The Chicago Bears defense is loaded with talent. A collective group of players that, together, make up one of the NFL’s most dominant units.
The Bears defense ranked at or near the top of most categories of significance, including first in points allowed (17.7), takeaways (36), rushing yards per game (80.0), rushing touchdowns (5) and big plays (67).
When discussing triplets in the NFL, it’s the offensive triplets that garner the most interest. But the same concept applies to the defensive side of the football, which Bucky Brooks of NFL.com explored.
Brooks ranked the best defensive triplets in the NFL and had the Bears’ Big 3 — Akiem Hicks, Khalil Mack and Eddie Jackson — as the third-best in the league.
Here’s what Brooks had to say about the Bears’ defensive triplets:
3) DL Akiem Hicks, LB Khalil Mack and S Eddie Jackson, Chicago Bears
Credit Chicago general manager Ryan Pace for going all in to acquire a dominant edge player who elevates the defense to elite status. Mack crushed opponents with his “bull in a china shop” playing style and dominant rush skills. In his first year with the Bears, Mack piled up 12.5 sacks, six forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and a pick-six as the unit’s designated playmaker. Hicks is Mack’s Pro Bowl sidekick, with seven-plus sacks in each of the past three seasons. He is the perfect complement to Mack, as a destructive interior rusher with outstanding hands and combat skills. Jackson is a ball magnet in the secondary with superb instincts, awareness and range. He has eight interceptions in his first two NFL seasons, with three pick-sixes and a pair of scoop-and-score touchdowns.
When choosing defensive triplets, there are multiple combinations you could make on this Bears defense and still have a top five grouping. But there’s no denying the impact that Mack, Jackson and Hicks have had on this defense. Their production speaks for itself.
You could make the argument that the Bears’ triplets deserve top-billing. The only two units that topped the Bears on Brooks’ list were the Chargers’ Joey Bosa, Melvin Ingram and Derwin James (No. 1) and the Cowboys’ DeMarcus Lawrence, Jaylon Smith and Leighton Vander Esch (No. 2).
