When you ask an NFL player or coach an A-or-B question — was it this or that? — the answer is almost always, “a little of both.” But when Bears defensive end Akiem Hicks was asked if the Bears’ defensive dominance over the Bengals last week was a matter of a favorable matchup or the Bears imposing their will, he was definite.
“With respect to that team [the Bengals], I think we imposed our will,” Hicks said.
We’ll see about that. If you imposed your will one week, you should be able to do it the next.