Aaron Rodgers has assumed the role of Chicago Bears boogeyman for the past decade. Rightfully so. However, he’s not the only one who’s had his way with them for the past few years. Matthew Stafford is another NFC North quarterback who always seems to get the best of them. In the past 10 meetings with him, the Bears have won once.
If they want to maintain control of the division, that’s something they’re going to have to change. The question is how? Thus far the only top-tier quarterback the Bears have beaten in 2018 was Russell Wilson. The rest have been backups or rookies. If they want people to start taking them seriously, this game on Sunday is one they have to have.
That means they have to find a way to control Stafford. Something they haven’t been able to do for years. There are plenty of theories as to how including sacking him a lot. That’s all fine and good, but it’s also difficult to execute. No, there’s another way and it is more feasible for this team.
And on this day, Matthew Stafford officially became a Lion: pic.twitter.com/sV4NE5H4dB
— Hardy (@hardy985) November 4, 2018
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The Bears want Matthew Stafford to throw lots and lots of times
It sounds counterintuitive. Why would a team want a good quarterback to throw more often in a game? The simple answer is it opens further opportunities to create turnovers and also means the offense is being one dimension. Put it this way. Since last season, the Lions are 2-6 in games where Stafford throws the ball 40 or more times. He has 16 touchdown passes and 11 interceptions in those games.
Against the Bears? The same holds true. Stafford has thrown the ball at least 40 times in five career games against Chicago. He’s 2-3 in those games with 11 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
Stafford isn’t one of those quarterbacks who can consistently be great when he has to throw the ball a lot. He’s at his best throwing 30-35 a game. So the question is how do the Bears help to inflate that number? It comes down to a two-pronged approach. The first is the simplest in terms of its aim.
They have to stop the run.
In each of those losses this year where he topped 40 passes, the Lions finished with under 100 yards rushing. Twice it was under 40 yards. Suffice to say the more a defense can stymie the ground attack, the more he’ll throw. That’s football 101. There is another part to it though. Each of those opponents got out to an early lead. Detroit found themselves trailing at halftime 17-10, 13-10, and 21-7 respectively.
Being behind automatically compels a team to throw the ball more. Especially in this day and age and with a quarterback of Stafford’s talents. The good news is? Chicago is capable of achieving both those aims. They have the #3 run defense in the NFL and have held the lead at halftime in five of their eight games this season.
If ever there was a game they were equipped to knock Stafford down a peg, this is it.
