The Chicago Bears (5-9) look to rebound from yet one more fourth-quarter collapse and loss after they host the Arizona Cardinals (3-11) on Sunday at Soldier Field (3:25 p.m., Fox-32).
As kickoff approaches, right here’s our snapshot have a look at the sport.
Players within the highlight
Bears operating backs
In the aftermath of a 20-17 loss to the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, Bears coach Matt Eberflus pointed to the run recreation as one purpose the offense managed simply 10 factors. The Bears rushed for 88 yards, their third-worst output this season.
Now the Bears, led by operating backs Khalil Herbert, D’Onta Foreman and Roschon Johnson, face the Cardinals, whose Thirty first-ranked speeding protection provides up 139.6 speeding yards per recreation.
Eberflus put the onus on an offensive line that will likely be with out left guard Teven Jenkins (concussion), saying “you’ve got to be able to move people at the line of scrimmage.”
Herbert and Foreman have been hobbled by accidents this season, and Foreman is listed as questionable due to a private subject. Herbert missed 5 video games midseason whereas on injured reserve with an ankle harm and has not had the identical manufacturing since he returned. But Eberflus stated he has seen Herbert’s burst return in apply.
“We’re excited to see it in the game, and so is he,” Eberflus stated. “He’s been working hard at it. The scheme is good this week. We’ve got some good plays in there for him and the other guys to get the ball on the perimeter as well as inside.”
If the Bears can bounce again within the run recreation, that must also assist quarterback Justin Fields rebound in opposition to a Cardinals protection that doesn’t rank notably nicely in any aspect.
Eberflus stated coach Jonathan Gannon, who labored below him with the Indianapolis Colts, helps direct a protection that does an excellent job with their disguises.
“They do a lot of the sim pressures, have that five-DB shell at the back end of the defense,” Fields stated. “They maintain their shell for so long as potential, provide you with some messed-up appears, so it’s going to be necessary for the blokes to substantiate protection post-snap.
Pressing query
Will the Bears nonetheless play hungry with their playoff hopes all however over?
Bears security Eddie Jackson stated it has been some time since he had an emotional response fairly just like the one he had after the sport in opposition to the Browns, who trailed by 10 factors early within the fourth quarter.
“I feel like everyone was sick,” Jackson stated. “I haven’t cried from a loss in I don’t know how long. That one brought tears to my eyes, so it really cut deep.”
The Bears collapsed twice earlier than within the fourth quarter in opposition to the Denver Broncos and Detroit Lions — and gained video games the week after these losses. But Jackson stated the newest was so crushing as a result of the gamers harbored playoff hopes, with a neater schedule down the stretch after the Browns.
“We knew what we were fighting for,” Jackson stated. “We knew we had it. And to go out and lose it like that. It was like, ‘Oh, man, it happened again.’ ”
The Bears’ probabilities of making the playoffs are actually minuscule, in order that begs the query of whether or not the group can keep its focus with out the carrot of the postseason.
“I don’t think it’s hard at all, I mean, if you take pride in winning,” cornerback Jaylon Johnson stated. “Just knowing the guys that we have, it’s not hard to bounce back. It’s not hard to continue to fight adversity. That’s what the game is about.”
Keep a watch on …
Kyler Murray’s potential to increase performs
In 5 video games since getting back from a December 2022 ACL tear, Murray has accomplished 105 of 169 passes (62.1%) for 1,075 yards, 4 touchdowns and 4 interceptions with 14 sacks. He has rushed for 155 yards and three touchdowns.
Jackson stated Murray continues to be “very, very mobile” after the harm, and Bears defenders labored on the scramble drill in the course of the week as they plan to cease him from extending performs.
“They keep him moving, especially when the pocket falls, he has these holes he can escape through,” Jackson stated. “He likes to attack the edges when it’s time for him to get out of that pocket. He’s fast and he’s elusive, and he’s a smaller guy. So you’re not on top of him, you have to have the right tackle angles to get him on the ground. But he definitely makes things happen with his feet.”
A Bears protection that has turn out to be prime six within the NFL in takeaways with 23 appears to proceed its surge. But Murray presents a brand new problem, not just for Bears gamers however for coaches.
