Chicago Bears: Halftime adjustments needed to beat Saints

If the Chicago Bears want to beat the New Orleans Saints, Matt Nagy and the team needs to make these halftime adjustments.

The Chicago Bears game started out rough from the beginning. After a disappointing offensive drive, a blocked punt led to the Saints putting up two points on the board with a safety. Luckily, Patrick O’Donnell made the smart play and swatted the ball out of the endzone. Otherwise, the play could have been worse and resulted in a touchdown.

Later in the game, Anthony Miller fumbled the ball in their own territory and set the Saints up for a short drive and touchdown. Luckily for the Chicago Bears, Cordarrelle Patterson answered the call with a kickoff return. After being down 9-0, the Bears saw life and were only down by two again.

The two teams exchanged field goals and the Bears still find themselves down by two. A late field goal miss by the Saints in the second quarter kept the Bears within two instead of down by five.

First, the defensive front needs to start getting some pressure. Teddy Bridgewater has not felt enough pressure. Khalil Mack has made a little noise, but Leonard Floyd has been invisible. The defensive line will need to bring some noise against Bridgewater if they plan on forcing any interceptions.

Chuck Pagano also needs to start finding a way to stop Michael Thomas. Thomas already has seven catches for 89 yards. If it means they need to start doubling him up then so be it.

Offensively, this team looks just as bad as they have all year. The team has yet to even try running the football. When you become one dimensional, it does not keep the opposing defense honest. Run the ball a bit with some standard runs. I am tired of saying this and I am losing faith in Matt Nagy maybe more than I am Trubisky at this point.

Next, I saw one roll out for Trubisky this game. I know he is coming off the shoulder injury, but if he is able to play, then work more of these into the day. Trubisky does his best plays while moving outside of the pocket.

The tempo is another area of concern. We know that Trubisky plays best when he is not overthinking. I will say this over and over and over until I see Chicago start doing it. Quick slants and screens should be used more often. You need to open things up. And this brings me to my other point. Where are the deep shots?

Trubisky has thrown two deep balls. One was off-target to a wide-open Anthony Miller. The other was a great throw and catch to Allen Robinson, but Robinson was unable to get the second toe down. Nagy needs to let Mitchell Trubisky take a few shots downfield to help open up the middle of the field. This is frustrating, but still a winnable game. Nagy needs to make some changes.

To recap. Defensively, more pressure up front and start stopping Michael Thomas at all costs. On offense, more rolling pockets, quick slants and other routes, stop abandoning the run, up the tempo and finally, take some more shots downfield. This game is for the taking. Go take it.