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The Chicago Bears offensive line has been the target of frequent scrutiny in recent years for its inability to protect quarterback Jay Cutler. This season, however, Chicago has done a better job of keeping Cutler upright, including in Week 5 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Bears allowed just one sack against Jacksonville and have now given up two or less sacks in four of their five games. Outside of a seven-sack debacle against the Packers in Week 2, the Bears' offensive line has allowed just seven sacks in four games.
As Lester A. Wiltfrong Jr. or Windy City Gridiron noted, even with the subpar performance against the Packers, Chicago is well ahead of the sack pace of recent seasons.
Not only are the Bears under the Sackwatch pace of the two years they spent in the Mike Martz offense, but there are 7 teams with as many, or more sacks allowed than the 14 of Chicago. With the Bears bye week coming this weekend, they may slip even further down the sacks allowed list.
Cutler threw for just 126 yards against the Packers, but with Chicago's offensive line protecting him in recent weeks, Cutler's performance has shot up. He's thrown for at least 275 yards the last two weeks and has four touchdown passes to just one interception.
Next up for Chicago is Ndamukong Suh and a Detroit Lions team which dominated the Bears' offensive line at times last season. That game could go a long way to determining just how much Cutler's protection has improved this year.