The Hidden Reason the Chicago Bears Pass Rush is So Lethal

It's been a long time since the Chicago Bears pass rush was the scourge of the NFL. Not since the mid-1980s when Buddy Ryan's "46" unit was terrorizing quarterbacks every Sunday. Now, thanks to some impressive work by GM Ryan Pace and defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, that fear is starting to return. Through three weeks the Bears have the best pass rush in football. They have 14 sacks on the season, which leads the league. They have 66 pressures in total including an additional 10 hits. Quarterbacks feel their presence constantly even when they manage to avoid being taken down. The mastermind behind this mayhem is, of course, Khalil Mack. Chicago traded two 1st rounders and some later picks to Oakland in exchange for the 27-year old superstar. His impact has been immediate, drawing double and even triple teams at times. Yet all of this overshadows a key reason the Bears have been so good at this part of their job. The secret actually lay with the most underappreciated aspect of playing defense.

Chicago Bears pass rush starts with their ability to stop the run

Everything is connected when it comes to great defense. One facet feeds another. When it comes to rushing the quarterback, it's hard to do it consistently unless a team is able to stop the opponent from running the ball. Prior to this year, the Bears haven't had a top 10 run defense since 2012. Currently, they rank 2nd allowing just 65.3 yards per game. [video width="1280" height="720" mp4="https://www.sportsmockery.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Chicago-Bears-Defense-Highlights-vs-Cardinals-4-SACKS-4-TURNOVERS000118.557-000126.489.mp4"][/video] It's a simple process. Shut down the run. Once the opponent realizes they can't run, there's only one option left:  throw. That's when guys like Mack, Akiem Hicks, Leonard Floyd, Eddie Goldman, and Aaron Lynch are free to pin their ears back and get up the field. They know what's coming only have to think about one thing. Get the quarterback. The results speak for themselves. The Bears are the 5th overall defense in the NFL. Running on them isn't happening. Throwing on them is hazardous to a QB's health. There's aren't a ton of options in play. It's a wonderful feeling for fans who've been dying to see great defense back in Chicago.