Bears/Chargers Preview
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I’m excited to watch the Chicago Bears (3-3) this weekend as they host the Los Angeles Chargers (2-5). How will the Bears respond to last week’s devastating loss to New Orleans? Can Chicago turn their season around with a big win? Or will the season get worse with another brutal loss?
Keep Your Eye On…
- Will the Bears run the football?
Last week’s unacceptable play-calling might never happen again. Let’s hope! 54 passes versus 7 runs. The seven rushes were a franchise low. In a century of Bears football, we just witnessed the lowest amount of running plays ever called by the Bears! That’s 89% passing and 11% rushing. Calling one running play for every 10 plays is no way to win a football game, especially with a struggling young quarterback. The first thing I’m looking for on Sunday at Noon is will Head Coach Matt Nagy run the football? Will he get rookie starting RB #32 David Montgomery going with several different types of rushing opportunities? Will veteran acquisition #25 Mike Davis get involved? I’m shocked he never gets any carries. Why did they go out and acquire him? Is Nagy unhappy with GM Ryan Pace’s free agent signing? Will #29 Tarik Cohen get his chances? Last week he had 9 catches for 19 yards. Is that 2.1 yards per catch average a new record low for that many receptions? Perhaps it’s another 100 year first! Plus, will QB #10 Mitch Trubisky ever scramble again?
- Can the Bears return to playing like the ‘Monsters of the Midway’ and defend the run again for the first time in three games?
When Oakland (6th rush offense in yards/game) jammed the football down the Bears throats two weeks ago with superb rookie RB Josh Jacobs, it seemed like a one-game aberration. When New Orleans (15th rush O) did the same thing last Sunday it was a cause for alarm. Chicago is definitely missing elite run-stuffer DE #96 Akiem Hicks who dislocated his elbow early in the Raiders game. Nevertheless, some players need to step up. The lack of solid defensive line play has been evident as both inside linebackers #59 Danny Trevathan and #58 Roquan Smith have been consistently engulfed with one and even two blockers mauling them downfield. Change needs to happen. Good thing the Chargers aren’t known for their running game at all (27th) despite having two good backs in Melvin Gordon and Austin Ekeler. L.A. is seemingly like the Bears in that they usually forget about the run and just pass. The difference is the Chargers have a fantastic veteran QB in Phil Rivers.
- Will QB Mitch Trubisky show some progress?
Everyone knows the young Trubisky struggled last week just like he has much of the season except for the Washington game. Coach Nagy acknowledged he needs to improve his footwork, timing, and decision-making. Will he improve his accuracy? On RPO’s (run/pass options), will he make the right decision? We all want to see what happens. If he doesn’t improve soon, then what?
Prediction
I still believe in this Bears team. Despite the “sky is falling” mentality we all have (perpetuated by the media), the season has had a rocky start but is far from over. Chicago is 3-3. Last year’s Bears team was 3-3 and finished 12-4. Who’s to say this year’s team won’t finish 12-4 too? I choose to be positive.
The Chargers invade Soldier Field at a good time. L.A. is struggling too (2-5), and this matchup looks to be favoring Chicago. The Bears are favored by 4 points with an over/under of 41 points. I’m sticking with the Bears.
Chicago Bears 23, Los Angeles Chargers 16
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