Bears Grind Out Win Over N.Y. Jets, Complete AFC East Quad at Buffalo Bills

Bears/Jets Recap & Bears/Bills Preview

The Chicago Bears (4-3) got back on track on Sunday against the New York Jets (3-5) by winning 24-10. It was a grind-it-out victory which is quite telling about just how far the Bears organization has progressed since Coach Nagy was named Head Coach. Think about it. The fans are now at the point of expecting victory rather than hoping for victory. That’s a great sign for the foreseeable future.

Moving forward, Chicago travels to Buffalo to close out our 2018 AFC East quad of games. At 1-2 so far after losses to Miami and New England prior to the win over the N.Y. Jets, the Bears are looking to finish at .500 vs the AFC for the year.

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Game Balls 

QB #10 Mitch Trubisky – Trubisky earns a Game Ball or a Player of the Game Award almost every week lately. In this one he didn’t play terrifically but still threw for 220 yards on 16 of 29 passing with 2 TD’s and 0 INT’s. As usual, Tru scrambled and ran with the football several times. In this Jets game, he carried it 6 times for 51 yards. Overall, another solid, winning performance from Mitch Trubisky.

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RB #24 Jordan Howard – Jordan Howard hasn’t had the kind of season he, or many of us envisioned. Taking a backseat to teammate RB #29 Tarik Cohen based mainly on the new scheme introduced by HC Matt Nagy, Howard has been somewhat forgotten. Not on Sunday. Howard tallied 22 carries for 81 yards and 1 TD. Howard wasn’t phenomenal but he was a workhorse. He only averaged 3.7 ypc on those touches but it was important for Chicago to have a guy who could help hold the ball. The Bears owned the time of possession advantage with 32:44 compared to New York’s 27:16. A big reason was Howard’s grinding. We didn’t forget you Jordan. Nice work. Here’s a Game Ball, you know, for the effort.

 

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Player of the Game

CB#37 Bryce Callahan – Callahan jumped off the TV screen on Sunday. He played a fantastic game against the Jets. Facing a rookie QB in Sam Darnold, Callahan covered intensely, guessed where passes were headed, and jumped routes with passion. Bryce totaled 4 TKL’s, 3 PBU’s, and 1 sack on a nickel blitz. Callahan was the best of the Bears defenders on Sunday. He had 3 of the 6 passes defended on the day in helping hold Darnold to just 14 of 29 passing for only 153 yards. Callahan was the best player on a unit that dominated the game, holding the Jets to just 10 points. Congratulations to Bryce Callahan for earning Player of the Week honors.

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Predictions Recap:

In last week’s Jets Preview, we wrote:

“Chicago is favored by 7.5 points according to Saturday’s Chicago Tribune. There is no doubting the outcome of this game. New York has a solid defense so I’ll go with the Bears but not by scoring 48 points like they did vs Tampa Bay. However, the Jets offense has no chance against a hungry Bears defense. The Bears will win going away. Take the Bears S/U AND to cover the point spread (ATS).

Chicago Bears 27 N.Y. Jets 9″

RESULT: Chicago Bears 24, New York Jets 10

• All hail “Dutch Lion” for this crystal ball prediction. We only missed by a combined 4 points. We called for a more defensive struggle and we nailed it. Bears covered the spread and won going away. Well done!

Season Results:

• Chicago Bears : 4-3
• Dutch Lion : 5-2

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This Sunday the Chicago Bears (4-3) look to stay in 1st Place in the NFC North (Norris) Division with yet another AFC East matchup, the Bears 4th in a row (kinda weird). Chicago travels to Buffalo, New York for a tilt on Sunday at Noon central time with the last place Buffalo Bills (2-6).

Let’s further analyze this game with the help of Troy Aikman and his wonderful NFL team ratings system. Here’s how Mr. Aikman has the Bears and Bills matching up based on the numbers through Week 8.

Aikman Efficiency Ratings (AER) 

• Chicago (4-3) : 1st overall (167.8), 10th offense (89.7), 1st defense (78.1)
• Buffalo (2-6) : 32nd overall (127.2), 32nd offense (62.2), 23rd defense (65.0)

According to the AER, this is a matchup of the best and worst teams in the entire NFL. Chicago has the edge in all categories: offense, defense, and overall totals. If Troy Aikman noticed this in his weekly preparation for FOX’s Game of the Week, he might steer away from covering this one. Well, he did. Troy and his partner Joe Buck will be in New Orleans for the L.A. Rams at the Saints. Check out that one on Fox at 3 o’clock after the Bears game is over.

Watch Out For…….. Domination!

The Bears better not take the Buffalo Bills lightly, because that’s how teams get upset. However, we’re just sportswriters and fans, right? (If any Bears players are reading this, pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.)

Chicago is favored big and should win this game easily. The Bears are progressively good and the Bills are poor. That’s what worries me. Don’t assume victory in the NFL. Has there ever been a sports league in the history of the world with more parity? Most teams finish 8-8. That’s the way the league has been built and evolved in almost a century of gridiron analysis. That’s just the way the commissioners want it. Well, they got it.

Nonetheless, Chicago could and should win this game. The only thing the Bills have going for them is they are at home in Buffalo and the Bears have a couple of injuries to key players. RG #75 Kyle Long was put on Injured Reserve which means he’s likely out for the season. OLB #52 Khalil Mack might not play again after sitting out last week’s game with an ankle injury. WR #12 Allen Robinson is also questionable. But that’s why GM Ryan Pace’s job is to build depth on the roster. He’s been working on that for years now. He’s doing a fine job so far.

Week 9 Prediction:

Chicago is favored by 10 points according to Saturday’s Chicago Tribune. The Bears should win and will likely cover the large point spread. I’ll be taking Chicago S/U and ATS. Bears by 17.

Chicago Bears 30, Buffalo Bills 13 

Have fun and enjoy the beautiful sights of Buffalo in early November! Plus, enjoy a big victory.