The Chicago Bears are going to need their best game of the season on Sunday. They already lost to the New Orleans Saints earlier this season and this Saints team is much healthier this time with Michael Thomas back from injury. Not only that but it will be in the Superdome this time where that offense is positively lethal when they get on a roll.
Chicago’s defense is banged up. Roquan Smith is out with an elbow injury. Jaylon Johnson is still dealing with a shoulder problem. Even when relatively healthy that unit was struggling. Can they summon the energy and effort to hold Drew Brees and that arsenal in check for 60 minutes. Enough to give their offense any sort of chance?
It will be a day of surprises for sure. Here are some bold predictions on what will happen that afternoon.
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Chicago Bears will get unexpected performances from unexpected names
Robert Quinn collects two sacks
Probably one of the worst free agent signings the Bears have ever made. Handing a 30-year old Quinn $70 million felt like a risk from the start and the team has paid for it almost immediately. He missed time early in the season and has finished 2020 with just two sacks. The lowest total of his career. So why should people have such optimism he’ll magically turn it on in this game?
The venue. It’s in a dome. Here’s a fun little stat. To this point in his career, Quinn has played 23 road games total inside a dome. He has 15 sacks in those games. Three of them came in his only two appearances down in the Superdome against the Saints. He seemed to really like playing indoors. Especially that building.
https://twitter.com/BearsFilmRoom/status/1323661973339447296
David Montgomery tops 120 yards rushing
The Saints defense is talented and well-coached. They figure to be ready for action on Sunday. If the Chicago Bears want to win, they have to execute what they’re best at offensively. In this case, it’s running the ball. David Montgomery is a load to deal with when he’s clicking. A tackle-breaking machine with deceptive speed. When the Bears feed him, it usually results in good things.
He had a solid game against New Orleans back in November, going for 89 yards on 21 carries. This time around he’ll up that total to over 120 on the ground. The Saints’ run defense is solid and they’re likely to load the box, daring Trubisky to beat them through the air. Still, the Bears offensive line will do some good blocking and get Montgomery going.
Eddie Jackson gets his first interception
This is the longest stretch Jackson has gone in his entire career without an interception. His last pick came in the 2019 season finale. So one can bet he is absolutely thirsting for one right now. That ugly drop he had against the Packers is probably still haunting his dreams. It’s fascinating that he will go into his first-ever playoff game with no interceptions on the year.
That is why it will be big news when he steals one from Drew Brees at some point during the game. Remember Jackson wasn’t on the field two years ago when the Bears played Philadelphia. So he’s making up for lost time. Brees isn’t prone to giving many away but somehow E-Jax will find a way to steal one.
Mitchell Trubisky drops a DIME to Anthony Miller for the go-ahead 27-yard TD. Chicago has scored 21 unanswered and lead 27-23 with 1:54 remaining. pic.twitter.com/ugygtQwPXz
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) September 13, 2020
Anthony Miller tops 100 yards receiving
Darnell Mooney going down with an ankle injury was a tough blow for the Chicago Bears offense. He’d really been playing well down the stretch as the secondary option to Allen Robinson. Now he won’t be able to play. That means the team will need somebody else to step up. Miller has all but disappearing over the past month, failing to find any sort of rhythm.
This game will be a reminder that he can actually play football. With the Saints focusing their attention on Robinson, he’ll see a number of balls come his way. Enough to crack 100 yards for the first time since December 15th of 2019. Will it be enough to change the outcome of the game or come in garbage time? That’s the big question.