The Bears have the defense to beat both the Rams and Saints

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While the rest of the NFL becomes a seven-on-seven passing league mimicking Arena Football offenses, the Bears live and die on the other side of the ball. In that way alone, these Bears remain throwbacks with intimidation that matches their execution defensively, relics from a bygone era celebrated by so many 1985 references. Yes, it was good to see Samurai Mike Singletary staring into the camera again with those mesmerizing eyes. Thank you, NBC. Now how about trying Khalil Mack Cam before you return Dec. 9?

Against the Vikings, the 2018 Bears announced to America that even if the NFC playoffs won’t necessarily go through Chicago, opposing quarterbacks will have to navigate their way past Mack and Akiem Hicks, who is having his best year as a Bear. Nothing travels in the postseason better than a fierce pass rush.

With Mack attacking from the outside and Hicks annihilating blockers inside, the pocket collapsed and Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins appeared more rattled than any seven-year, $86 million veteran quarterback should.

The extra attention paid Mack and Hicks benefited nose tackle Eddie Goldman and outside linebacker Leonard Floyd, who disrupted more than his numbers suggest. Inside linebackers Danny Trevathan and Roquan Smith flew around with their usual abandon.

Safety Eddie Jackson, playing at a Pro Bowl level, can take more chances in pass coverage because he knows the clock inside every quarterback’s head ticks louder than ever against his defense. The same goes for the aggressiveness of cornerbacks Prince Amukamara and Kyle Fuller. Not to mention how Nagy’s faith in his defense allows him to be the kind of bold coach who takes risks such as trying two-point conversions.

This defense possesses enough potential — and panache — to be as special as any in town since 2006, when the Bears won the NFC championship, capable of providing the formula they can use for a deep playoff run. It is what makes the Bears most dangerous and a team nobody wants to play in January.

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