The Chicago Bears look to beat the New Orleans Saints on the Superdome for the primary time since 1991 when the groups meet Sunday afternoon.
Bears gamers have tried to concentrate on that process amid a tumultuous week at Halas Hall that included the firing of working backs coach David Walker. As kickoff approaches, right here’s our snapshot have a look at the sport.
Player within the highlight
Montez Sweat
Bears coach Matt Eberflus and defensive position coach Travis Smith each indicated Montez Sweat can be able to play within the sport after simply two days of apply with the Bears. But how a lot Sweat performs after the Bears acquired him from the Washington Commanders for a second-round choose Tuesday stays a query.
Smith known as the brand new addition a “huge presence” and “a big, long, physical, disruptive athlete.”
Given that the Bears have simply 10 sacks this season, Smith clearly likes the increase Sweat ought to present for the Bears move rush. Sweat joins the Bears with 35 ½ profession sacks and 6 ½ sacks this season. But Smith is worked up about greater than that.
“He’s obviously very disruptive,” Smith mentioned. “We’re looking here to add to help us in the pass rush. But also what I love about him too is he’s a dominant run defender. We’re top of the league in yards per carry (with 3.26 yards allowed). That’s something that’s not going to change with him.”
Smith mentioned he believed Sweat can be able to play Sunday because the Bears get able to face quarterback Derek Carr. In his first season with Saints, Carr has accomplished 182 of 282 passes for 1,910 yards, eight touchdowns, 4 interceptions and an 87.6 passer score. He has been sacked 19 occasions.
“It’s not like it’s the offseason where these guys have been not reporting, at home all day or working out on their own and they come in and you have to catch them up,” Smith mentioned of Sweat preparing. “He’s been playing football. He’s in football shape. That’s No. 1.”
After that, Smith wanted to get Sweat able to play throughout the Bears protection. Smith labored below Commanders defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio when each had been with the Raiders, so he mentioned he’s in a position to assist translate a number of the terminology to assist Sweat modify extra shortly. They had a number of conferences and Smith mentioned Sweat took loads of reps.
“He’ll be ready to go for the game,” Smith mentioned.
Pressing query
How will Tyson Bagent deal with taking part in within the Superdome in what’s more likely to be his third begin?
The Bears listed starter Justin Fields as uncertain to play within the sport as he continues his restoration from a proper thumb harm.
So undrafted rookie Tyson Bagent, anticipated to make his third profession begin instead of Fields, clearly faces a significant problem within the hostile atmosphere of the Superdome towards a extremely ranked Saints protection.
The Saints had been extensively regarded to have one of many best schedules getting into the season, and their protection actually has capitalized, permitting simply 296.4 yards per sport, ranked fifth within the NFL. They have the second-best third-down protection, permitting opponents to transform at a 32.4% price. And they’ve 9 interceptions this season, tied for fourth greatest within the NFL, grabbed by eight totally different gamers.
“They are a veteran group,” Bagent mentioned. “They’ve been together for a long time. … Everybody is where they’re supposed to be and they’re sound in what they do.”
Offensive coordinator Luke Getsy known as Bagent’s final begin — a 30-13 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers — a “really good experience.” Bagent accomplished 25 of 37 passes for 232 yards, no touchdowns, two interceptions and a 62 passer score. Bagent mentioned his takeaway was that he must proceed to “home in on the weekly process.”
“Just getting everything completely nailed down,” Bagent mentioned. “And once you get out onto the field, just being able to read and react and just trust what you see and go through your progressions. And value the ball above all else.”
Keep an eye fixed on…
Jack Sanborn
Middle linebacker Tremaine Edmunds can be out Sunday after lacking apply all week with a knee harm suffered towards the Chargers.
That leaves second-year linebacker Jack Sanborn to re-assume the function he performed fairly a bit final season.
After the Bears introduced in Edmunds and T.J. Edwards, Sanborn moved to strong-side linebacker. He has performed 39% of Bears defensive snaps this season, in keeping with Pro Football Reference, and has 38 tackles, two tackles for a loss, an interception and a move defended.
Sanborn mentioned taking part in with out Edmunds is a “huge” loss, however he’s assured in what he can present.
