The Chicago Bears will now play the Colts during the afternoon slot
With the news breaking that the New England Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs game will be delayed due to the positive COVID-19 test to Cam Newton, the NFL has had to make some shifts in its schedule. One of these shifts includes the Chicago Bears game being shifted from the 12:00 (Noon) slot to the Patriots vs Chiefs slot at 3:25 p.m.
Colts and Bears now being told their game will move to the late window that was supposed to be Patriots-Chiefs @@NFLONFOX
— Jay Glazer (@JayGlazer) October 3, 2020
This should not be much of an issue when it comes to the Bears and the Colts. Giving them a few extra hours to prepare is not a bad thing. On top of that, the shift is not enough to make a difference the following week either. Teams like the Steelers, Titans, Chiefs and Patriots will now struggle with having shortened weeks and/or playing with what equates to be a very early bye week.
The NFL and Chicago Bears must remain cautious to complete the season
What was looking to be a great first three weeks in regards to the protocols set in place to fight against the spread of COVID-19 is now looking to be hitting a bump in the road. The hope here is that this will be similar to what happened in the MLB this season.
A few teams had outbreaks but only the St. Louis Cardinals saw a major effect on their season. Even with multiple games missed and many double-headers, the Cardinals not only finished their season, but they also made the playoffs.
The NFL has fewer opportunities to make up multiple games. This needs to be taken seriously or the NFL season could wind up being in jeopardy. How awful would it be if the Chicago Bears season came to an end after going 4-0 or even 3-1?
With the Chicago Bears having a few extra hours to prepare, let us hope Matt Nagy and the coaches use the time wisely and not overthink and divert from their gameplan. This game will be the toughest test for the Chicago Bears this season as they face a 2-1 Colts team that currently has the best defensive DVOA in the league.