The Bears might have just found the boost they need for a playoff push

RC Nazemi

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The Bears might have just found the boost they need for a playoff push image

The Chicago Bears are currently 6-3, tied for the division lead with Detroit, and, for the first time in a number of years, have a legitimate path to a playoff berth. It is a good time to be a Bears fan. 

The team has looked stellar, thanks in part to a complete culture overhaul by Ben Johnson and a rejuvenated, modern NFL offense that some Bears fans never thought they’d see. Yet here they are. 

More: The Ben Johnson effect paying instant dividends in Chicago

If the team can continue doing what they’ve been doing, there’s no reason to believe a wildcard spot is out of reach. The back-half of Chicago’s season, however, will be an unforgiving gauntlet. 

Chicago Bears remaining schedule

Bears @ Vikings    11/16
Bears vs Steelers    11/23
Bears @ Eagles    11/28
Bears @ Packers     12/7
Bears vs Browns    12/14
Bears vs Packers     12/20
Bears @ 49ers    12/28
Bears vs Lions      1/4

 

With many of their remaining games coming against divisional opponents and some of the best teams in their conference, it won’t be easy to punch their ticket.

Many of these teams bringing a high level of quarterback play to the table does not mesh well with Chicago’s poor passing defense. While yes, the Bears defense currently leads the NFL in interceptions, you can not afford to be a 'bend but not break’ style defense against top opponents.

Their bottom-seven rankings in opponent completion percentage (69.7%), passing TDs allowed (20), and yards per game allowed (240.3) will surely rear their ugly heads eventually. Thankfully help is here. 

Austin Booker is back 

The Bears talented second-year edge rusher Austin Booker has missed most of the season due to a knee injury he sustained against the Buffalo Bills their Week 2 preseason game. Before that point, Booker looked near unstoppable. 

In the team’s first preseason game against the Miami Dolphins, he totalled three sacks, and followed that up against Buffalo with two tackles, one sack, and another QB hit. It was a devestating blow to know he’d miss so much time. 

Since coming back, the young man has been on a tear like he never left. In his first game back in a thriller against the Cincinatti Bengals, Booker showed out. 

The ferocious edge rusher racked up two solo tackles, a sack, and a QB hit while tallying the defense’s highest PFF grade with a 90.0. He followed that up this past week with yet another standout performance. 

He led the team with a whopping five quarterback pressures to go along with four total tackles, and three QB hits. 

If the Bears can get this consistent pressure on one edge with the fantastic play of Montez Sweat coming from the other side, Chicago could find themselves with one of the more lethal pass rushes in the league. 

 

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Editorial Team