The Chicago Bears defense was the reason this team managed to reach 8-8 at all. If they hadn't managed to finish 5th in points allowed, there is no way this team would've avoided a losing season. Much of this was thanks to a great deal of timely big plays in key moments. While there weren't as many splash plays as 2018, people need to give this unit far more credit for what they accomplished. The question is who made the best play of the year? One would think Khalil Mack, Roquan Smith, or Kyle Fuller come to mind. However, that honor was reserved for Nick Kwiatkoski.
Bears analyst and former guard Tom Thayer went back through the season to uncover his choices for the top plays of the year on defense. There were plenty of great choices. Fuller's incredible tackle to prevent a touchdown at the goal line by Detroit. Mack beating a triple team to sack Kirk Cousins. However, his favorite turned out to be a blitz by Kwiatkoski. One that saw him destroy running back Dalvin Cook, forcing Cousins to abandon the pocket and arrive into the waiting arms of Nick Williams.
Nick Kwiatkoski has positioned himself for a payday
Timing is everything in the NFL. No player on the Bears roster picked a better time to play his best football than Kwiatkoski. After three years as a primary backup, the former 4th round pick was forced into the starting lineup when Danny Trevathan went down for the year with an elbow injury. Kwiatkoski stepped up with 58 tackles, two sacks, and an interception in just eight games. Excellent numbers from every angle.
It's put the Bears in an interesting position. Do they keep Trevathan who is a team leader but also approaching 30-years old? Or do they go with the younger and more durable Kwiatkoski who appears to be trending up in his career? Though one must caution that he's done this in a contract year, something that tends to produce a false positive in terms of play on the field with a lot of players.
GM Ryan Pace has a tough decision with that one.
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