With the 2022 season all but over for the Chicago Bears as we move onto week 15 I think we can start to come to conclusions on who has been the best player on either side of the ball. I think one is pretty obvious but the other might come as a bit of a shock to some.
We’ll start with the obvious. On offense I think you’d have to be insane to say anyone but Justin Fields. The guy has been a huge difference maker out there as he continues to improve week in and week out. So far through his 12 games this season has 1,896 passing yards and 13 passing touchdowns, which may be nothing too crazy, but where he’s shined in the rushing attack. Currently he has 905 rushing yards and 8 touchdowns, of which three are 50+ yards. And, of course, keep in mind this is all with with cheapest offense in the NFL, something that becomes ever more apparent when he’s off the field. Watching Fields grow and ball out this season has been amazing and so I think he’s absolutely got to be the offensive MVP for this Bears team.
So who do I feel is the MVP on the defense? This one is a lot harder to pick. The defense has certainly struggled this year, but that doesn’t mean there haven’t been bright spots. Guys like Jaquan Brisker and Eddie Jackson have looked pretty damn good this year, however neither are my defensive MVP. This may be a shock, or it may not, but I think I have to give defensive MVP to un-drafted rookie linebacker Jack Sanborn. Few players have been tasked with the shoes of someone like Roquan Smith. Jack Sanborn has and honestly he’s done a tremendous job at it. Sanborn has only started 5 games this season since Roquan left and yet he’s already racked up 59 total tackles (45 solo, 14 assisted, and 5 TFL). Since taking the starting middle linebacker spot Sanborn has been a tackling machine. Fans and commentators alike have raved at the young LB’s ability to be all over the field. I don’t think anyone quite expected him to step up the way he has. He has brought so much to the table for the defense that had just lost their leader and star player and to me that carries a ton of value, enough to be an MVP.
Between now and season’s close things could change, but at the moment these two guys are my MVPs. Both players truly make a difference when they’re on the field. I definitely look forward to seeing them continue to excel for at their respective positions for the rest of the season, and hopefully for years to come.
