Ditka is a Believer, Jackson Grows, Bucs Drop Hints, Favorites in the North? and Other Bullets

Sep 26, 2018

Which team is more likely to be in first place on Sunday: the Bears or Cubs?

The Buccaneers know which quarterback will start on Sunday, but they’re keeping it under wraps for as long as possible. NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport reports the latest twist being the Buccaneers have a three-day roster exemption for Jameis Winston, which means they don’t have to make an official roster move regarding the 2015 No. 1 overall pick until Friday. So while we wait on official confirmation, more signs continue to point toward Ryan Fitzpatrick starting Week 4.

I would watch this:

Bears LB Danny Trevathan on the defense: (admitted it's early) "If we keep playing like this, I have no doubt in my mind, we'll be the top defense ever."
— Mark Grote (@markgrotesports) September 25, 2018

Count Mike Ditka “in” on the 2018 Bears’ bandwagon. Just don’t expect him to do anything other than pump the brakes on any comparisons to his Super Bowl XX winners:

Even though Ditka is right to want to back away from comparisons to the ’85 Bears, that he sees the same heart and hustle from the modern squad speaks volumes of how impressive this defense has been. Often, the old guard is hesitant to say nice things about the new generation. So Ditka’s kind words are somewhat refreshing.

If the Bears play like this, they could be favorites to win the NFC North. And while that’s a wild concept right now, ESPN’s Dan Graziano doesn’t think that’s an overreaction at all. Graziano calls the Bears “a tough out” and believes the team deserves to be considered a contender after its 2-1 start (which could have been easily 3-0 had it not been for, well, you know…) and entering a Week 4 match-up against the Buccaneers. If Mitch Trubisky shows progress on the playing field soon, then there will be no doubting this group because everything else is as well-rounded as it gets.

Here’s a scary thought for opposing offensive coordinators: the Bears (who lead the NFL with 14 sacks in three games) don’t need to blitz to get pressure:

These #NFL teams are BLITZING the most (and least) through three weeks!#Browns #BeRedSeeRed #BroncosCountry #GoPats #Jets pic.twitter.com/6tZkcykWIn

— NFL Matchup on ESPN (@NFLMatchup) September 25, 2018

Khalil Mack is awesome, you guys. Have we talked about that lately? We should probably talk about that more. He’s great. Wonderful. Amazing. Spectacular. Heck, you could probably throw in another first-round pick and Mack would still clear the high bar of expectations set before him. He’s been that good.

Khalil Mack has been the highest graded edge defender in the NFL so far this season. pic.twitter.com/i2IPBPOlXx

— Pro Football Focus (@PFF) September 26, 2018

And he’s doing it while being triple-teamed:

Here’s Khalil Mack getting triple teamed… pic.twitter.com/2z4QoBEqtw

— Adam Hoge (@AdamHoge) September 25, 2018

The ability to generate pressure without relying on having to dial up the blitz has a lot to do with Mack, who was once again robbed of the NFC’s Defensive Player of the Week award. What does a guy have to do to get one of those around here? Mack might be the best defensive player in football and has performed like it in each of his first three games with the Bears, but doesn’t have any hardware to show for it. What gives? Makes you wonder if anyone has ever won a player of the year type of award without winning a weekly award.

I guess the only hardware that matters is the Lombardi Trophy, and I’m convinced Mack is the type who would rather have one of those than a Week 3 POTW award.

Not to be left out of the conversation, Akiem Hicks is doing monster things:

Akiem Hicks has 2 sacks, 2 TFL, 5 QB hits, and 2 forced fumbles.

How many yards have been gained/lost on each of his 10 tackles?
-10
1
-1
2
4
-1
1
2
-10
2

— Kevin Fishbain (@kfishbain) September 26, 2018

Hicks and safety Eddie Jackson were named to Pro Football Focus’ Team of the Week for their Week 3 performances. While Hicks’ dominance up front has been established since his arrival in 2016, Jackson is just starting to test his powers. The second-year Alabama product is growing into the type of playmaking safety the Bears lacked for some time before they used a fourth-round pick to take him. Jackson’s interception in the third quarter sparked the Bears’ comeback, and would have come up with a game-clinching pick-six had it not been for Mack’s offsides penalty on the Cardinals’ final drive. (Alright, so Mack’s not perfect … but he’s close enough).

On the other side of the ball, the Bears will continue to try and get the running game going. Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times notes that 14 of Jordan Howard’s 24 carries went for two yards or less against the Cardinals. That’s not enough positive action out of the backfield to get that aspect of the game going, and it’s definitely not enough to create a potential threat via play action. Arizona lived up to its billing as a top rush defense in Week 3, but Chicago will need to get off the bus running moving forward in order to open up the offense.

Chris Bocker of Da Bears Brothers Blog asks for patience as the offense collectively tries to get moving in the right direction. We have previously discussed the Bears’ rebuild as a whole using the metaphor of a slow-moving, wide-turning big-rig truck making a right turn. You know it’s eventually going to get where it wants, it’s just going to take some time. That’s how I feel about the Bears’ offense. You see all the pieces in front of you, and you know where they’re going, it’s just that they have a ways to go before they turn that very real metaphorical corner.

Looking for a future MVP? Just know that Patrick Mahomes has already overtaken Aaron Rodgers if you’re browsing the online sportsbooks:

Updated odds to win NFL MVP (@betonline_ag):

Mahomes +300
Rodgers +500
Brees +650
Gurley +750
Brady +1200
Wentz +2000
Goff +2200
Ryan +2500
Kamara/Newton +3300
Cousins/Rivers +3300
Wilson +3300
Roethlisberger +4000
Luck/Mayfield +5000
Watson/Hill +5000

— OddsShark (@OddsShark) September 25, 2018

This list needs more Mack, but I think we’ll get to that later. *suggestive eyebrow raise*

written by

Luis C. Medina

Luis C. Medina, who you can find on Twitter at lcm1986, has been covering the Chicago Bears at Bleacher Nation since 2017. Since then, he has written about 3 head coaches, 5 play-callers, and 11 starting quarterbacks. Previously, Luis wrote about the Cubs and MLB at BN (2015-16) and worked in the Chicago Tribune sports department (2011-16). He also co-hosted a Cubs postgame show, Outside the Ivy, in 2019.

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