NEWSLETTER
There’s an old adage about the difficulty of seeing the forest through the trees, and that’s something I’ve been returning to often this week. Since last Sunday, we’ve focused on the trees (the Allen Robinson extension drama) that made it easy to lose sight of the forest (the Bears’ 1-0 record).
But if Robinson can maintain his focus on Giants Week, then the least we can do is follow his lead and gear up for this week’s game.
“Never Tell Me The Odds”
The DraftKings SportsBook lists the Bears (1-0) as 5.5-point favorites against the Giants (0-1). The total is set at 42. Only three games have lower projected point totals in Week 2.
Here's How to Get Crazy Bears Odds at DraftKings at Casino Queen Sportsbook https://t.co/aGfFswmNnd
— Bleacher Nation Bears (@BN_Bears) September 18, 2020
Series History:
The Bears lead the all-time series 29-21-2 in the regular season against the Giants, including a win at Soldier Field last year.
Game Time, Broadcast Info, Officiating Crew:
Location: Soldier Field
Broadcast Info: Sunday, September 20 at noon CT on CBS-TV (Ian Eagle, Charles Davis, Evan Washburn), WBBM-AM 780 and WCFS-FM 105.9 (Jeff Joniak, Tom Thayer, Mark Grote)
Referee: Bill Vinovich
Expected Starters and Lineups:
Bears Expected Starters:
Offense
• QB Mitchell Trubisky
• RB David Montgomery
• WRs Allen Robinson II, Anthony Miller, Ted Ginn Jr.
• TE Jimmy Graham
• LT Charles Leno Jr., LG James Daniels, C Cody Whitehair, RG Germain Ifedi, RT Bobby Massie
Defense
• DT Akiem Hicks, NT Bilal Nichols, DE Roy Robertson-Harris
• OLBs Khalil Mack, Robert Quinn (All signs point to Quinn making his Bears debut on Sunday)
• ILBs Roquan Smith, Danny Trevathan
• CBs Kyle Fuller, Jaylon Johnson
• FS Eddie Jackson
• SS Tashaun Gipson Sr.
Specialists
• Cairo Santos (kicker), Pat O’Donnell (punter, holder), Patrick Sales (long snapper), Cordarrelle Patterson (kick returns), Tarik Cohen (punt returns)
Giants Expected Starters:
Offense
• QB Daniel Jones
• RB Saquon Barkley
• WRs Sterling Shepard, Darius Slayton, Golden Tate
• TE Evan Engram
• LT Andrew Thomas, LG Will Hernandez, C Nick Gates, RG Kevin Zeitler, RT Cameron Fleming
Defense
• DE Dexter Lawrence, NT Dalvin Tomlinson, DT Leonard Williams
• OLBs Oshane Ximines, Lorenzo Carter
• MLBs Devante Downs, Blake Martinez
• CBs Corey Ballentine, James Bradberry
• FS Julian Love
• SS Jabrill Peppers
Specialists
• Graham Gano (kicker), Riley Dixon (punter, holder), Casey Kreitr (long snapper), Darnay Holmes (kick returns), Golden Tate (punt returns)
Three Bears …
Robert Quinn practiced in full and is questionable to play on Sunday. But don’t let that “questionable” designation fool you. When a player progresses from DNP last week to “full” a week later, it suggests that all signs are pointing to him playing. In other words, it’s all systems go for Quinn to make his Bears debut on Sunday at Soldier Field. Should the Bears deploy their pass-rushers as expected, Quinn will line up across 2020 first-round left tackle Andrew Thomas often. Good luck, rookie!
Allen Robinson did not hide after word regarding his beef with not having an extension with the Bears done by now. That’s commendable. Moreover, Robinson has tried to shift talk away from his pending contract at every turn. Robinson has talked more about self-improvement and playing winning football than he has about his contract. This kind of focus could come in handy as Robinson prepares to line up against a group of Giants cornerbacks that shouldn’t strike fear in the heart of any pass-catcher.
Robinson caught 6 passes, racked up 131 yards, and scored a touchdown in the Bears’ 19-14 win against the Giants last year. As far as I’m concerned, another 100-yard effort along with a score is to be expected.
Danny Trevathan didn’t mince words when assessing his play last week:
Bears LB Danny Trevathan: "I didn't play the way I wanted to."
— Jason Lieser (@JasonLieser) September 18, 2020
That statement could be applied to much of the Bears defense, which allowed 23 points to a Lions outfit that was missing Kenny Golladay. By their own lofty standards, that’s unacceptable. Hope for a turnaround begins in Week 2 agains the Lions, a team that allowed 8 quarterback hits and 11 tackles-for-loss to Steelers defenders on Monday Night Football. This feels like a good week to start the Bears’ D/ST in fantasy.
