Khalil Mack on Minnesota: “It’s Going To Be Interesting”

The biggest match of the Week 17 in the NFL is without a doubt a division clash between the Minnesota Vikings and the Chicago Bears.

On one side, the Vikings are desperate for a win. Otherwise, they will be kicked out of the last wild-card spot in the final week of the regular part of the season. Having in mind that the Eagles travel to DC to face injury-massacred Redskins, a victory is a must for the hosts.

Chicago secured the division title, but the Bears have tiny chances even to catch a No.2 seed. But that will only be possible if the LA Rams lose against San Francisco. It is a bit hard to believe that the 49ers have a chance to surprise Goff and the company, but still, a theory is there.

Khalil Mack doesn’t care about all those combinations and the fact that these two teams might face one another two weeks in a row.

“It’s going to be a tough challenge to go on the road, against a team that’s trying hard to make that playoff push, so it is another challenge and we are looking forward to it.” Mack said after Friday’s training session.

One of the best defenders in the league also spoke about the difference between the games now and the ones who were at the early stage of the year. For him, this is the period, when you play all the memorable games.

“They say that football in December is the football that you remember, that type of stuff, and that is going to be”

One of the reporters mentioned that Minnesota’s stadium has a different type of surface than Soldier Field, and that the hosts have an advantage in that aspect of the game.

For one of the best defenders in the league, that isn’t any problem.

“I mean just put me on any surface, I’ll be ready to play”

And really, Mack proved himself to be probably the biggest addition to this Bears squad. He has 12.5 sacks this year and 47 combined tackles, along with one interception.

But these numbers aren’t telling the whole story. The Bears became one of the toughest defenses in the league, the one which constantly harass quarterbacks, and which often breaks the will of the offensive linemen.

They held rival’s offenses to 20 or fewer points nine times this season, and managed to shut down one Jarred Goff for example.

Along with Mack’s arrival, other areas of their defense improved, and many young players upgraded their abilities by learning quickly next to a superstar like the former Oakland Raider.

Roquan Smith, a rookie from Georgia quickly established as one of the best linebackers in the whole league and paired with Mack, he will become even better. Smith already has 116 yards and 5 sacks. Akiem Hicks has 6 sacks for 54 yards lost after them, Eddie Jackson and Kyle Fuller have 13 interceptions combined, and have in mind that all these players except Hicks are yet to reach their prime years.

With a rock-solid defense like this one, Mitch Trubisky, and the offensive team can play more relaxed, knowing that they have someone who will watch their back and give them another chance if they make a mistake somewhere down the road.

All this is because of Khalil Mack, who will probably be the biggest contender for the Defensive Player of the Year Award besides Aaron Donald.

Whether he wins it will mostly depend upon Chicago’s run in the playoffs. At the moment, the Bears are looking good, and they just might be that dark horse who waits his chance to step up and amaze everyone.