The Chicago Bears are 2-6 and they are 8.5-point underdogs against the New Orleans Saints on the road. The team is in the midst of a lost season, and fans are looking for anything to get them through the year. Fortunately, the team has slowly shown progress in recent weeks, and there are enough young players to watch for. These players also could be set up for big games this weekend.
3. The Chicago Bears should lean on D'onta Foreman
The New Orleans Saints' run defense has been good on paper, but the reality is that they have not been tested often. They have faced just one team with an expected point added per play above 18th in the league when it comes to rushing. That was the Tennesee Titans in week one. Derrick Henry had 15 rushes for 63 yards, but since the Titans were trailing, they leaned on the pass.
Since then, they have faced the Panthers who rank 29th, the Packers rank 19th, The Buccaneers rank 32nd, the Patriots rank 27th, the Texans rank 24th, the Jags rank 28th, and the Colts rank 20th. Even the Colts just got Jonathan Taylor back, and he had 12 rushes for 95 yards against the Saints run defense.
It is a good unit, but they are soft up the middle. Their rookie Brian Breese is coming along a bit slow, and the free agent signings Nathan Shepherd and Khalen Saunders have not been smashing hits yet. The Bears' offense has had issues, but they can run the football. They rank 3rd in EPA/play, the clear best unit the Saints have faced. Even in the last three games with Justin Fields out, the Bears rank fifth in this metric.
The Bears are underdogs and may be trailing, but they have to stick to the run game. D'onta Foreman could have a great game if they keep pounding it at the Saints front.
2. The Chicago Bears need a big game from Yannick Ngakoue
The New Orleans Saints have had serious issues at left tackle. They drafted Trevor Penning in the first round, and he has been a complete bust. James Hurst has been injured but is hoping to make a return for Sunday. However, his status is up in the air. Since then, they have started Andrus Peat for two straight weeks. Peat has not done very well and really struggled on Thursday Night Football against Josh Allen.
Montez Sweat almost always lined up against right tackles with Washington, and with DeMarcus Walker usually rushing from that side, you would think Sweat would stay over there for the most part. That is going to leave Yannick Ngakoue against the left tackle, whether it be Peat or Hurst. Either one should lean toward Ngakoue having an advantage.
Ngakoue has not been good this year, but in the last three games, he has faced off with Christian Darrisaw, Kolton Miller, and Rashawn Slater. Seeing either of the Saints' left tackles will be a big drop-off in competition. Ngakoue also went from the top rusher who gets attention to the second guy behind Montez Sweat. It is all coming together for Ngakoue to have the best game of his season on Sunday.
1. The Chicago Bears should target Darnell Mooney
Darnell Mooney has had a pretty miserable season, and it is awful timing as he is set to hit free agency after this season. The Chicago Bears receiver was coming back from an injury and has been slow to get back on track. While there has not been a breakout game yet, the Bears slot wideout has started to get going in recent weeks.
Mooney recorded 104 yards in the first six games of the season. Then, in the last three games, he has 121 yards. He has gone from 0.75 yards per route run in the first six games to 1.27 yards per route run in the last three games. It is clear that he is trending up. Still, last year, he was at 1.58 yards per route run, and his career rate is 1.43, and that includes this year. He needs to get back closer to that 1.50 rate.
This is setting up for a week when he can do it. Alontae Taylor ranks first in the NFL in yards allowed from the slot. He is allowing 1.5 yards per coverage snap and a 104-passer rating. That is because he also has three touchdowns allowed and zero interceptions. He is the clear weakness in the Saints' secondary.
So, Mooney has started to play better, and now he gets a weak spot with a chance to make his presence felt. With Marshon Lattimore against D.J. Moore a lot of the day, the Bears need this matchup to keep them in it.