[ad_1]
The Bears will be looking to stay above .500 Sunday by hosting the Patriots at Soldier Field.
After a grueling overtime loss to the Dolphins in Miami, Matt Nagy's team understands they will have to be much more precise in all three phases to upset a team that seldom fights itself. But the Bears also feel a window of opportunity to make a statement against a respected but vulnerable opponent.
It is not the inadequacy that may have been in the last two or three years. It's certainly not a disaster like the Bears in the 51-23 loss to the Patriots in 2014 in Foxborough, Mass.
Here are our three keys for the Bears to finish on Sunday's winners.
1. Trust Matt Nagy.
Pretram analysis: A year ago, as offensive leader coordinator, Nagy helped create a helplessness for the Patriots 42-27 in the first week by contributing to an offensive game plan totaling 537 yards and six touchdowns. Last week, the Chiefs racked up 446 yards and scored 40 points in a three-point loss to the Patriots, finding ways to attack with an offensive system similar to the one they're using now. Bears. Somewhere in all of this, Nagy should be able to sift through the details and find games and concepts that the Bears can use to force the Patriots' defense. At the moment, the Patriots are ranked 20th in yards allowed per game (5.85). They also rank last in the bag rankings, eliminating quarterbacks with only 2.98% of pass attempts. It should be Nagy's panacea, the ability to solve the puzzle each week and rebuild it to position his team for success. This should be his most fun test to date.
2. Make the chicken salad continue.
Pretram analysis: Running back Tarik Cohen proved his value as a showpiece for the Bears. Totals: 63 shots, 32 keys, 305 yards from the scrum, two touchdowns. Nagy continues to engage Cohen in different ways, which prevents opponents from guessing. And it was clear this week that Cohen had caught the attention of Bill Belichick. The floor is yours, Bill. "It's hard to find," Belichick said. "He's a dynamic player who can run, catch and really threaten every meter of the pitch – from touchline to touchline, center, deep. You can throw it to him. You can give it to him. In addition, it is elusive with the ball and elusive to open so that the quarterback can recover. These are excellent skills to have. Each of them is good and he has many. … He is a special player who must know where he is at all times. "
3. Beat the slot machine.
Pretram analysis: A week after Dolphins slots receiver Albert Wilson broke the Bears' defense with 155 yards and two touchdowns, Vic Fangio's group will now face Tom Brady, a legendary quarterback who operates very critically. For Brady, the slot receiver has been driving the Patriots' offensive efficiency forever. And it is no coincidence that the star quarterback was off to a bad start in September when Julian Edelman was serving his four-game suspension for violating the league's drug policy. Edelman has 11 assists for 111 yards and a touchdown in two games since returning. Modest statistics to be certain. But to hear Rob Gronkowski say it, the mere presence of Edelman raises everyone's energy. "Big time," said Gronkowski. "Edelman has the juice left and right every morning, during the day, to practice. No matter what time it is, he has the juice. It helps. These days can be long. The season can be long. It's always good to have a guy who brings the juice like that. "
Twitter @danwiederer
"It's a great time for our guys": Why is the growth of the Bears offensive more meaningful than it seems there?
Comparisons between Khalil Mack and Lawrence Taylor? Bill Belichick does not have it "
Great prospects: the rise of the Bears in 2018 is well advanced »
Source link