“We’ve got to be able to keep him in the well or in the chute there,” Eberflus stated. “That’s difficult to do. He’s very athletic. He’s very quick, and you have to have a plan for him for sure. You have various ways of doing that. You rush four, you have a guy looking for him. You might have two guys looking for him. You game up your rush to move him a certain way and have somebody waiting for him.”
‘Mad as hell’
Bears extensive receiver Darnell Mooney hasn’t stayed away from social media this week regardless of the firestorm of commentary on his Hail Mary drop in opposition to the Browns.
His associates have despatched him issues in regards to the recreation, which ended when the profitable Hail Mary landing cross bounced out of Mooney’s grasp after he fell to the bottom ultimately zone.
“That stuff doesn’t bother me,” Mooney stated. “At the end of the day, like I said, I tried to catch the ball. I’m falling. I got pushed out of the pile. If I would have caught it, it definitely would have been a good thing. We still have some things to work on at the end of the game besides the Hail Mary. I’m not holding on to it.”
Don’t mistake these feedback for Mooney not caring that his season hasn’t been as much as par.
In a contract 12 months, Mooney has simply 29 catches for 409 yards and a landing — with simply two catches on eight targets for 14 yards in opposition to the Browns.
“There have been some pissed-off moments for sure,” Mooney stated. “I’ve been mad as hell. I’m human. I expect a lot more out of myself. I expect to have a stellar season. I expect to be a playmaker on my team. That has not been the case this year. I believe in myself. My guys believe in me as well. … I’m going to keep working, and we’ll see where the chips fall.”
Injury report
Along with Jenkins, the Bears declared out extensive receiver Equanimeous St. Brown (pectoral) and linebacker Noah Sewell (knee).
Tight finish Cole Kmet was restricted in apply Thursday and Friday with a quad subject and is questionable, however Eberflus stated Kmet is trending in the suitable path. Along with Foreman, operating again Travis Homer (hamstring) can be questionable.
For the Cardinals, prime extensive receiver Marquise Brown (heel) and cornerbacks Garrett Williams (knee) and Bobby Price (quad) are out.
Safety Andre Chachere (shoulder), linebacker Victor Dimukeje (foot), extensive receiver Greg Dortch (shoulder) and cornerback Antonio Hamilton (calf) are questionable.
Predictions
Brad Biggs (10-4)
The Bears would have been OK final week had they not run into one of many higher defenses within the league, possibly the very best they are going to face all season. The Cardinals are within the early phases of what is going to be a protracted rebuild. They rank Thirty first in opposition to the run and have had a tough go defending the cross as nicely, with opposing quarterbacks combining for a 103.8 passer ranking, additionally Thirty first. While the metric isn’t excellent, there’s a big pattern measurement getting into Week 16, and the Cardinals are the eighth opponent the Bears will face who rank within the backside 10 in passer ranking. Add it up and the Bears can have 11 video games in opposition to groups presently within the backside 10. They ought to be capable to produce on offense.
Bears 28, Cardinals 13
Colleen Kane (9-5)
Because the coach-quarterback dialog feels as difficult as it may get, the Bears in all probability will win the following two, making it much more unclear simply how group brass ought to proceed this offseason. But I’m not choosing the Bears as a result of I’m rooting for social media chaos. I’m choosing them partly as a result of it felt like a genuinely regular locker room this week regardless of the crushing loss to the Browns. The Bears have bounced again from such collapses earlier than this season to beat dangerous groups — topping the Commanders after the Broncos loss after which beating the Vikings after the Lions collapse. I feel they are going to do it once more, with Justin Fields and the offense wanting fairly a bit higher in opposition to a protection that’s nowhere close to what they confronted within the Browns. And the Bears protection ought to have one other alternative to proceed its takeaway parade. Merry Christmas, Bears followers.
Bears 27, Cardinals 20
Dan Wiederer (9-5)
Give this Bears group credit score. Even probably the most dispiriting of losses don’t appear to linger. And this group has once more had a constructive week resetting emotionally after Sunday’s collapse in Cleveland. The Bears additionally return residence to face an inferior opponent with a weak protection. It units as much as be a stress-free afternoon and a possible wire-to-wire victory. Happy holidays, Chicago!
Bears 26, Cardinals 16
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Source: www.bostonherald.com