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

3. Robert Quinn must keep up with Mack and help him

Edge rusher Robert Quinn missed the first game of the season with an ankle injury. He started Week 2 and made his presence known right away. On the first drive, he got a sack and forced a fumble that Khalil Mack recovered. Last week, however, he was mostly quiet.

Quinn needs to put pressure on the opposing backfields. Mack had trouble last season because Leonard Floyd, the previous edge rusher before Quinn, was ineffective in attracting attention away from Mack, allowing him to get to the quarterback. The Bears let Floyd walk and signed the former All-Pro Quinn.

The injury has slowed Quinn up a little, but his presence is helping Mack. Mack has just 1.5 sacks, but he is pressuring the quarterback to no end. He has 10 pressures on the quarterback so far this season. That pressure is helping cause opposing quarterbacks to make mistakes. Down the stretch of the three victories, the pressure caused big sacks and big turnovers.

Quinn needs to do his part in applying pressure. Mack is playing great, and Quinn needs to do his part in helping him. If Quinn starts putting on similar pressure that Mack and Akiem Hicks (3.5 sacks) have, then those pressures Mack is getting turn into sacks. With the “Three Amigos” doing their thing, Quinn will certainly see his fair share of sack opportunities. It’ll also help the secondary play even better than it has so far.