The takeaways from week one are tough. But, Akiem Hicks continues to show he is a force on this defensive line. On the stat sheet, it might only show half a sack on the season. However, that will look different after the Bears’ game in Week Two against the Bengals.
The Bears will need to attack them at the line of scrimmage this week. They should learn from their fellow NFC North foe, Minnesota, when attacking Week Two’s gameplan. This defensive line should give them more of an issue with Hicks leading the charge. He is a motivated man, especially with wanting to remain a Bear for the rest of his career.
When you look back at the Bengals’ Week One game, they still have a severe weak spot, their offensive line. That shows in the five sacks that the Vikings were able to rack up against them. Michael Pierce had two of those sacks alone in their last game. He can line up in different spots on the line for a better match-up. The Bears also have one player that the Vikings do not, that is Khalil Mack, who takes more pressure off the other players on the field. This should free them up for more one-on-one matchups.
Now, the reason Hicks has a better chance to succeed is because he may see more time against the Bengals center, Trey Hopkins. He struggled to keep up with Pierce through that first game and will have another tough time against the monster that is Akiem Hicks.
So, is Hicks due for a big game? Or will it be another Bears defensive player? If so, who could it be?
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