The Chicago Bears gave the New England Patriots something they hadn’t felt in a while. A good, old-fashioned ass-kicking. Getting one from the Buffalo Bills is one thing. They’re the best team in the NFL with arguably the best quarterback. The Bears are a rebuilding team with a young quarterback and multiple roster flaws. Nobody saw that game coming, especially Patriots fans. That is why it was so jarring. A big part of its genesis came from how well-prepared and physical the Bears were. None exemplified this more than Teven Jenkins.
The second-year offensive lineman has gone through an insane transformation. He was damaged goods as a rookie because of his back injury. Then he was a bust in the summer after getting demoted at offensive tackle. The Bears gave him a second chance by shifting him to guard, and now he might be one of the five or six best at his position in the sport. New England certainly felt his presence. Their defensive lineman quickly grew wary of Jenkins as he repeatedly made them pay for getting cute with their pass rushes.
Things you love to see: watch RG Teven Jenkins (76) on this play. B gap help that Tackles dream about. pic.twitter.com/Eqk5IfpvYW
— Mitchell Schwartz (@MitchSchwartz71) October 25, 2022
If you want defensive linemen to think twice about leaving their feet to knock down passes, you do what Teven Jenkins did here… pic.twitter.com/vkDbF8esuu
— Adam Hoge (@AdamHoge) October 26, 2022
.@ChicagoBears can run the rock! I have a deep appreciation for how they are doing this. Not many teams can and it’s a foundation to build upon as the passing game continues to develop. Big Fan Big Time. #DaBears #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/rTkJmALC86
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) October 25, 2022
Whenever Chicago’s offensive line has been effective, it’s often been because they have at least one guy that sets the tone with his violence and physicality. It was Keith Van Horne in the 1980s. It was Big Cat Williams in the 1990s and Olin Kreutz in the 2000s. Kyle Long was that guy for the mid-2010s before injuries caught up to him. It took some time, but now the Bears seem to have found their next version of that guy.
Make no mistake. Teven Jenkins is more than just a head hunter. He’s proving to be an intelligent and athletic blocker too. Teams have run stunts and blitzes at him all year, and he’s never been caught by surprise. That is proven by his never giving up a sack or hit on Justin Fields this season. Combine that with his often-dominant run blocking? It isn’t hard to imagine he might be in the Pro Bowl over the next few seasons.
