NEWSLETTER
There are three things at the top of my list that I am deeming as most important.
1. Stay healthy. Coming out of any preseason game without significant injuries is always the top priority. But when it comes to the preseason finale, it feels extra important that everyone’s favorite players emerge from 60 minutes of battle with a clean bill of health.
2. Protect Justin Fields. Obviously, Bears fans want to see Fields perform well. Drop some dimes in a bucket. Sling it sidearm to move the chains. Move the pocket with mobility. Those are the things we would love for Fields to show us in his final exhibition tuneup. But more than that, keeping Fields upright is *THE* priority going into this one. Fields will work with Chicago’s starting offensive line, which figures to get extensive work on this Saturday evening. Whether you believe this is for the sake of Fields or Andy Dalton is no matter. Getting this group some preseason reps to build up a lather and some familiarity with each other is what this team should be doing.
3. Let Nick Foles cook. The other quarterback suiting up for the Bears has an important night ahead of him. It is on Foles to steward this thing home in the second half. In doing so, Foles will hopefully put some good tape out there to showcase himself for a trade. And as a bonus, Foles could ultimately be responsible for throwing someone onto a roster. Foles has been working with the third-stringers throughout the summer. As a veteran, he knows this could be the last football game some of his teammates play. So I imagine Foles will try to make something happen for some of his teammates.
With starters and regulars resting, this represents is the final showcase game for fringe players. Let’s get through it together, then wait out the 15 days until games of consequence kick off.
Game Info
Chicago Bears (2020: 8-8, 2nd NFC North) at Tennessee Titans (2020: 11-5, 1st AFC South) – FOX-TV and NFL Network (Adam Amin, Jim Miller, Lou Canellis); WBBM-AM 780, FM 105.9 (Jeff Joniak, Tom Thayer, Mark Grote)
Kickoff time: 6 p.m. CT
Site: Nissan Stadium
Referee: Carl Cheffers
Odds: Bears -3 (via DraftKings Sports Book)
Game Thread
Your game thread is down in the comments, so let’s have some good, clean (safe-for-work) fun. And hopefully, we can end the preseason on a high note.
Coaches
Bears Matt Nagy (28-20) vs. Titans Mike Vrabel (29-19)
Projected Week 1 Starters
Quarterbacks
Bears: Andy Dalton: 629 passing yards, 4 touchdowns, 2 interceptions
versus
Titans: Ryan Tannehill: 3,975 passing yards, 29 touchdowns, 10 interceptions
Projected stats via ESPN projections
Bears Offense (Projected Starters in Bold)
RB David Montgomery
Reserves: Damien Williams, Khalil Herbert, Ryan Nall, Artavis Pierce, Tarik Cohen (PUP List)
WR Allen Robinson II, Darnell Mooney, Marquise Goodwin
Reserves: Chris Lacy, Dazz Newsome, Damiere Byrd, Rodney Adams, Jon’Vea Johnson, Riley Ridley, Isaiah Coulter
TE Cole Kmet
Reserves: Jimmy Graham, Jesse James, J.P. Holtz, Jesper Horsted, Scooter Harrington
LT Jason Peters
LG Cody Whitehair
C Sam Mustipher
RG James Daniels
RT Germain Ifedi
Reserves: Elijah Wilkinson, Lachavious Simmons, Larry Borom, Arlington Hambright, Alex Bars, Tyrone Wheatley Jr., Teven Jenkins (out for a while)
Bears Defense
DT Akiem Hicks
NT Eddie Goldman
DE Bilal Nichols
Reserves: Angelo Blackson, LaCale London, Mario Edwards Jr., Daniel Archibong, Khyiris Tonga, Mike Pennel (IR)
OLB Khalil Mack, Robert Quinn
Reserves: Trevis Gipson, James Vaughters, Charles Snowden, Jeremiah Attaochu, Sam Kamara
ILB Danny Trevathan, Roquan Smith
Reserves: Joel Iyiegbuniwe, Alec Ogletree, Christian Jones, Josh Woods, Caleb Johnson
CB Jaylon Johnson, Kindle Vildor
Reserves: Artie Burns, Thomas Graham Jr., Tre Robeson, Desmond Trufant, Duke Shelley, Xavier Crawford, Dionte Ruffin
S Eddie Jackson, Tashaun Gipson Sr.
Reserves: Deon Bush, Marqui Christian, DeAndre Houston-Carson, Teez Tabor, Jordan Lucas (IR)
Bears Special Teams
Place kicker: Cairo Santos, Brian Johnson
Punter: Pat O’Donnell
Long snapper: Patrick Scales
Return specialists: Khalil Herbert, Chris Lacy, Rodney Adams, Jon’Vea Johnson (kicks); Dazz Newsome, Damiere Byrd, Darnell Mooney (punts)