“I’m not really worried,” Sanborn mentioned. “I’ve done it before, did it last year and I’d been doing it through all of camp. And so, I feel very comfortable there, and I’m excited to go in there and play with those guys.”
Sanborn must assist the Bears protection sluggish a Saints offense averaging 349.1 yards per sport, ranked twelfth within the NFL. Alvin Kamara leads the Saints dashing assault with 86 carries for 320 yards and two touchdowns in 5 video games and in addition has 39 catches for 228 yards.
“Obviously a great player, has been doing it a long time,” Sanborn mentioned. “Not only running the ball but also catching the ball out of the backfield. He’s one of the best weapons out of the backfield in the game, so definitely a point of emphasis.”
Wide receiver Chris Olave leads the Saints with 44 catches for 517 yards and a landing.
Charging forward
Despite the firing of Walker, Bears working backs mentioned they continue to be centered on their process towards the Saints after totaling simply 73 dashing yards towards the Chargers. D’Onta Foreman talked about physicality, endurance and execution as keys to getting the Bears run sport going.
“That’s a big focal point of our game and what helps us go,” Foreman mentioned. “I think when we can be balanced and we can spread the ball around, that’s when we’re most effective. So it’s definitely something that’s going to be big for us.”
Foreman had 9 carries for 34 yards in Week 8, and Roschon Johnson, in his first sport again from a concussion, had six carries for 21 yards. Johnson mentioned it felt good to “just to kind of get my feet wet again” after the rookie missed two video games with the harm.
“Obviously it’s hard to just hit full stride, especially with an injury like that, with the rest I had to take off,” Johnson mentioned. “At the same time, once you’re back, you’re back. So I’m ready to roll.”
Injury report
The Bears dominated out Edmunds, security Jaquan Brisker (concussion), proper guard Nate Davis (ankle) and cornerback Terell Smith (mononucleosis).
Along with Fields being uncertain, left deal with Braxton Jones is questionable to be introduced again off injured reserve after recovering from a neck harm.
Eberflus mentioned he expects security Eddie Jackson to begin after Jackson was energetic however didn’t play towards the Chargers.
For the Saints, linebacker Ty Summers (hamstring/concussion) was dominated out. Running again Kendre Miller and defensive deal with Malcolm Roach are each questionable due to sickness.
Predictions
Brad Biggs (4-4)
This would have the potential to be a special sport at Soldier Field, however within the noisy Superdome and with inexperienced quarterback Tyson Bagent, it strikes me as a nasty matchup for the Bears. The Saints have completed a terrific job of battling Father Time on protection with some getting old stars in Cameron Jordan, Demario Davis and Tyrann Mathieu, all former Pro Bowl performers. Maybe the Saints can be a special animal later within the season when older gamers probably may put on down, however this appears just like the incorrect opponent within the incorrect stadium this week, a spot through which the Bears have misplaced six consecutive video games, together with postseason.
Saints 24, Bears 10
Colleen Kane (4-4)
On paper, this looks as if a tricky matchup for undrafted rookie Tyson Bagent towards a extremely ranked protection in a tricky highway atmosphere. The 4-4 Saints haven’t performed a extremely tough schedule, in order that must be thought-about. But given the Bears’ struggles to get going towards the Chargers and a few key errors by Bagent in that sport, I don’t know that this week can be any simpler towards a Saints protection that has 13 takeaways, together with 9 interceptions. A Bears protection that acquired picked aside by Justin Herbert final week must buckle down, however it is going to be taking part in with out key starters Tremaine Edmunds and Jaquan Brisker. All of that appears like it should add as much as one other loss on the Superdome.
Saints 24, Bears 21
Dan Wiederer (5-3)
On the floor, the Saints simply actually aren’t that good, one other a type of middle-tier NFL groups looking for momentum. But the Packers aren’t all that good both. And the Buccaneers aren’t all that good. And the Broncos and Vikings and Chargers aren’t actually all that good. So yeah, sadly the Bears are nonetheless looking for their manner as much as that “not that good” degree. With the important thing accidents on protection and a tricky atmosphere for a rookie quarterback, the Bears will stumble once more.
Saints 27, Bears 17
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Source: www.bostonherald.com