Why Chicago Bears’ Robert Quinn will break the sack record against Giants

When general manager Ryan Pace signed Robert Quinn to a 5-year contract worth $70 million in the offseason of 2020, Chicago Bears fans weren’t exactly thrilled.

This was the offseason where we saw Tom Brady go to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, DeAndre Hopkins get traded to the Arizona Cardinals and anticipated that the Bears would do something big at quarterback.

Instead, Pace took a wad of cash and threw it at a position where the Bears didn’t necessarily need to spend. Already boasting Khalil Mack and some good pieces on defense, Pace didn’t have to write that check to Quinn.

But he did — and maybe he was right to do so in the end. As it sits, with two games to go in the 2021 season, Quinn is one more sack away from making franchise history, and he could do it on Sunday against the New York Giants.

Robert Quinn is set to make franchise history against the New York Giants.

The Bears host the Giants in Week 17, who are also playing for nothing more than pride at this point. It will be a relatively meaningless game, unless your name is Robert Quinn — Pro Bowler Robert Quinn, that is.

Quinn came up with his 17th sack on the year in a win over Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks, and needs just one more to become the Bears’ franchise-record holder for sacks in a season.

Originally, this prestigious record was made back in 1985 by Hall of Fame defensive lineman Richard Dent, who finished with 17.0 sacks that year.

It would only be right for Quinn to get his 18th in the same amount of games before going onto the team’s 17th game to try and break the record. Fortunately, the Giants look like a juicy matchup for Quinn and the Bears’ pass rush.

New York has allowed 31 sacks to their quarterbacks this season, which is right around the middle of the pack.

But, Giants quarterbacks have also combined for the league’s third-worst rating overall at 73.9, per Statmuse. Those quarterbacks, by the way, include Mike Glennon and Jake Fromm, who have replaced an injured Daniel Jones as of late.

Fromm went just 6-for-17 Sunday against the Eagles, and was benched in favor of Glennon, whom the Giants were trying to get away from after he tossed three picks a week ago.

The moral of the story is, the Giants’ passing situation isn’t exactly a positive one.

Believe it or not, the Bears are tied for third in the NFL with 42.0 sacks as a team. During a year that hasn’t lived up to even the lightest expectations, this is one highlight to hang their hats on.

This could be a bloodbath for New York, whose offensive line was recently ranked 28th in the league by Pro Football Focus.

Quinn is setting out for history to be made on one of the most historically-respected franchises, especially on the defensive side of the ball. You kind of get the feeling he’s going to get it done, don’t you?