Chicago Bears: 5 Players to watch in Week 15 vs. Green Bay Packers

Khalil Mack looks to finish off the Packers

Khalil Mack’s coming out party happened against the Packers. In that game, just a week after the Chicago Bears acquired him from the Oakland Raiders, Mack looked like he was in midseason form. He had 3 tackles, a sack, an interception run back for a touchdown, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. Most of that damage happened in the first half alone.

What occurred in the second half of the game was what haunts the Bears. Mack only had a handful of practices so he wasn’t in great football shape. The coaching staff had him on a “pitch count” and kept him out of a few plays, some of them in key situations.

The result was that, late in the game, he was gassed and could not get to Rodgers the way he did earlier. On a number of occasions, he came dangerously close to coming up with a sack, only to watch Rodgers complete big play after big play.

Mack wants to show the Packers that this time he is in better shape. There will be no snap count to keep him back, and he will be able to finish off plays. He has his eyes set on the playoffs and winning the division gets him at least one home playoff game. Mack has been sensational for the Bears this season. He completely changed the conversation in the NFC North. His play uplifted his teammates and made them step up their game.

Even when Mack wasn’t in on a play, he was influencing the outcome. Against the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving, he went out on the running back who was the target for Matthew Stafford. That forced Stafford to look elsewhere, and he ended up throwing an interception that practically sealed the game.

Mack will do the same thing against the Packers. I think Leonard Floyd, Akiem Hicks, and Roquan Smith will be benefactors of Mack’s presence. Mack will attract a lot of attention (the Rams at one point triple teamed him), which frees up other players. The three players I mentioned will get the glory, but Mack is the one who’ll wreak havoc.