Bears vs Dolphins: Inside the Matchups
Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
When the Dolphins Have the Ball
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Da Windy City
The Dolphins come in with the 15th ranked offense overall, averaging 24 PPG. That number is a little skewed since they put up 38 points on the jetlagged and hopeless Raiders in London. Meanwhile, the resurgent Bears defense comes into Week 7 allowing 24 PPG on nearly 350 yards of offense.
Dolphins Rushing Offense (7th, 136.2 YPG) vs Bears Rush Defense (10th, 103.7 YPG)
The Dolphins rush for 136 yards per game, but they’ll be without Knowshon Moreno who suffered a torn ACL just after coming back from an elbow injury. Lamarr Miller will have to shoulder the load, with Daniel Thomas probably getting the nod to ride shotgun in the backfield. The Bears have improved by light years from last season’s pitiful rush defense. They come in only allowing about 104 yards per game, but have only allowed a total of 188 yards and 3.2 YPC over the last three weeks.
Advantage: Even
Dolphins Passing Offense (T-24th, 217 YPG) vs Bears Pass Defense (17th, 246.2 YPG)
Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
No one is going to mistake Ryan Tannehill for Aaron Rodgers any time soon. Tannehill is down near the bottom of the league in completion percentage (60.8%) and only comes in with an 85.1 passer rating. After a slow start in his first season, his top target is Mike Wallace, who’s snagged 25 catches and 4 TD’s in 5 games, is starting to look like what the Dolphins paid top free agent dollars for in 2013. For the Bears, Kyle Fuller is rounding into one of the top CB’s in the league. Free agent acquisition Willie Young leads the league in sacks and DT Stephen Paea has chipped in a career high four of his own.
Advantage: Bears
Prediction
The Bears finally break the home curse and put together a complete game at home. Matt Forte continues his torrid pace as a dual-threat while Jay Cutler finally takes care of the ball at home. On the defensive side, the opportunistic Bears defense forces a couple of turnovers and has just enough to put the Dolphins away.
Bears 31 – Dolphins 24