Week 8: Inside the Bears by STATS

Courtesy of Bears writer Adam Jahns and the folks at STATS:

There’s no replacing linebacker Lance Briggs. There’s only trying to find ways to survive without him as he misses time with a fractured shoulder.

Briggs has drawn some criticism for missed tackles this season, but that doesn’t negate him from being in the right place to make a play for the Bears defense. He’s one of the few defensive players who have continuously been in the right place this season. The veteran was playing at an All-Pro level before he got hurt.

“We’re losing a great leader in Lance,” coach Marc Trestman said. “We’re going to have to work very, very hard to recover.”

(Statistics do not include Thursday’s game between the Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.)

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If the Bears are going to succeed without quarterback Jay Cutler, they’re going to need their receivers to do everything they can to make backup Josh McCown’s job easier.

That means catching everything they get their hands on because right now they’re in the middle of pack when it comes to drops.

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