The Chicago Bears play their second prime-time sport in two weeks once they face the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on “Monday Night Football.”
The Bears (2-4) hope 10 days of relaxation and preparation will assist them as they attempt to bounce again from an unsightly 12-7 loss to the Washington Commanders in a Thursday evening sport.
As kickoff approaches towards the Patriots (3-3), right here’s our snapshot take a look at the sport.
1. Player within the highlight
Mac Jones (or Bailey Zappe)
Jones returned to observe this week after struggling a excessive left ankle sprain on Sept. 25, and the second-year quarterback is listed as questionable to play Monday.
After finishing 64 of 97 passes for 786 yards with two touchdowns and 5 interceptions within the first three weeks, Jones missed the subsequent three video games with the damage. Brian Hoyer began in Week 4 however suffered a concussion, paving the way in which for rookie fourth-rounder Zappe to make his debut.
Over two-plus video games, Zappe accomplished 51 of 70 passes for 596 yards with 4 touchdowns and an interception, a powerful displaying that fueled questions on whether or not Jones would take over when healed. But a number of retailers reported the job is Jones’ when he’s prepared.
Jones’ return would arrange a gathering between the fourth and fifth quarterbacks drafted within the prime 15 in 2021. The Patriots drafted Jones fifteenth in 2021, 4 spots behind Bears quarterback Justin Fields. Jones had the perfect rookie season of any of the 5, throwing for 3,801 yards and 22 touchdowns with 13 interceptions.
Now he could possibly be again to proceed his improvement.
Multiple Bears defensive coaches and gamers this week mentioned there’s not a lot distinction for them if Jones or Zappe begins.
“The thing about them is their offense stays the same no matter who their quarterback is, no matter who their running back is,” linebacker Nicholas Morrow mentioned. “So you’ve just got to play. Both of them are really good. Zappe has been off to a hot start and has had three good games, and Mac Jones is a good player. We’ll be prepared for both.”
The Bears even have two working backs to fret about. Rhamondre Stevenson has 87 carries for 448 yards and three touchdowns, and Damien Harris has 57 carries for 257 yards and three touchdowns.
2. Pressing query
Are adjustments coming to the Bears offensive line after the mini-bye evaluations?
Coach Matt Eberflus has declined to verify whether or not the Bears will combine up their offensive line starters after struggles in move safety have contributed to a league-high 23 sacks of Fields.
Lucas Patrick, whom the Bears signed to play middle, was in a rotation at proper guard with Teven Jenkins whereas recovering from a proper hand damage that saved him from snapping. But Patrick moved to left guard when Cody Whitehair went down with a proper knee damage. Eberflus mentioned the Bears have been whether or not it made sense to maneuver Patrick to middle to interchange Sam Mustipher.
That would go away a number of choices for left guard, together with veteran Michael Schofield and Alex Leatherwood, who’s in a 21-day window to return from the non-football sickness listing after mononucleosis however would should be activated.
Patrick mentioned his play has been “definitely not my standard.”
“(Patrick) has had to bounce around to a bunch of different positions, and that’s never an easy thing for an offensive lineman,” offensive coordinator Luke Getsy mentioned. “He never complains one second about it. … We have to focus in on the fundamentals. Even he would admit that he probably lost his fundamentals a bit last week, and he’s going to work his butt off to make sure he’s ready to rock and roll this week.”
The Patriots have 17 sacks. Linebacker Matt Judon has six sacks and 12 quarterback hits, and defensive lineman Deatrich Wise Jr. has 5 sacks and 6 quarterback hits.
Fields mentioned this week that the strain he confronted towards the Commanders affected his composure on performs when he had a clear pocket. He mentioned he requested Getsy and quarterbacks coach Andrew Janocko to remind him to reset when he begins to look antsy on such performs.
“You can’t simulate what it feels like to have those guys around you,” Getsy mentioned. “The timing and attempting to learn protection, ensuring you’ve gotten the safety in the correct approach, the place’s your weak spot within the safety, all that stuff going via your thoughts and being ready for the play and going via the development.
“You can’t simulate that to that level. I really do believe that it’s just gotten better and better each week and he’s going to continue to grow through that. That’s just getting these repetitions in practice and then getting them in the game. Trying to make practice as real as we can.”
3. Keep a watch on …
Bill Belichick vs. Justin Fields
Eberflus mentioned Fields had an “A-plus” week of observe after the pair had a dialog final week about resetting following the loss to the Commanders.
“He has been positive, upbeat,” Eberflus mentioned. “He’s been executing well in the walk-throughs and in practice.”
