(670 The Score) It might finally be happening.
After four years, several hundred million dollars and even more missed holding calls against star edge rusher Khalil Mack, the Bears may finally have the pass rush that general manager Ryan Pace has dreamed of. The Bears defense has lived near the quarterback in the first four games of the season, and after a strong performance (four sacks, seven quarterback hits) in a 24-14 win against the Lions on Sunday, the Bears now lead the NFL with 15 sacks.
"The defense being able to have them one-fo- five in the red zone, one-for-four goal-to-go, I think, or maybe it was one-for-three, get those stops, that's important," coach Matt Nagy said. "You're taking points off the board. When you play that way, you can win football games."
With all due respect to Mack, who's once again having a terrific season while fighting through injury, credit for Chicago's pass rushing resurgence goes first and foremost to edge rusher Robert Quinn. Widely criticized during an underwhelming 2020 season, Quinn has looked like one of the best pass rushers in football through the first four games. He currently leads the team in sacks (4.5), a number that ranks fifth in the NFL.
"I guess I'm just playing more consistently," Quinn said. "A good game, but I was talking to someone in the tunnel and told them, 'On to next week.' I guess being in the league so long, you learn that once the clock strikes zero, you move on to next week. It's a good start, but I've got to have an even better finish."
Quinn's sack Sunday couldn't have come at a better time for the Bears, who let the Lions (0-4) stick around longer than they'd like to admit. With just more than three minutes left in the first half, Detroit was down 14-0 but deep in the Chicago red zone. On third-and-goal from the Bears' 3-yard line, the Lions -- who would get the ball to start the second half -- dropped back to pass. Quinn got a great jump, bent himself around rookie left tackle Penei Sewell and knocked the ball out of quarterback Jared Goff's hands. Mack recovered, sending Soldier Field into a frenzy.
"I just got off the ball pretty well, just got the corner," Quinn said. "Of course, you need time to get there, so coverage had their people locked down and allowed me an extra second or two to get to the quarterback. With sacks, it's rush and coverage, most of the time not just one."
He wouldn't go into details, but Quinn admitted that he's currently in a much better place -- both on and off the field -- than he was last season. Toward the end of 2020, reports surfaced that Quinn was dealing with "drop foot," a nerve issue that can affect the flexibility in the front part of the foot. The Bears denied everything in the moment, but Quinn admitted Sunday that he was "in a rough place" last year. Whatever was hampering the 11-year veteran is clearly a thing of the past though, as Quinn described himself as "mentally and spiritually happy" now.
"I had to take a lot of time this offseason to take some time to myself and put myself in a better mind state," he said. "I talked to some good friends and pastors and got myself mentally and spiritually right. I brushed off all the nonsense of last year, and I guess the weight I was holding on (to) is done and over with. Just trying to put the past behind me and make the most out of today. Our next breath isn't promised."
Cam Ellis is a writer for 670 The Score and Audacy Sports. Follow him on Twitter @KingsleyEllis.