Chicago Bears: Week three awards after ugly win in Arizona

Usual suspect of the week: Khalil Mack

Once again, superstar linebacker Khalil Mack showed that he was worth the two first-round picks the Bears gave up to acquire him just weeks ago. He exploded in this game, making his presence known early for the third straight week. Mack finished the day with five tackles, two sacks, and a forced fumble that the Bears recovered.

https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1043998918508404737

Mack has looked unblockable all season, and Sunday’s game was no different. Mack was consistently hurrying Cardinals quarterback Sam Bradford and forced a key fumble when the Cardinals were driving deep in Bears territory during the fourth quarter.

It’s been a while since the Bears have had a Defensive Player of the Year candidate, and Mack may very well be the favorite for that award this year if he stays healthy. I called Mack “The usual suspect” this week because it seems that no matter how much a team tries to slow Mack down and double-team him, he finds a way to make plays. It’s very fun to watch.

Just look at this comparison below between Mack’s stats and the stats of the entire Oakland Raiders defense through three weeks. The Raiders claimed they didn’t want to pay Mack what he was asking, but it seems as if they really could use some pass rush pressure now. The Bears locked up Mack for six years and will reap the rewards of his game-changing skills.

Mack has a forced fumble and a sack in each of his first three games this season. Who was the last player in the NFL to have a forced fumble and a sack three weeks in a row? Glad you asked because it was also Khalil Mack, in 2016 with the Raiders.