The Chicago Bears are on bye this week, having made it exactly halfway through their schedule. After eight games, their record stands at 3-5. But minus two throwaway games by former starting quarterback Mike Glennon, the Bears have been in every game they’ve played. In fact, minus those two throwaway games and their dominant win against the Carolina Panthers, each game on their tough first half schedule came down to the final drive. Imagine that!
Given that most “experts” thought the Bears would be lucky to win just one game in the first half, the fact that Chicago could easily be 5-3, but still is 3-5, is damn impressive. They’re more than headed in the right direction, and the final eight games, especially the development of rookie QB Mitch Trubisky, will be fascinating to watch.
That said, it’s time to hand out some hardware for the first half. Not all of the “winners” are winners. But say congrats!
Most Valuable Player: The Entire Defense
Yeah, I know, it’s a cop-out. But this defense could compete for a championship TODAY. Yes, today. And they’re missing three Opening Day starters. Given those facts, it’s hard to single anyone out on this unit. They deserve a collective award.
Akiem Hicks, Eddie Goldman, Leonard Floyd, and even Pernell McPhee have led a defensive front that could arguably be the best in the NFL. Kyle Fuller, Eddie Jackson, and the surprising Adrian Amos have led a revitalized, shutdown secondary that has finally flipped the script on creating turnovers and helped the front seven get after the quarterback even more. Christian Jones has filled in admirably for the injured Jerrell Freeman and Nick Kwiatkoski. And Danny Trevathan has been incredible in his comeback from his torn patellar tendon in almost record time.
The defense has carried a dreadful offense (thanks, John Fox and Dowell Loggains), and a stumbling special teams to three wins and put them in position to win three more. It’s time the Bears played complementary football. But until further notice, the defense is the real MVP.
Honorable mention: Jordan Howard
Least Valuable Player: Mike Glennon
I feel like this dead horse has been beaten enough. But just in case, the fact that he single-handedly threw away games against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Green Bay Packers, where both games were over in the first quarter alone, was enough to cement his spot on this list. The honorable mentions below have also done nothing to justify either their spot on the roster or salary. But Glennon was by far the biggest culprit. It’s unfortunate that it took until Week 5 to bench him, but I’m also thankful that it was still only Week 5 when they made the switch.
Dishonorable mention(s): Markus Wheaton, Tanner Gentry, Quintin Demps, Connor Barth
Offensive Player of the Half-Year: Jordan Howard
While this one is kind of by default considering the offense has sucked as a unit, Howard continues to prove he’s one of the best running backs in the NFL. The Bears are over-committed to the run, and opposing defenses know this. Howard faces eight and nine man boxes almost every play, and yet he’s still on pace to rush for over 1,300 yards! The predictable play-calling on offense has hurt his YPC numbers, but his stamina and ability to shoulder a heavy workload has been a godsend for this offense.
While his pass-catching abilities leave a lot to be desired, his value as a runner somehow continues to be underrated. In my Bears Mailbag column earlier this week, a fan asked if the Bears would trade him. My question is, why? Howard is a beast, and the unquestioned star on this offense as Trubisky continues to grow.
Honorable mention(s): Tarik Cohen, Zach Miller
Defensive Player of the Half-Year: Akiem Hicks
Again, it’s hard to give out an award to just one player on the defense, but I’ll be brave this time and give it to Akiem Hicks. Hicks is more than justifying the 4-year, $48 million extension he received earlier this year. He’s already notched seven sacks and has overall been a terror on the Bears’ defensive front. He’s the leader of the defense, somehow continues to get better every week, and might be the best defensive lineman in the league right now outside of Aaron Donald. He’s been that good. While he didn’t fit very well in the Saints’ 4-3 scheme, I’m amazed that the Patriots let him get away. The Bears are incredibly lucky to have him for the next four years.
Honorable mention(s): Kyle Fuller, Leonard Floyd, Eddie Goldman, Adrian Amos
Rookie of the Half-Year: Eddie Jackson
I’d have loved to give this award to Chicago’s rookie quarterback. But Trubisky hasn’t gotten there yet, mainly for reasons out of his control. So it was between Eddie Jackson and Tarik Cohen. Cohen took the league by storm in his first game against the Falcons, amassing over 140 total yards and a touchdown. Since then, he has displayed his electric playmaking ability from time to time, but his impact has reduced mainly because Loggains doesn’t know how to use him.
