Following a 35-32 residence loss to the Miami Dolphins, the Chicago Bears shall be again at Soldier Field on Sunday. Led by quarterback Justin Fields, they welcome the Detroit Lions to city, trying to construct on their offensive momentum and the NFC Player of the Week efficiency Fields delivered final week. As kickoff approaches, right here’s a snapshot have a look at Sunday’s sport.
1. Pressing query
What can Justin Fields do for an encore after his record-setting efficiency in Sunday’s loss?
For starters, he can intention to go for no less than 200 yards, a complete he has reached solely as soon as this season and 5 instances in his profession. Fields ought to have ample alternative to let it fly Sunday, too, in opposition to a Lions protection that ranks final within the NFL in passing yards allowed per play (7.8) and twenty ninth in passing yards allowed per sport (268.5).
For Fields to capitalize, he should stay alert and decisive and proceed to retain his pocket presence. Fields additionally has made it clear he’s prioritizing sound decision-making, understanding when to take big-play photographs and when to just accept modest features which are there for the offense.
“I’ve always thought I’ve been able to make the big play,” Fields stated. “But the one thing you can’t do is force big plays. Just kind of let them come to you.”
The Bears additionally would like to see Fields make them victory, particularly if it means the offense has to engineer a late game-winning drive. With two fourth-quarter possibilities Sunday to place collectively a tying or go-ahead drive, the Bears failed. They additionally have been unsuccessful in late-game come-from-behind makes an attempt in losses to the Minnesota Vikings and Washington Commanders.
“It’s about executing, like anything else,” offensive coordinator Luke Getsy stated. “Our guys are getting better at executing. Then when it comes down to those moments, it’s always about the players. And they have to take advantage of those opportunities.”
2. Players within the highlight
Before the season started, Equanimeous St. Brown wager his brother Amon-Ra that the Bears would end with extra victories than the Lions.
The stakes? “A thousand dollars,” Equanimeous stated. “And we’re leading right now.”
So sure, Sunday’s sport has added significance for the siblings as they put together to face one another for the third time within the NFL. The St. Browns met twice final season when Amon-Ra was a rookie in Detroit and Equanimeous was with the Green Bay Packers.
Amon-Ra has loved a extra productive particular person season with a team-best 39 catches for 399 yards and three touchdowns. He additionally has the eye of the Bears protection, which understands it should respect Amon-Ra’s pace and the number of methods the Lions flip him free.
Said coordinator Alan Williams: “He’s productive with the ball in his hands. You can see that they like him because they find different ways to get him the ball.”
Asked for a scouting report on his youthful brother, Equanimeous was predictably optimistic Thursday.
“He does everything well,” he stated. “He’s a solid receiver all-around. He can block, run good routes, catch the ball. So we’re going to have to scheme him up.”
Equanimeous has 11 grabs for 164 yards and a landing this season however is making an attempt to bounce again after a vital fourth-down drop on the Bears’ closing possession within the loss to the Dolphins.
“I just dropped it,” he stated. “It won’t happen again. I promise.”
Equanimeous additionally has promised his youthful brother that the Bears would rating no less than 30 factors Sunday. But he may have a decreased function with the Bears activating Byron Pringle off injured reserve Saturday. Still, the St. Brown household shall be in attendance with custom-made cut up jerseys — Bears on one half, Lions on the opposite. And Equanimeous nonetheless appreciates the importance of the second.
“You can’t take anything for granted,” he stated. “It’s a cool thing.”
3. Keep an eye fixed on …
The scoreboard.
Yes, Bears followers. That does nonetheless matter to some extent.
Even with the noticeable progress Fields and the offense are making, it has been disconcerting to see the protection stumble so considerably the final couple of weeks. In losses to the Dallas Cowboys and Miami Dolphins, the Bears protection gave up 10 touchdowns over 17 true possessions, excluding game-ending kneel-downs.
In Sunday’s defeat, the Bears didn’t report a sack or a takeaway for simply the seventh time within the final 10 seasons.
Williams has been bothered by his group’s execution. But …
“I’m trying not to overreact to, hey, it’s two ballgames,” Williams stated, “but still cognizant of what we’re trying to get done and where we’re going.”
