My interest in the World Series lasted all of five innings. Wake me up when pitchers and catchers report in 2021.
• Not only are the Bears NOT the worst 5-1 team in league history, they’re not even the worst since the turn of the century:
Since I've been asked, nope, the Chicago Bears are not the worst 5-1 team in DVOA history or even one of the five worst. In fact, the worst 5-1 team in DVOA history was… last year's Buffalo Bills! pic.twitter.com/ZITbONhRwH
— Aaron Schatz 🏈 (@ASchatzNFL) October 19, 2020
• The word “fraud” gets thrown around a lot when discussing certain football teams. It’s used mostly by those who couldn’t point one out if it was staring them in the face. Chicago’s football team happens to be one of those that some consider fraudulent in the wake of its 5-1 start. HOWEVER, Kaelen Jones (The Ringer) explains the Bears are no joke. Sure, I realize so much is dependent on the defense. But if the Bears can scrape by to a 5-1 start with a bottom-of-the-barrel offense, what can they be if it gets slightly better?
• There are signs of life if you squint:
Simply put what @NickFoles does for the @ChicagoBears offense is play in rhythm. More often than not—the ball goes where it’s supposed to when it’s supposed to. Not much can fool him. If he values the ball im just telling ya the bears can play with anyone because of their D
— Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) October 20, 2020
A look at Nick Foles
*Mirrored Curl/Flat, a Nagy staple
*Expanding throwing lanes as a Q
*Informed decisions and anticipation
*Shotgun Divide formations pic.twitter.com/yjq9BLYokO— Mark Schofield (@MarkSchofield) October 20, 2020
• When Head Coach Matt Nagy stresses about the importance of attention to detail, I imagine this is among the things he’s talking about. Look off a defender here to make a throw there. Shoulder fake there to open up a throwing window here. Get to a space here to open up room for another pass-catcher in the route concept over there. These Bears aren’t going to be the Greatest Show on Turf. But they should be a middle-of-the-pack offense if they can hone in on getting the little things right.
• Seriously, this isn’t gonna cut it:
How the 5-1 Bears rank in the NFL on offense through 6 games…
4.83 yards per play (28th)
3.86 yards per carry (25th)
5.62 yards per pass (28th)
4.62% sacks per pass (11th)
36.2% on third down (27th)
52.6% in the red zone (26th)
21.3 points per game (27th)— Kevin Fishbain (@kfishbain) October 20, 2020
• The defense has kept them in ball games, but it’s not getting any easier:
PFF’s top 5 offenses through Week 6:
1. Seattle Seahawks – 86.8
2. Tennessee Titans – 83.8
3. Los Angeles Rams – 82.6
4. Green Bay Packers – 82.1
5. Minnesota Vikings – 81.6 pic.twitter.com/gwpP9kbWBi— PFF (@PFF) October 21, 2020
• Chicago’s remaining schedule is a doozy: Seven games against five teams that made the playoffs last year and five games against teams currently with winning records. But it’s not all gloom and doom. The Bears have five games against four teams who currently have less than a 15 percent shot at making the playoffs, per FiveThirtyEight’s projection model. Or to put it a different way, the Bears could conceivably go 5-5 down the stretch, get to 10 wins, and should be positioned for a playoff spot. Don’t take anything for granted, because nothing is easy in the NFL. But this stretch of games figures to be telling.
• Especially the ones in the immediate future. Four of the Bears’ next five games are against teams ranked among Pro Football Focus’ top-5 offenses. And because the Bears still have two games to go with the Packers and Vikings, that means six of their final 10 games are against teams with top-5 offenses. In other words, the Bears have to score to win. No pressure, guys.
• I bet Allen Robinson’s agent like this tweet:
Allen Robinson II this season:
🔸 Targets: 65 (1st)
🔸 Drops: 0 pic.twitter.com/w0qthlTiTn— PFF (@PFF) October 20, 2020
• Chicago’s secondary is a no-fly zone:
Per PFF, #Bears DB's receptions allowed/targeted this season:
Jaylon Johnson 20/40
Kyle Fuller 17/35
Buster Skrine 22/32
Tashaun Gipson 9/12
Eddie Jackson 9/11Have only given up three touchdowns combined this season when targeted.
— Zack Pearson (@Zack_Pearson) October 20, 2020
• I see the Mike McCarthy era is going smoothly in Dallas:
Cowboys players say their coaches are “totally unprepared” and “just aren’t good at their jobs,” per @SlaterNFL pic.twitter.com/5HbHfjQll2
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 20, 2020
Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy on reports of players being unhappy with coaching staff: "It's important for us to have those conversations as men one-on-one or as a group."https://t.co/arn1iPWn6n pic.twitter.com/PcmSLhxMZJ
— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) October 21, 2020
• Carolina’s COVID-19 update:
Carolina hasn’t had any more positive tests to date and it reopening its training facility this morning, per source. Game Sunday vs. Saints is on track to be played.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 21, 2020
#Panthers place Joey Slye and Trent Scott on reserve/COVID-19 list https://t.co/NNUlnVNRcx
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) October 21, 2020
Panthers placed K Joey Slye and OL Trent Scott on the reserve/COVID-19 list. They are going on the Covid Reserve List not because of a positive test but because of close contact, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 21, 2020