But Fields doesn’t have the simplest check to get going once more towards Patriots coach Bill Belichick.
“It’s a very complex defense and personnel usage that he has in where guys play,” Patrick mentioned. “But it’s a must to perceive what every participant may be attempting to do in that protection and assault him that approach.
“All weeks you need to study, but this is a week you really have to understand numbers, personnel. What is typically their base position? But they can flex a bunch of guys in different positions. It’s really studying personnel and understanding which package is out there for defense.”
The Bears may have a gap to do some injury with their floor sport behind Fields, David Montgomery and Khalil Herbert. The Patriots are permitting 119 dashing yards per sport and gave up 188 to the Baltimore Ravens — together with 107 by quarterback Lamar Jackson — and 199 to the Green Bay Packers in back-to-back weeks.
4. Record watch
When the Patriots beat the Cleveland Browns in Week 6, it introduced Belichick’s profession report within the common season and postseason to 324-159. He tied Bears founder George Halas for the second-most wins amongst NFL coaches behind Don Shula’s 347. With a victory Monday evening, Belichick may transfer into sole possession of second place.
After the win, Belichick mentioned his father, Steve Belichick — a former participant, coach and scout — and Halas have been associates.
“My dad knew people on the staff that coached for Coach Halas,” Belichick mentioned. “He coached Bill Wade at Vanderbilt, so they had a lot of Chicago-Halas connections. When they came to Baltimore, we would go to the locker room after the game, stuff like that. They were always very gracious and generous. They let me hang around. A ton of respect for Coach Halas and the McCaskey family and what he did for professional football.”
Eberflus spoke extremely of the impression Halas and Belichick have had on the sport.
“(Belichick’s) record speaks for itself,” Eberflus mentioned. “We’re all really judged on wins and losses and championships, and certainly he has that. … His players play for him, are fundamentally sound. And his teams do the same thing — they’re fundamentally sound and they play football the right way.”
5. Injury report
For the primary time this season, the Bears didn’t listing any gamers on their damage report.
Wide receiver N’Keal Harry, who had ankle surgical procedure in August, is among the many greatest names to observe this week. He was cleared to play in Week 6, however the Bears saved him inactive due to restricted observe time. He may make his debut this week towards his former group.
Meanwhile, the Patriots have 12 gamers listed as questionable: Jones; broad receivers Nelson Agholor (hamstring) and Kendrick Bourne (toe); cornerbacks Shaun Wade (sickness), Anfernee Jennings (calf), Jonathan Jones (ankle) and Jalen Mills (sickness); defensive linemen Christian Barmore (knee) and Lawrence Guy (shoulder); offensive linemen Mike Onwenu (ankle) and Isaiah Wynn (shoulder); and linebacker Josh Uche (hamstring).
Predictions
Brad Biggs (3-3)
Opponents have been in a position to run the ball on New England earlier than final week, when the Patriots shut down Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt in Cleveland. Even with a second-year quarterback in Mac Jones and a rookie in Bailey Zappe, the Patriots have been scoring, reaching 24 factors or extra in every of the final 4 video games. You understand how uncommon that’s round these components? The Bears have had two streaks of four-plus video games with a minimal of 24 factors for the reason that begin of the 2014 season. Rhamondre Stevenson has been working properly for the Patriots and Damien Harris, who missed final week with a hamstring damage, may return. Expect a heavy dose of the Patriots floor sport.
Patriots 27, Bears 17
Colleen Kane (4-2)
Bill Belichick’s seven-minute, 1,000-plus-word evaluation this week proclaiming the Bears’ strengths didn’t fairly persuade me the Patriots are at risk of being upset. In back-to-back wins towards the Lions and Browns underneath rookie quarterback Bailey Zappe, the Patriots outscored their opponents 67-15, and now they might get Mac Jones again. The Bears, in the meantime, have misplaced three straight, failing to get past 12 factors in two of these video games. The Bears protection is able to conserving this one from being a blowout, however the offense may have needed to make quite a lot of strides popping out of the lengthy break to drag this off.
Patriots 24, Bears 16
Dan Wiederer (4-2)
Bears coaches consider they’ll stimulate a stagnant passing offense with a few changes to the road and some schematic tweaks to help Justin Fields. But after six weeks it’s onerous to examine a dramatic elevation of what this group is able to. Bill Belichick, of all opponents, ought to be capable to expose the Bears’ vulnerabilities.
Patriots 23, Bears 13
()
Source: www.bostonherald.com