Chicago Bears: 5 X-factor players for Week 4 vs. Colts

4. Bilal Nichols needs to stop the run

While the Bears’ defense has come up big when it mattered, it’s their rush defense that has had problems. They rank in the top ten in passing touchdowns allowed (1st), interceptions (7), and average yards per completion (6th). However, they rank 20th in rushing touchdowns allowed and 26th in yards per rush allowed.

The Bears need to clean that up. Eddie Goldman isn’t going to walk through the doors of Halas Hall (at least not in 2020). They need to get back to their run-stuffing ways. To do that, Bilal Nichols needs to step up.

Nichols replaced Goldman as the nose tackle. He bulked up and said he was ready to step up on the line, but it hasn’t happened yet. Each of the starting running backs against the Bears in the first three weeks have had their best rushing games. Even Saquon Barkley, who left early in the second quarter due to a torn ACL, already had 28 yards on just four carries before going down. He was on his way to a big game.

I know Nichols is still in the learning stage at this point, but he needs to get better fast. Opposing running backs are gashing the Bears and that makes it more difficult for the defense to continue its fine pass defense.

Nichols could be playing for his position this week. Damon Harrison, aka “Snacks”, is making visits to teams interested in him. He wants to play and will show those teams that he’s ready to go. He’s shown some interest in Chicago, so if Nichols still has his troubles, the Bears have to think about making a move. Hopefully, Nichols has a great game and that gets him going for the rest of the season.