Khalil Mack leads Bears as Pro Football Focus’ highest-graded defender vs. Rams

Another week, another good Pro Football Focus grade for Chicago Bears outside linebacker, Khalil Mack. Mack registered a 78.4, which ranked tops among all Bears defenders who logged at least 19 snaps. His pass-rush grade was elite at 89.9 despite …

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Another week, another good Pro Football Focus grade for Chicago Bears outside linebacker, Khalil Mack.

Mack registered a 78.4, which ranked tops among all Bears defenders who logged at least 19 snaps. His pass-rush grade was elite at 89.9 despite registering only one pressure — a sack — of Rams QB Jared Goff.

Safety Tashaun Gipson Sr. had a strong performance against the Rams, too. His 73.2 PFF grade ranked second among the team’s starters and was due in large part to his 70.2 coverage grade.

On the opposite end of the grading scale was linebacker Danny Trevathan, who continues to look like his best ball is several seasons behind him.

Trevathan was the Bears’ second-worst defender, scoring a 38.5 and marking the fifth time this season he’s scored a 54.2 or lower. Not good.

Surprisingly, Akiem Hicks was Chicago’s lowest-graded player on defense with a 26.9.

PFF knocks players for costly penalties and Hicks had a couple on Monday night. But his 26.1 grade against the run is downright brutal.

In real-time, Hicks looked active and effective. The analytics tell a different story, however.