Chicago Bears: Former champ sees 4 names in the Pro Bowl
By Erik Lambert
The Chicago Bears are one win away from claiming the division title and making the playoffs for the first time in eight years.
Something like that doesn’t happen without players playing great. This team has been shut out of the Pro Bowl for quite some time. Not surprising given how little they’ve won during the past four seasons. That is expected to change though with the 9-4 record they have to date. The only question on people’s minds is who will make the cut according to the voters.
There are plenty of names who deserve consideration but certain ones stand out more than others. Former All-Pro defensive end and three-time Super Bowl champion Willie McGinest formed what he believes to be the likely defensive roster for the Pro Bowl down in Orlando next year. It had some obvious names in the mix like Aaron Donald, J.J. Watt, and Von Miller. Where it stood out the most though is the fact that no fewer than four Bears names were on the list:
McGinest was impressed by the seasons all four men have had, but it sure felt like everything came together because of Mack.
"“Last summer, I wrote that Mack’s combination of speed and power is unrivaled, and his 2018 numbers (10 sacks, six forced fumbles, four passes defensed, one INT returned for a TD) support my argument. The Bears immediately fielded one of the best defenses in the league when they traded for Mack, and he’s elevated the play of those around him. A consistent game-wrecker, Mack has again made a legitimate case for Defensive Player of the Year, the award he won in 2016.”"
Chicago Bears offense won’t get the love but deserves praise too
Unsurprisingly, the NFL.com staff was less enthused about the Bears offense as nobody from that roster got a nod. This deserves some criticism because Tarik Cohen has been almost unstoppable all season long with over 1,000 yards of total offense and six touchdowns. Outside of him? It’s been too much inconsistency to convince voters to budge.
This shouldn’t be a surprise. The Bears offense is brand new in every respect. Matt Nagy’s system is in its first year. Allen Robinson, Anthony Miller, Taylor Gabriel, and Trey Burton are all new additions to the roster. Each has made valuable contributions to the team’s success but they haven’t done enough to get their trip to Florida.
Odds are those opportunities will come in time. The Bears defense was ready-made for success in 2018 and they’re earning every bit of it.