‘Total domination’: Khalil Mack-led Bears defense aiming higher

A fast start has keyed the Bears’ 3-1 record and silenced talk of a post-Fangio regression. But ‘‘we’ve got a long way to go,” Chuck Pagano said. “We’ve got a ton to work on.”

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The Bears defense swarms Vikings running back Dalvin Cook at Soldier Field on Sept. 29, 2019.

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As if Khalil Mack’s motivation to play against the Raiders wasn’t enough, even inside linebacker Danny Trevathan is ready to step it up in support of Mack against his former team. 

“I know I want to get it for him,’’ Trevathan said. ‘‘I know guys on defense want to get it for him. Just coming from a situation like that. . . . It definitely adds a little bit of fuel for me because I know what type of person he is. He’s not going to say much, but he’s going to work his tail off, and he’s going to go to work. And we’re going to have his back.” 

If this is the week to celebrate the Bears’ acquisition of Mack in a trade with the Raiders before the start of last season, you have to include arguably the biggest impact of all — Mack raising the bar for his teammates and motivating them to meet his standard instead of just their own. 

Fueled by Mack’s impressive start to the season — including 4½ sacks, four forced fumbles and two tackles for loss — the Bears’ defense has maintained the standard of excellence it set last year under coordinator Vic Fangio.

And that’s worth noting even at this early juncture because the defense was considered ripe for a regression after Fangio left to become the coach of the Broncos. It’s too early for Chuck Pagano to take a victory lap, but four games is enough to state the obvious: The Bears’ defense is not in regression. In fact, if the Bears indeed are just “warming up” as Mack put it after the 16-6 victory over the Vikings, at this point the defense is closer to taking a step forward than backward in 2019. 

The Bears are fifth in total defense, second in points allowed, third in rushing defense, 12th in passing defense (though fifth in passing yards per attempt) and fourth in sacks. With eight takeaways, they’re on pace for 32 this season — not too far off last year’s 36 that generally has been considered the toughest number to match.

It’s not quite to the standard of last season, when the Bears became the first team since the 2013 Super Bowl champion Seahawks to finish in the top 10 in all 11 major defensive categories kept by the NFL. But they’re within range. 

“We’ve got a long way to go,” Pagano said. “We love where we’re at as a football team. We love where we’re at as a defense. But we’ve got miles and miles to go. It’s a marathon. It’s not a sprint.”

This year’s team arguably exceeded the 2018 standard with a stellar performance against Minnesota. Without three starters, including defensive lineman Akiem Hicks and inside linebacker Roquan Smith, the Bears shut down NFL leading rusher Dalvin Cook (14 carries, 35 yards, 2.5 average) and sacked Kirk Cousins six times. 

The Vikings didn’t score until Cook’s two-yard run with 2:58 left — a good example, Pagano said, of the room for improvement that motivates this defense to keep its foot on the gas. 

“There’s still a lot of stuff on tape,” Pagano said. “They’d all tell you, we want a shutout. There’s nothing like the National Football League — shutting a team out. That [Cook touchdown] hurt. As good as you play, we all felt that because it was right there.” 

This pace will be difficult to maintain. But with Mack in the lead, the Bears have legitimate expectations of taking it to yet another level. 

“That’s the goal — total domination,” Pagano said. “Wreak havoc, but total domination. The great thing about all those guys [is they think], ‘I can do better.’ I can put them in better situations. There are things we can clean up. Tackle better. Discipline. Communication. There’s a ton to work on.” 

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