(WSCR) – There are some, mostly not in Chicago, who think that the Bears wasted money on Julius Peppers because he only has six sacks so far this season. But anyone who has watched Peppers play for the Bears knows the impact he has had on the team.

Chicago Bears DE Julius Peppers was named NFC Defensive Player of the Month for November after recording four sacks, tied for second in the NFL. His 29 yards in losses off those sacks were tops in the NFC and tied for fourth in the NFL. Peppers added 13 tackles, deflected a pass that led to an interception and recorded two additional tackles for losses during the month. The Bears defense held opponents to just 65 rushing yards in the month of November (lowest in the NFL) and held opponent quarterbacks to a 69.5 passer rating during the month (lowest in the NFL) en route to a 4-0 record.

This is Peppers third NFC Defensive Player of the Month award (November of 2004 and October of 2006). Peppers is the first Bears player to win the award since Trace Armstrong in September of 1990 and the third overall since the award first started in 1986 (Wilber Marshall, December of 1986).

QB Jay Cutler was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week after completing 14 of 21 passing attempts for 247 yards and four touchdowns en route to a career-high 146.2 passer rating in the Bears 31-26 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 12. The four touchdown passes tied a career high for Cutler, who now has three such games as a member of the Bears, tied for second most in franchise history.

The Offensive Player of the Week honor is the third of Cutler’s career and his second in a Bears uniform (Week 16 of 2009 vs. Minnesota). It is the fourth Player of the Week award for the Bears this season: Matt Forte (Offensive, Week 1), Devin Hester (Special Teams, Week 10) and Peppers (Defensive, Week 11).

A Bears press release contributed to this article