Week 11 Game Ball: Jared Allen

Nov 16, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears defensive end Jared Allen (69) after he sacks Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) in the second quarter of their game at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports
Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears Final Score 13 -21

Finally a win by the Chicago Bears! It wasn’t pretty but considering the blowouts the Bears suffered in the last two games; this was a much needed win. It was the best team effort we have seen from them in a while. The defense made stops, and the offense put up points. The standout player this week was Jared Allen. The former Viking turned Bear showed up big this week after being missing in action the first nine games. Maybe, it was the hype of playing his old team or the backlash he has received recently in the media that sparked a fire in Allen, either way he played well. He looked like his old self, the defensive player we had come to love over the years by wreaking havoc for offensive linemen and his relentless pursuit of the quarterback.

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Coming into week 11 Allen’s numbers didn’t look stellar by any means, he had only recorded 1.5 sacks on the season. After the beating that Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers put on the Bears defense in weeks eight and ten, fans wondered if Allen was a waste of salary cap space. However, this week Allen stopped some of the negative talks with his play. He finished the game with five tackles and one sack. Allen made rookie quarterback Teddy Bridgewater uncomfortable all game, causing him to release the ball early and not allowing him to make plays outside the pocket. Allen and the Bears were able to hold the Vikings to only 243 yards of total offense and they allowed just one touchdown. This was a vast improvement from the 451 yards and six touchdowns they gave up last week. Hopefully, Allen can continue to be a productive leader on defense because the Bears will need it, as the latter part of the season approaches.

Bear Down!