Sure, the protection took an inevitable step again after its two captains — Robert Quinn and Roquan Smith — have been traded Oct. 26 and Nov. 1, respectively. But that doesn’t give the unit a free go for the remainder of the season. In order to determine Matt Eberflus’ HITS precept as significant and with an eye fixed on making a profitable mentality, the Bears want to remain locked in on the main points and play with simple tenacity. Especially at residence in opposition to a 2-6 opponent that has averaged solely 12 factors per sport over its final 4 outings.
4. On the rise
Williams was requested Thursday if anybody on his protection took a step ahead and didn’t hesitate along with his reply. “Jack Sanborn,” he stated.
Sanborn, an undrafted rookie out of Wisconsin by the use of Lake Zurich High School, made his first profession begin in opposition to the Dolphins and contributed seven tackles from his center linebacker spot. He was assignment-sound, energetic in pursuing the ball and dependable as a tackler.
“He looked like he belonged,” Williams stated.
That supplied one thing to construct on.
“You come out of that ballgame going, OK, (that was a) step forward,” Williams stated. “Now let’s take one more step forward.”
The Bears hope Sanborn can change into faster and extra reactive in go protection and proceed constructing on what has been an encouraging rookie rise. His first NFL begin provided a confidence increase.
“The moment wasn’t too big,” Sanborn stated. “I was able to relaxed out there, stay calm and do my job.”
5. Injury report
The Bears dominated out cornerback Kindle Vildor as he recovers from an ankle harm. Undrafted rookie Jaylon Jones stuffed in when was Vildor was damage final week.
Defensive finish Al-Quadin Muhammad is listed as uncertain with a knee harm after he didn’t follow all week. Eberflus stated the Bears are “still working through” how they may fill in Muhammad’s function, if wanted.
“We were hoping that he would go today,” Eberflus stated. “We’re going to give him time to process and get through and treat, and we’ll see where it goes from there.”
Cornerback Jaylon Johnson (indirect) and proper guard Teven Jenkins (hip) are questionable after they have been restricted Thursday and Friday.
In addition to activating Pringle on Saturday, the Bears elevated defensive lineman Gerry Green and defensive again Harrison Hand from the follow squad. Two days after waiving tight finish Jake Tonges, they signed him to the follow squad and launched defensive again Davontae Harris.
For the Lions, vast receiver Josh Reynolds (again) has been dominated out. Offensive sort out Matt Nelson (calf) is uncertain. Safety Kerby Joseph (concussion protocol), cornerback Chase Lucas (ankle), security Ifeatu Melifonwu (ankle) and linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (elbow) are questionable.
Running again D’Andre Swift, who was restricted earlier within the week with ankle and shoulder accidents, is anticipated to play.
The Tribune’s Colleen Kane contributed.
Predictions
Brad Biggs (5-4)
The Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles are the one groups within the league ranked within the high 10 in passing and speeding offense, however quite a lot of the Lions’ productiveness got here within the first 4 video games once they averaged 35 factors per sport. They are averaging 12 factors over the past 4 video games, so issues are considerably stalled throughout Year 2 of a rebuild for basic supervisor Brad Holmes and coach Dan Campbell. The Lions are higher on the offensive line, and quarterback Jared Goff will be harmful if he has a clear pocket. Neither workforce is nice on third down, and each have been porous in opposition to the run. Figure the Bears price the benefit at residence.
Bears 28, Lions 24
Colleen Kane (6-3)
The Lions current a primary alternative for the Bears not solely to stack one other large offensive efficiency from quarterback Justin Fields but in addition come away with a win. The wild three-interception sport in opposition to Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers final week apart, the Lions protection has been dangerous, and Fields, vast receivers Chase Claypool and Darnell Mooney and working backs David Montgomery and Khalil Herbert all may very well be in line to capitalize. The protection should be higher than it was in opposition to the Dolphins, however it’s able to serving to pull off this win.
Bears 27, Lions 23
Dan Wiederer (6-3)
What may very well be higher for a surging Bears offense than a go to from the league’s Thirty second-ranked protection? The Lions are permitting 417.3 yards per sport and 6.4 per play. Justin Fields needs to be keen to make use of the working begin he has constructed up over the past three weeks and able to hit the springboard a sport like this might present. If Fields Fever swept by means of Chicago after final week’s sport — a slim loss to the Dolphins — the thermometers may break if he has one other large outing in a division win at residence.
Bears 27, Lions 20
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