The Chicago Bears have slowly become the biggest surprise in the NFL this season, off to a 9-3 start and in first place in the NFC.
They are coming off a statement win over the Philadelphia Eagles and got to witness the Carolina Panthers knock off the Los Angeles Rams to become the NFC's number one seed. Things have been looking up for one of the NFL's hottest teams with wins in nine of the last 10 games.
During the "Mully and Haugh Show" on 670 The Score, Mike Mulligan shared his thoughts on the Bears and named his biggest surprise player on the team: rookie seventh-round pick Kyle Monangai.
"Maybe the most surprising guy on the team is Kyle Monangai. The very fact that he is suddenly emerging and the only rookie to put together a couple of 100-yard games . You know what's amazing about him is this idea that he last fumbled in high school. I'm just saying. Here's a guy, and you talk to people who were in the Big Ten or followed the Big Ten and they would tell you that to make sure if you are playing against this guy that you got every pad on and you're buckled up. He's been like that his whole college career and that was a hell of a pick. I got to say. He's been really, really good and maybe better than any of the rookies. That sounds crazy, but that's how good he has been as they've gotten better."
Monangai has dominated over the last two months in the backfield
It took a little bit of time for Monangai to get some carries in this offense, but after his 81-yard and one touchdown game against the New Orleans Saints, he has more than earned more carries. His best game of the year came against the Cincinnati Bengals when he ran for 176 yards on 26 attempts.
He recorded his second 100-yard game against the Eagles as he led the way with 130 yards on 22 carries and a touchdown. His teammate, D'Andre Swift, had 125 yards and a touchdown in the game.
Monangai has scored touchdowns in four straight games and in five of the last seven. He's also had 10 or more carries in five of the previous seven contests. For the season, he has 591 rushing yards and five touchdowns, averaging 4.9 yards per carry.
While he's known as more of a downhill runner compared to Swift, who's more of a speed back, Monangai has shown more than just lowering the shoulder. Once he gets into the open field, not many defensive backs can stop Monangai.
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Who could have thought a seventh-round pick would end up being one of the best rookies in the NFL? The Bears certainly hit a home run with him in the lineup.