(670 The Score) The Bears (1-1) are on the road to face the Redskins (0-2) on Monday night at FedEx Field. Kickoff comes at 7:15 p.m., and the game can be heard on WBBM Newsradio 780.
Here's a breakdown.
Bears 100:
Mitchell Trubisky's 29th NFL start ranks among his biggest yet. Trubisky desperately needs to regain confidence and restore the credibility that he lost with two straight uneven performances. The Redskins offer Trubisky an opportunity to do both. In two losses, the Redskins have given up 63 points and three touchdown passes of more than 50 yards. That's an invitation for the Bears to stretch the field and Matt Nagy – who has yet to dazzle as a play-caller – must RSVP. Defense travels well, so expect the Bears to harass pedestrian quarterback Case Keenum and create more takeaways in another dominant effort.
Most intriguing matchup: Bears receiver Allen Robinson vs. Redskins cornerback Josh Norman
Norman barely resembles the trash-talking, route-jumping Pro Bowl cornerback he has been throughout his career. Is it simply a slow start or the first sign of a decline in Norman? How well Norman handles his assignment against Robinson – the Bears' most dangerous receiver – will go a long way toward answering that question. In contrast, Robinson looks healthy and has emerged as Trubisky's most trusted target. Another big game of at least 100 receiving yards awaits.
Quoting:
"We have our work cut out for us. They've got a lot of depth, a lot of experience in the back end, some guys who've played together a long time. I know they've got a new defensive coordinator, but they've got a lot of experience playing together so their communication skills, as far as making the right checks and stuff, they do a good job disguising a lot of stuff. So recognizing coverages, recognizing fronts and then knowing our plan to attack those are key."
-- Keenum on the Bears defense
Quoting II:
"The players love him, and he's got that swag."
--Nagy on NFC Special Teams Player of the Week Eddy Pineiro, who ended up as questionable on the final injury report after injuring himself in the weight room Friday.
Stat of the week:
The Bears offense has converted only 23 percent of third downs, the fifth-worst rate in the league. The Redskins defense is last in giving up third-down conversions at 64 percent. Something has to give.
Stat of the week II:
The Bears defense has given up only 4.4 yards per play – the second-best average in the league. That bodes well against a Redskins offense looking for playmakers.
Stat of the week III:
Ha Ha Clinton-Dix started eight games at safety for the Redskins in 2018 – and they let him walk in free agency. This is his chance to show them they erred.
The difference:
The two rosters don't compare. The Bears have the better team. The Redskins look a couple bad losses away from another coaching search. This one will go as easily as Trubisky makes it. He's the No. 1 key. Nagy is No. 2. They have to work in concert to make the Bears offense balanced and dangerous. The defense will do its job against Keenum and a Redskins offense that scares nobody. Beware the bright lights but Trubisky has too much to lose to blow this chance.
Prediction: Bears 20, Redskins 10.
David Haugh is the co-host of the Mully & Haugh Show on 670 The Score weekdays from 5-9 a.m. Listen to the show here. You can follow him on Twitter @DavidHaugh and email him at david.haugh@entercom.com.
