Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
5. Milestones
Matt Forte is 13 rushing yards short of a 1000 yard season and his 94 receptions are just 8 shy of Larry Centers’ all-time record for catches by a running back. Forte will likely miss getting a 1000/1000 rushing receiving season, needing over 240 receiving yards to set that mark.
Martellus Bennett enters Week 17 ranked among the top tight ends in the league, tied for 1st in receptions (82), 3rd for yards (857) and 6th in TD’s (6). Each catch sets a new single season Chicago Bears mark for tight ends, with Bennett beating Mike Ditka’s mark of 75 receptions in a season. Getting to 1000 yards receiving would be a stretch, needing 143 yards, but in garbage time of a garbage time game you never know what could happen.
Each tackle that Shea McClellin makes will add to his career high for a season and the next sack he gets will double his total for the season from 1 to 2. OK, now I’m just getting mean, but you know that the wonks at Halas Hall will no doubt mention that McClellin set a career high in tackles in his first season as a linebacker. But wasn’t he supposed to be a pass rushing specialist?
Last milestone… Jay Cutler is just four turnovers away from setting his all time career mark. He’s 8 off on single season interceptions (26) but his 18 picks and 6 fumbles lost this season put him in a position to break his all time giveaway mark of 27.