The NFL season is an evolving state of affairs, and week 10 finds your 5-3 Chicago Bears on the verge of making a run and solidifying their playoff chances. This week’s battle against an NFC foe will be
huge for playoff standings at the end of the year.
In this weekly series, I’ll be featuring one player from each team on each side of the ball who I believe to be integral to their respective team’s success. It’s not always about the quarterback or superstar defensive players like Myles Garrett and Brian Burns. Importance is all relative, and while the “star” players are obviously important each week, this series will also highlight some of the other guys.
Because let’s face it, often, the unsung players are just as critical to the team’s success.
Here are the players that I will be keyed in on in this one.
Let’s get started with the Chicago Bears!
Offense: Theo Benedet, LT
The “Canadian Eagle” settled back into his groove last week against the Bengals, helping Chicago accumulate nearly 600 yards of total offense en route to a 47-42 victory. Granted, the Bengals Defense is bottom 5 in sacks, bottom 3rd in passing yards allowed and dead last in rushing yards allowed.
The Giants will pose a different sort of challenge. Though they are middle-of-the-pack in terms of sacks as a defense, more than half of their 21 total sacks have come from one player: Brian Burns. Burns has 11 total sacks on the season and has proven to be an elite edge rusher that opposing offenses need to gameplan around. Add that to the fact that the Giants also have two former first round edges on the roster in Kayvon Thibodeaux and Abdul Carter and both Theo and RT Darnell Wright will have their work cut out for them this week.
Don’t be surprised if behemoth DT Dexter Lawrence II lines up outside on occasion over top of Benedet to mix things up. How Theo handles the heat and holds the pocket for Caleb Williams will be key this week and Chicago’s offense will go as far as he will allow them to. If he falters, it could be a game similar to week 4 when Maxx Crosby single-handedly won the game for the Raiders. Burns is having an even better season than Maxx. And he has high-quality surrounding talent.
Defense: Tremaine Edmunds, LB
This season, the Bears have faced 3 QBs with an above-average ability to scramble, much like their opponent does this week in Jaxson Dart. In week 1, they faced the Minnesota Vikings with J.J. McCarthy. In week 6 they were on the road against the Washington Commanders with Jayden Daniels and in week 8 they played the Baltimore Ravens with Tyler Huntley. The Bears went 1-2 in those games and won the only game in which Edmunds had more than 7 total tackles.
With Dart averaging 8 rushing attempts per game (McCarthy averages 5; Daniels, 9), Edmunds and the Bears’ defense must be ready to contain the 1st rounder out of Ole Miss. With Malik Nabers and Cam Skattebo both on IR, Dart has more pressure to carry the offense and has stepped up to the plate, infusing Giants fans with reason to believe they have their QB. In his 6 starts, Dart has run for 5 TDs and thrown for 10 while only throwing 3 INT and fumbling twice. If Edmunds can contain the athletic rookie, Chicago should have no problem stopping the New York offense. If Dart continues to impress, this one could also come down to the wire.
New York Giants
Offense: Tyrone Tracy Jr., RB
The forgotten man on the Giants’ offense, Tracy finds himself with another prime opportunity to prove his value to the team. As a rookie a season ago, the former Purdue Boilermaker Wide Receiver surprised everyone when he got a chance to start due to injury and then proceeded to rack up 1,123 yards (839 rushing) and 6 TDs (5 rushing) with a 4.4 yards per carry average. Tracy is a threat in both the run and passing games and is another wrinkle for the aforementioned Tremaine Edmunds to account for.
If the former WR/RB convert can help create some big plays for the Giants’ offense, then it will alleviate pressure from the rookie QB and give the G-Men a chance. If Tracy plays in a way that makes people long for more Skattebo, then Chicago should come away with the victory handily.
Defense: Dexter Lawrence II, DT
Despite Brian Burns leading the entire league in stats, there may not be a more important person on the entire Giants team than Dexter Lawrence II. “Sexy Dexy,” as they call him, is a space eater, double-team commander, and pocket pusher with the best of them and has earned the ‘C’ on his jersey for a reason. With the elite edge rushers that the Giants have, the Bears will have to counter with a solid run game and quick passing game. While the new look Chicago offensive line has been paying dividends and looking like a bargain despite being one of the most expensive units in the league, they will have their hands full this week with arguably the best defensive line in the league (according to Ben Johnson) and it will be a great opportunity to earn their keep. If Dalman, Thuney and Jackson can handle Lawrence in both the run and pass games, then Chicago should win.
What about you? Which players on both sides will you be keying on against the G-Men? Let us know in the comments!
Recap from Week 9:
Bears O – Kyle Monangai, RB: 26 carries for 176 yards(!).
Bears D – Austin Booker, DE: 2 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 QBH and 1 beautiful sack.
Cincy O – Ja’Marr Chase, WR: 6 catches for 111 yards.
Cincy D – Demetrius Knight, LB: 6 tackles, 2 solo.
Remember, there’s a near-zero chance of a Bears win when all four players perform in a way that favors the opponent. Here, we keep track of weeks past to see how things unfolded:
Week 1: Loveland, Jarrett, Mason, Metellus – Vikes owned 75% this week. Perhaps 100%. L
Week 2: Jackson, Edmunds, Gibbs, Branch – Again, we were owned in 75% this week, maybe 100%. L
Week 3: Moore, Dexter Sr., Pickens, Sanborn – Finally, we dominated in all phases. At least 75% in our favor. W
Week 4: Swift, Brisker, Jeanty, Chinn – I’d say we went 2-2 here and barely squeaked away with the win. W
Week 6: Benedet, Spidey, Deebo, Payne – Split at a minimum but I say 75% in our favor. W
Week 7: Burden, Byard, Shaheed, Werner – Easily secured 3/4 of these for the win that was not as close as score would indicate. W
Week 8: Loveland, Billings, Henry, Roquan – 0/4 – L
Week 9: Monangai, Booker, Chase, Knight – 3/4 , arguably all 4 if you consider Chase’s numbers. – W
Earlier this week, we asked you guys to give us your most important Bear for the Giants game, and you went with defensive end Montez Sweat.
Sweat has really started to come on with a sack in each of the last three games, and the Bears will definitely need him to keep it up this week. New York’s starting right tackle, Jermaine Eluemunor, is questionable with a pectoral injury. He missed last week’s game, was held out of Wednesday’s practice, and was limited on Thursday and Friday. If he’s less than 100%, Sweat needs to take advantage.
Let’s see if your vote for Sweat and wideout Rome Odunze end up playing a bigger factor than my selections this week!
