We’re at the start of the second quarter of the 2019 NFL season, and the Chicago Bears find themselves sitting in a pretty comfortable position. After opening the year with a disappointing loss, the Bears are now riding the wave of a three-game winning streak, and are hoping to add another victory to the win column when they face the Oakland Raiders this Sunday in London.
Bears fans in Chicago and all across the United States get to see this team on a regular basis, but now fans halfway across the world will get to have that same experience. Some of the things that they will witness will be worth watching.
One thing that will draw a lot of attention is inside linebacker Roquan Smith. In Week 4, Smith surprisingly didn’t play due to personal reasons that were never revealed. The Georgia product did travel with the team to London, and is expected to be in the starting lineup. It’s unlikely that Smith’s play will be effected due to all of the attention, however, it is still something to keep an eye on.
Another player returning is right guard Kyle Long. The seven-year veteran missed last week’s game due to a hip injury, but is slated to start in Week 5. Hopefully, Long doesn’t aggravate that injury because Ted Larsen, who replaced Long last week, is out with a knee injury.
Of course, the return of two key starters should bring much attention to fans. But as we know, there are so many other things that have the potential to take over the spotlight. Here of five things to look for in this week’s battle against the Raiders.