The Chicago Bears have one of the best wide receiving tandems in the league. After sub-par 2012 season, Alshon Jeffery has emerged as one of the top playmakers for the team. Paired next to Brandon Marshall and the Bears have a well-functioning offense despite the inconsistencies of quarterback Jay Cutler. So, which receiver is better?
Jeffery is coming off a game where he put up 249 yards and two touchdowns off 12 catches. That is a pretty big performance in a game where the backup quarterback was throwing the ball and the team eventually lost in overtime. However, it shows that with time, Jeffery might just develop into the No. 1 wide receiver for the team, especially if McCown remains at quarterback.
At this point in the season, only Calvin Johnson and Josh Gordon has more yards from the line of scrimmage. Jeffery has 1,224 as he continues to be a major matchup issue for opposing defenses. Marshall certainly is not minding the emergence of Jeffery. He understands that the better Jeffery plays, the less the defense is focused on him.
"He's like a sponge," said Marshall, via ESPN.com. "I say, 'Hey bro, this is how you take care of your body.' So he's eating right. Got a chef. Seeing a chiropractor. Getting massages. Studying film. Working out hard. I can't say enough about what he put in."
Heading into the Dallas Cowboys game, Jeffery could continue to be the better wide receiver. According to Marshall, he hates playing against cornerback Brandon Carr and the two could be at each other the entire game. Marshall admits that he struggles against Carr throughout games.
"I don't like playing against Brandon Carr," Marshall said, via the Dallas Morning News. 'He presents a lot of tough challenges throughout a game. You'll notice he changes up his game when he plays against bigger receivers. He's strong. He's physical. He plays that way against guys like myself. I absolutely hate the matchup. It's like playing chess out there with him. Every single play is a battle. He just makes you work so hard."
The Cowboys will have to work overtime to figure out a proper pass coverage against the Bears. Jeffery is coming off a monster game and Marshall is always a threat to make the big catch. If Carr and Marshall are focused on one another, Jeffery could be poised for more big numbers.
