Bears vs Saints: Top 5 Bears Who Need to Step Up vs Saints

Aug 24, 2012; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Chicago Bears helmets during the second half against the New York Giants at Metlife Stadium. The Bears won the game 20-17 Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

The Bears will have their hands full on Sunday with a tough New Orleans Saints team coming to town.  Here are my Top 5 Bears who need to step up and have a big game to help them get a win.

5. Nick Collins

Stephen Paea is questionable with a toe injury and Henry Melton is out for the season with a torn ACL.  The defensive line has been downright bad this season, and Collins is the only healthy DT in the rotation.  He needs to step up his game as the 3-technique and try to collapse the interior of the pocket.

Sep 29, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; Chicago Bears wide receiver Devin Hester (23) returns the ball during the first quarter against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

4. Devin Hester

The special teams have under-performed this season and Hester has been MIA since his big game against the Vikings a couple of weeks ago.  In a game when the Bears will need a lot of points to keep up with the Saints, Hester needs a big game.

3. Matt Forte

The Bears will try to play keep away with the Saints by grinding out long drives and that starts with Forte.  He’d love nothing better than to have a big game against his local team.  The Saints defense is much improved, but one area of weakness is their run defense, ranked 22nd in the league.  That’s an area the Bears need to exploit.

Forte showed the type of explosiveness the Bears would like to see out of him on a long 53-yard touchdown run last week against the Lions last week.  Besides the rushing attack, Forte will be a key in the passing game.  He’s among the Bears leaders in receptions and yards and with the Saints sure to be focusing on shutting down Brandon Marshall, Forte needs to step up to even a higher level.