Chicago Bears Head Coach Matt Eberflus has never won a Sunday road game. He’ll try to do it on Sunday in Arizona, with the Bears in desperate need of a bounce-back performance. Here are a few keys to Eberflus getting that elusive Sunday road win.
Chicago Bears Keys to Victory Against the Arizona Cardinals
Get it going early!
“Obviously, we have to start fast. We have to figure out ways to do that. We have to figure out ways to maintain and keep that going throughout four quarters.”
Those were the words of rookie quarterback Caleb Williams on Wednesday. Everyone inside the building sees what we see: The Bears’ offense stinks in the first quarter. Their defense keeps them in the game until they figure it out or don’t.
Chicago is the worst first-quarter team in the NFL, totaling a league-worst 275 yards and 17 first downs. The unit has scored one touchdown in the first quarter in seven games this season. Sunday was the latest chapter in the Bears’ opening quarter struggles, which included a three-and-out that lost 10 yards on their first drive and a six-play drive that gained 30 yards and ended in the second of Tory Taylor’s seven punts.
That can’t continue to happen. Chicago has two games to figure it out before it plays the big boys the rest of the way.
Get Cole Kmet the football.
Cole Kmet was non-existent for much of Week 8’s loss, which needs to change this week. Kmet has caught 27 of his 30 targets for 303 yards and three touchdowns this season. He has generated +19.5 receiving EPA, the third-most among tight ends this season. He’s also recorded +4.2 receptions over expected this season, double his career mark of +2.1 recOE.
Get him the football early and often.
And Rome Odunze, too.
While we’re at it, get Rome Odunze more involved, too. The rookie wide receiver consistently looks excellent on the All-22 and simply needs more targets. He’s a size mismatch for defenders and his route running has been crisp.
Stop Marvin Harrison Jr.
There were a lot of Bears fans drooling over Marvin Harrison Jr. for the better part of the last year, and they’ll get a chance to watch him go up against the Bears secondary on Sunday in Arizona. For much of the season, Harrison had been pretty pedestrian until last week when he caught a season-high six passes for 111 yards and a touchdown.
Folks in Arizona probably hope that will be the start of Marvin Harrison Jr.’s breakout tour, but the Bears secondary surely has other plans. When it comes to containing excellent wideouts, the Bears secondary has done a bang-up job this season. As Matt Rooney pointed out on Wednesday, Chicago has had the answer for guys like Calvin Ridley, DeAndre Hopkins, Brian Thomas Jr., Christian Kirk, and Terry McLaurin.
McLaurin did have 125 yards (half of that came from one deep completion), but couldn’t find the end zone. The only receiver of note who has found the end zone against this secondary this season is Nico Collins, who dominated the Bears with eight catches, 135 yards, and a score in Week 2.
Chicago will have to keep Harrison in the former area if they are to have success on Sunday, but I’m willing to take that bet.
Red Zone D
We saw it last week, and for much of the season, the Bears bend but don’t break in the red zone. They’ve only allowed opponents touchdowns on 36.8 percent of their trips to the red zone this season, which is the best mark in the league. They’ll be tested this week against an Arizona team that scores on 77.7 percent of their red zone trips at home, the league’s second-best mark. Also, consider this: Two of Marvin Harrison Jr.’s five touchdowns have come from inside the red zone this season, with another two coming inside the 25.