had a significant effect. Nobody should be surprised that the Bears finished 0–4 in the season while Jenkins was absent. The Bears are 4-4 since his comeback. Despite having to switch from right guard to left guard, back to right guard, and now back to left guard, he is ranked 10th among guards in the NFL. Center, what comes next?
6. DE MONTEZ SWEAT
Sweat has had a significant impact thus far, but he will eventually rise to the top of the leaderboard. Not only has he had two and a half sacks in four games. Compared to earlier this year, when entire series would pass with no pressure, the pass rush is now more reliable overall and is putting heat. Teams must make a commitment to preventing Sweat, and some players are abusing man-to-man situations. Earlier this year, the Bears struggled to reach double figures in games; but, over the last four games, they have been at 17 pressures or above.
7. TE COLE KMET
He followed through on their decision to force him into a greater receiving role, as seen in the games against the Vikings, Chargers, Panthers, and Broncos. With five touchdown receptions, he’s a red zone threat for a club that needs him. According to Pro Football Focus, he’s the only NFL player without a pass breakup with at least sixty targets. Kmet ranks 11th overall and seventh among tight ends in terms of his PFF grade as a receiver.
8. TRANNELL WRIGHT. The large first-round rookie lifted the Bears offensive line earlier in the season, but not so much in the last four games. He was the only player to ever start a game in his planned position at one point. Due to a shoulder issue, he chose to participate.
9. T. Bryston Jones If not for a protracted period of time spent on injured reserve, he would be rated higher. Similar to Jenkins, he made an immediate impact when he entered the game, and since last year, when bull rushes got the better of him, his pass blocking has significantly improved. Although his PFF grade of 35 at tackle isn’t too bad, his rank as a pass blocker is sixth, demonstrating his significant improvement. Last year, he had been more of a run blocker.
10. S. JACQUAN BRISKER. In addition to assuming a leadership position during his youth, Brisker has appeared more like a traditional strong safety in the Tampa-2 scheme thanks to his pass rush and run defense. According to PFF, he was required to line up at deep safety or outside cornerback 242 times, and in the box, slot, or defensive line 342 times. He is a force on the field, and out of 88 safety against the run, PFF ranks him as the 10th best.