Then there’s Jackson, who took hold of a starting job at safety as a rookie, and broke out against the Carolina Panthers, returning two 75+ yard defensive touchdowns. He has played a solid “center field” for the Bears, and has formed a surprisingly deadly safety tandem with Adrian Amos. Given the the Bears’ glaring need at safety for years, and the fact that Chicago finally seems to have a good one in Jackson, I’ll take him at this point over Cohen for this award.
Honorable mention: Tarik Cohen
Comeback Player of the Half-Year: Kyle Fuller
This was a tough one. Trevathan is coming off a torn patellar tendon in essentially record time. The fact that he was ready for Week 1 is mind boggling, and the fact that he continues to fly around the football field at pre-injury speeds is incredible. He’s been a thumper, pass rusher, and leader at inside linebacker for the Bears.
But Fuller has essentially come back from the dead. Remember, last year, after getting a knee scope done in training camp, Fuller shockingly sat out the entire year. Vic Fangio even called Fuller out for not playing, and it was assumed that Fuller had played his last snap for the team. But he earned his job back in training camp and preseason, and he’s been an absolute force at cornerback this year. He’s played lockdown defense, often taking away the opposition’s best receiver all game. He’s playing confidently, playing fast, and playing incredibly well. The secondary has improved dramatically from a year ago, and Fuller’s resurgence is a massive reason why. Trevathan was expected to return to the team eventually; but Fuller’s status was completely uncertain. Talk about a comeback.
Honorable mention: Danny Trevathan
Best Moment of the Half-Year: Mitch Trubisky earns his first victory against the Ravens
The Bears have actually had a surprising number of good moments in the first half this year. That’s what happens when you match the previous season’s win total in the first eight games, I guess. But Trubisky’s triumph in Baltimore is the best moment of the season so far. No rookie QB had ever won in Baltimore in the John Harbaugh era, and Trubisky destroyed that “record” in overtime.
The game shouldn’t have even gotten to overtime — that’s how badly the Bears had dominated Joe Flacco and the Ravens. But alas, in OT, Trubisky made the third down throw that completely validated Pace’s belief in him. Third and long, not yet in field goal range, under pressure immediately, moved in the pocket and kept the eyes downfield, fired off balance and hit Kendall Wright where only Wright could be hit.
A throw that only Aaron Rodgers could make. Four plays later, Trubisky had his first NFL win. What a moment. Here’s to many more.
Honorable Mention(s): John Fox finally benches Mike Glennon, Jordan Howard’s overtime touchdown run to beat the Steelers
“C’mon, Man!” Moment of the Half-Year: Marcus Cooper fumbles at the 1-yard line
Glennon’s knee-fumble was the single-most Glennon-y play of his Bears tenure, and it occurred as Chicago was already being laughed out of Lambeau Field. It was hilariously upsetting, but it wasn’t close to Marcus Cooper’s gaffe.
We all remember this one, right? End of the first half against the Steelers, Sherrick McManis blocked a Chris Boswell field goal try, Cooper recovered it and ran it back, except he slowed down and got tackled at the 1-yard line. He fumbled, and the Steelers swatted it out of the back of the end zone. Chicago eventually kicked a field goal on an untimed down, but that idiocy cost the Bears four points — and they eventually had to go to overtime to claim their rightful victory.
This play is an example of the stupidity that John Fox-led teams continue to display. His teams play hard, but they do the dumbest things. That was just one of many examples, but also the worst.
*NOTE – The absurd, bullshit overturn of Zach Miller’s touchdown catch in New Orleans wasn’t eligible for this award because it wasn’t something the Bears did.
Dishonorable mention(s): Mike Glennon’s knee-fumble against the Packers, pretty much every other time Mike Glennon took a snap for the Bears
Second-Half Player to Watch: Mitch Trubisky
I mean, does this one really need an explanation? Everything about this season is about Trubisky’s development. He should have started the year behind center, but eventually got in five weeks late. Regardless, playoff contention or not, it’s all about Trubisky going forward. Ryan Pace’s job is forever tied to how Trubisky pans out. Watching him (hopefully) grow each game is the most important and exciting part of the second half. Anything else is gravy.
Honorable mention(s): Jonathan Bullard, Adam Shaheen, Dontrelle Inman
