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A year ago, at Thanksgiving, the Bears were preparing for seismic change within the organization with boredom and frustration, a Sunday match as much as a conservative game plan.
A year later, almost nothing about the staid franchise does not seem familiar or familiar, not with flamboyant players such as rookie Anthony Miller choreographing elaborate touchdown celebrations and a young fashion coach Matt Nagy winking a blink of an eye. Look at his kick before an attempt on the court.
Winning is fun and these Bears have tons, by design rather than by accident, enjoying gatherings in the pocket game for bags and post-game dance nights in the locker room that include the game. Strobe lighting and music – aka Dub Club.
If the Bears made a statement with a 25-20 win in the first Sunday night game at Soldier Field since 2012, it's because they have not finished speaking yet. First, they must stop laughing. Finally, their defense allows them to say what they want.
As the rest of the NFL becomes a league of seven-on-seven passes imitating Arena Football fouls, the Bears live and die on the other side of the ball. As such, these bears continue to be intimidated to the extent of their defensive execution, relics of a bygone era celebrated by so many references in 1985. Yes, it was good to see Samurai Mike Singletary look at again the camera with his hypnotic eyes. Thank you, NBC. Now, why not try Khalil Mack Cam before your return on December 9th?
Against the Vikings, the 2018 Bears announced in America that even though the NFC playoffs would not necessarily take place in Chicago, the opposing quarter will have to go through Mack and Akiem Hicks, who has had his best year as an athlete. . Nothing better travels in series after a fierce pass.
With Mack striker from outside and Hicks eliminating the blockers inside, the pocket has collapsed and the Vikings quarterback, Kirk Cousins, seemed more agitated than any other quarterback veteran of $ 86 million over seven years.
The extra attention given to Mack and Hicks was beneficial for the nose tackle Eddie Goldman and linebacker Leonard Floyd, who disrupted more than his figures suggest. Linebackers Danny Trevathan and Roquan Smith flew with their usual abandon.
Kicker Cody Parkey provided a stellar 48-yard goal on the television at the end of the fourth quarter, but Bears' top-seven ability to dominate the line of scrimmage dictated the final rebound.
The cousins left too many yards on the field when he chose to throw by force instead of running. When cousins launch, it often appears hasty and offbeat. Cousins seemed less comfortable, the more the defensive backs of the Bears gained confidence.
Security Eddie Jackson, playing at the Pro Bowl level, can take more chances in the pass because he knows the quarterback of each quarterback stronger than ever against his defense. The same goes for the aggression of cornerbacks Prince Amukamara and Kyle Fuller. Not to mention that Nagy's confidence in his defense allows him to be the kind of risk-averse coach, like trying two-point conversions.
This defense has enough potential – and panache – to be as special as any other city since 2006, when the Bears won the NFC Championship, capable of providing the formula they can use for a playoff race. That's what makes the Bears the most dangerous and a team that nobody wants to play in January.
Playoff games rely more on defense than on the regular season. The field shortens, the hidden quotes are more important. Take away turn the tides. When the Bears' defense inflicts damage at the same rate it did against the Vikings – a team as skillful as any other playoff team -, quarterback Mitch Trubisky's burden is lightened.
This has always been the most overlooked aspect of Mack's acquisition in September: Trubisky does not have to be the reason the Bears win, but it can not be the reason they lose.
In the biggest game of his NFL career, Trubisky was outnumbered by completing 20 of 31 passes for 165 yards, one touchdown and two bad interceptions for a pass score of 61.9. He launched an interception in a triple cover and nearly suffered a choice of six when cornerback Xavier Rhodes skipped a road. The Bears won anyway. Trubisky persevered. He breathed confidence and showed moxie, wounding the Vikings more with his legs than his arm. He won the match, which is not trivial in the evolution of a young quarterback.
What the Vikings have beaten has confirmed that if Trubisky is just good, the Bears can still be great. Reinforcing this reality during the 11th week forces everyone to redefine the expectations of the Nagy team. In 365 days, the Bears went from worst to first in the division, going from a 3-7 score after the fact to a 7-3 candidate.
Instead of debating the opportunity to fire the general manager at the same time as the coach, we are now discussing what is most fun: the offensive or the defense of the Bears? The NFL Hazmat crew cleaned up Halas Hall. The air is fresh, the culture has already changed.
"We think we can play with anyone in this league," said Nagy.
That's because the Bears can. This is the new standard to which everyone should conform. Like the 2008-09 Blackhawks and the 2015 Cubs, these Bears have gained legitimacy ahead of the season. That does not mean the Bears will beat the Saints and Rams on the way to the Super Bowl, but no one dares to take that opportunity.
With six games left, the Bears should be grateful to have a playoff start. What a difference a year makes.
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