By now, many Chicago Bears fans have been able to see, read, or hear about Dayo Odeyingbo's sudden re-emergence in the team's second preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals last weekend.
Coming up with back-to-back pressures is about as big a win for Odeyingbo as he could have asked for. After going down with a season-ending injury halfway through last season (a season where he had just a single sack in eight games), Odeyingbo had essentially been written off by much of the fan base.
Now, going into his final preseason appearance against the Tennessee Titans, Odeyingbo has a chance to keep the good vibes going. And if he does, he might also help spread even more doubts or concerns around one key Titans player.
In a chat with FanSided's Titans expert, Justin Melo over at Titan Sized, he mentioned one specific Titans player he and the fan base want to see a strong performance out of against the Bears. He didn't hesitate to name quarterback Cam Ward.
"It has to be QB Cam Ward. He's been subpar at best through two preseason games, leading to some questions and concerns. A strong performance heading into Week 1 would ease minds."
Dayo Odeyingbo could raise his stock while forcing Cam Ward's to dip further
This sets the stage for what could be a statement game for Odeyingbo. It sounds hilarious calling a preseason game a "statement" game, but that's what we could watch unfold.
Odeyingbo needs to keep his trajectory going upward. Ward, on the other hand, desperately needs to give Titans fans a little more hope.
Not to rub salt in the wounds of Titans fans, but if Odeyingbo can come up with another strong performance, that might just mean he puts Ward's status even more into question among Titans fans.
Odeyingbo has long had the reputation of being more of a pressure guy rather than accumulating sacks. That could wind up working out in his favor, too, in this one. Putting pressure on Ward regularly might just force the Titans' franchise quarterback into making some poor decisions or off-balance throws.
Bears fans don't necessarily need to see sacks as long as Odeyingbo is getting after the quarterback. That's what needs to happen.
In contrast, Ward needs to perform well. It's as simple as that. Maybe both can be true. But Bears fans are certainly hoping for a world where Odeyingbo puts more doubt around Ward.
Odeyingbo coming away from this one as a winner would completely turn the tables on how he's been viewed for the better part of the last calendar year. Imagine two positive games in a row from what some fans have already labeled as a "failed signing" from Ryan Poles.
Another couple of pressures would officially get the hype train gassed up. A sack would potentially cause the fan base to pull a full 180.
Read more: Bears set to see an old friend who's turned the Titans into believers
And it couldn't come at a better time, either, with the Bears still needing help in that position group.
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