NFL “Secret Superstars” for Week 4 highlight Bears back Kyle Monangai and Lions defender Alim McNeill

Week 4’s discussion in the NFC, according to Yahoo Sports’ “NFL Secret Superstars” column, centers on the idea that success is frequently built by contributors who do not always dominate highlights. The piece pairs Chicago’s Kyle Monangai and Detroit’s Alim McNeill as standout examples, framing them as players who influenced games in ways that might be quieter than marquee stars, but still mattered when execution tightened.

For the Bears, the column credits Monangai’s production as a key part of an “old-school” win. Yahoo Sports ties that outcome to Ben Johnson, suggesting a plan that leaned on ground-game control and repeatable chunks rather than relying exclusively on higher-variance passing plays. Within that framework, Monangai is presented as the type of back who can make a simple game plan look inevitable by consistently turning plays into more manageable downs.

Monangai’s value in this telling is not described as a flashy one-off. Instead, the emphasis is on dependable impact, the kind that keeps drives alive and reduces how often a team must come from behind in negative situations. The column’s larger argument is that when a coordinator and an offense find something that works, it usually comes down to whether the less-famous player can carry the load long enough to reshape the flow of the game.

Detroit’s section shifts to defense, where Yahoo Sports singles out Alim McNeill as a “rare bright spot” in a week that drew attention to the Lions’ defensive performance. The framing suggests that even if a unit is inconsistent, a specific defensive presence can still change outcomes by disrupting rhythm, creating pressure, and making opponents hesitate in the middle of offensive sequences.

As with the Monangai discussion, the point is less about grand reputation and more about functional influence. In the column’s view, McNeill’s role represents the kind of interior or edge disruption that can force offenses into less comfortable play calls, or at minimum make execution harder when the game gets physical and compressed.

The column also adds a lighter element with “Banana the Corgi,” described as running what it calls a perfect post route. While the pet-themed reference is not a technical breakdown of X’s and O’s, it fits the column’s theme that memorable football moments often travel through unexpected angles, not just through the usual star narratives.

Looking ahead from this Week 4 framing, the most relevant question is whether these “secret superstar” roles become repeatable identities. For Chicago, that means sustaining the run-game leverage that the column associates with Monangai’s impact. For Detroit, it means whether the defensive brightness linked to McNeill carries into upcoming matchups, especially when offensive lines and play callers plan explicitly for their most obvious threats.

Finally, the column’s approach is a reminder that early-season momentum can come from specific personnel doing their job in sequence. If Monangai continues to fit the offensive plan and McNeill keeps showing up as a stabilizing defensive force, both teams will benefit from the same thing every contender wants: fewer drives that feel improvised, and more possessions that feel designed for success when it matters.