CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — The Chicago Bears take on the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. Kickoff is set for noon at TIAA Bank Field, and the game can be heard on WBBM Newsradio 780. Here are Jeff Joniak's keys to the game.
Offense
• There is a high level of confidence and optimism in the Bears offense right now and it is coming from quarterback Mitchell Trubisky. His confidence is paramount. It is making every player on offense feel the same way.
• Jacksonville’s defense is dead last in scoring and overall yardage and virtually everything else in between. They are really thinned out in the secondary and if the Bears can continue to keep defenses off-balance, they should find completions and first downs, and a lot of chunk yardage in the run game.
• The Bears run game is rallying for multiple reasons including the revamped offensive line led by center Sam Mustipher, the play-action success of Trubisky, and the supercharged running style of David Montgomery. He is finishing his runs and we will learn quickly whether or not the Jaguars will be interested in taking on Montgomery’s physicality.
• Passing the ball has been a breeze for offenses against the Jaguars. They have given up a league-worst 31 passing touchdowns and they are last in the league allowing over 8.0 yards/per pass and are allowing a 70% completion percentage.
• This is a terrific matchup for former Jaguar Allen Robinson, and guys like Darnell Mooney and Anthony Miller to have a big impact on the outcome.
• The Bears have to account for linebackers Myles Jack and Joe Schobert and for the relentless pressure and pursuit of rotational pass rusher Dawuane Smoot, the fourth year third-round draft pick out of Illinois. Smoot since week 12 is one of only two players in the league with 4+sacks and at least two forced fumbles. First-round pick K’Lavon Chaisson is the Jag’s best edge rusher with flashes of power and burst, although he only has one sack.
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Defense
• With Mike Glennon getting the start over Gardner Minshew at quarterback the Jaguars are sending a pure pocket passer out there against the Bears defense. Those pocket passers have found some traction on the Bears defense this season at times.
• Glennon is not going to run away from pressure, so keeping him in the pocket is critical. He can see over the top of a defense given his size, and with 100 pass attempts this season, he’s only been sacked twice. However, the Bears have a big talent advantage on the line of scrimmage and a rotation of pressure will need to get home to take away any potential big plays in the passing game.
• Glennon can throw to outstanding young receiver D.J. Chark and move the chains or get him free on a deep ball catch and run giving his 4.3 speed. Rookie receiver Laviska Shenault is also an elusive talent with the ball in his hands. He is built like a running back, similar to the Bears Cordarrelle Patterson. He leads the Jags in yards after the catch.
• Running the ball is what Jacksonville head coach Doug Marrone would like to establish, but is without star undrafted rookie running back James Robinson out of Rockford and Illinois State. The young man has put together an outstanding, productive season but is sidelined by an ankle injury. What they get out of the running game is a big mystery, because Robinson has handled 240 of the team’s 304 carries this season.
• The Bears have to keep this a one-dimensional game, pressure Glennon, force some turnovers and let the offense chew the clock and get out of town as quickly and as healthy as possible.
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Special Teams
• In a game like this against a team with absolutely nothing to lose, the special teams unit can help close the deal. The return game coverage sets a tone and the Bears have to set the tone for the day with physicality.
• The Bears have a great situation right now with Cairo Santos with his 22 consecutive field goals made and his 4th career 100-point season. He provides an edge especially in outstanding conditions in Jacksonville on a grass surface he thinks is outstanding.
• The Jaguars have played the highest number of players in the league this season, over 80 to be exact, and more changes and players are expected for this matchup.
The trickle down impacts the special teams unit and without that continuity week-to-week, it could provide another edge for the Bears.
• Jacksonville’s regular punter Logan Cooke is out and the result last week for the Jaguars was rough with kicker Aldrick Rosas forced to punt and Marrone choosing to go for it on fourth down three times. They have two punters on the practice squad including former Kansas City great Dustin Colquitt, and a first-year punter from Georgia who has yet to compete in an NFL game Cameron Nizialek to choose from.
Intangibles
• This is a strange, strange situation for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Coaches and players want to win. Presumably fans and media would disagree. For the moment the Jaguars own the first pick in the 2021 draft.
• They are calling this “Tanksonville” instead of Jacksonville with the prize for losing the final two games the possibility of landing Clemson standout quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
• The atmosphere is going to be quite different, what with the Jaguars deciding to hold a week 16 quarterback competition won by veteran and former Bear Mike Glennon and no James Robinson at running back (ankle).
• The biggest intangible in the game belongs to a Bears team that must stay focused, and play as hard as they possibly can to stay alive for the finale at Soldier Field against the Packers next Sunday.
• Since 1992, only the Carolina Panthers at 7-8-1 in 2014 made the playoffs with a 6 game losing streak. WBBM’s Director of Research Doug Colletti comes up with a gem: The Panthers lost each game between weeks 7 through 12, then won their last 4. The Bears of 2020 also lost each of their six games between weeks 7 through 12. Anything is possible.