Sep 22, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Chicago Bears tight end Martellus Bennett (83) runs after a pass reception against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the fourth quarter at Heinz Field. The Bears won 40-23. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
3. Martellus Bennett
You have to be excited about Bennett! After struggling at the tight end position after letting Greg Olsen leave for the Carolina’s the Bears have a tight end that can make plays! Last year Kellen Davis played in all 16 games catching 19 balls for 225 yards and 2 touchdowns, this of course doesn’t add up all the yards and catches he would have had if not for all the dropped passes! Bennett already has 31 catches for 349 yards and 3 touchdowns including the game winner against the Minnesota Vikings. Bennett has made several catches that Davis wouldn’t have even got to let alone bring down. Bennett makes plays to get open and he makes plays with the ball in his hands. The emergence of Jeffery has helped Marshall, but so has the signing and tremendous play of Bennett.
If Bennett can stay healthy and on the playing field week in and week out, this Bears offense will continue to get better under Marc Trestman and really hit its stride in the coming weeks!
2. The Defense Keeps Scoring
If I was making a list of things to be most worried about, the defense giving up huge chunks of yardage would be #1, but the flip side is they continue to score points as a unit. Even though Lovie Smith is long gone the defense has still forced 8 fumbles picked off 9 passes and scored 4 touchdowns. The fact that injuries have depleted the middle of the defensive line is troubling, and even without Peanut in the lineup against the Giants the Bears still had a pick 6.
Stephen Paea isn’t an instant solution, but with him back from injury and if Julius Peppers ever shows up this season, this defense may not be the Monsters of the Midway we have grown up to know and love, but they can still turn the ball over and put points on the scoreboard with or without Lovie on the sidelines.