Schedule Preview – Bears
June 29, 2022
By Noonefromtampa
In this column, we’ll look at the Commanders’ week 6 opponent, the Chicago Bears. The team’s disappointing 2021 season led to Matt Nagy being replaced by former Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus. Who is ready for some NFL trivia? The oldest rivalry in the NFL is between the Racine Cardinals and the Decatur Staleys or as they are known now the Arizona Cardinals and the Chicago Bears.
The Bears have won 9 NFL Championships and 1 Super Bowl title.
Game Details
Opponent: Chicago Bears
When: Thursday, October 13, 8:20 P.M.
Where: away game at Soldier Field
TV Network: Amazon
2021 Bears
Record: 6-11
Offense: 24th [passing 30th, rushing 14th]
Defense: 6th [passing 3rd, rushing 23rd]
Points Scored: 27th
Points Allowed: 22nd
Head-to-Head: 21-22-1 regular season, 3-4 playoff games
Bears Coaching
Matt Eberflus, who is in his 17th year of coaching, was an FBS linebacker (Toledo) /DC (Missouri), and has 13 years of NFL experience, including 9 years as a linebackers coach with the Browns and Cowboys, and 4 years as the Colts defensive coordinator.
Offensive coordinator Luke Getsy has bounced between the college and pro ranks, spending 8 years as a college assistant and 7 years as a Packers offensive assistant. He was most recently the quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator under Matt LaFleur.
Defensive coordinator Alan Williams spent four years as a college coach and twenty years as a pro coach, primarily as a defensive backs coach for the Colts and Lions. He did a two-year stint as defensive coordinator for the Vikings. He 2012, his defense was ranked 24th and 31st in 2013.
Bears Schemes
The Bears are installing a complete new offensive scheme this season. Since Getsy has come over from the Packers, the expectation is that it will be a West Coast offensive scheme very similar to the Packers offense.
The Bears defense is also changing, going from a 3-4 to a 4-3 similar to the Colts defense that Eberflus ran there. The Bears used both second round picks on defensive talent in an attempt to improve.
Teams will not get a true view of the Bears’ schemes until the regular season starts.
Roster Changes
Key Losses: WR Allen Robinson (LAR), G James Daniels (PIT), WR Jakeem Grant (CLE), DE Bilal Nichols (LV), DE Akiem Hicks (TB), QB Nick Foles (IND), P Pat O’Donnell (GB), QB Andy Dalton (NO), CB Artie Burns (SEA), S Deon Bush (KC), T Germain Ifedi (ATL)
Key Additions: DT Justin Jones (LAC), DE Al-Quadin Muhammad (IND), G Lucas Patrick (GB), QB Trevor Siemian (NO), LB Nicholas Morrow (LV), TE Ryan Griffin (NYJ), WR Byron Pringle (KC), WR Equanimeous St. Brown (GB)
Draft Picks: CB Kyler Gordon (2-39), S Jaquan Brisker (2-48), WR Velus Jones (3-71), OL Braxton Jones (5-168), DE Dominique Robinson (5-174), OL Zachary Thomas (6-186), RB Trestan Ebner (6-203), OL Doug Kramer (6-207), OL Ja’Tyre Carter (7-226), S Elijah Hicks (7-254), P Trenton Gill (7-255)
Key Players Returning: QB Justin Fields, RB David Montgomery, G Cody Whitehair, C Sam Mustipher, TE Cole Kmet, T Teven Jenkins, T Larry Borom, LB Roquan Smith, LB Robert Quinn, CD Jaylon Johnson, CB Kindle Vildor, DE Mario Edwards Jr., DT Angelo Blackson
Conclusions
The Bears are overhauling and rebuilding their roster and adopting new schemes, so playing them earlier in the season is a benefit to the Commanders. The Bears may still in the process of learning the new schemes when this game is played. This game is part of the Amazon Thursday night national TV package. It’s a home game for the Bears and being a national game, they should be motivated to play well.
Noone’s Prediction
The Commanders playing on a short week and traveling to Chicago, pull out a last-minute victory, breaking a tie with late game field goal after a defensive turnover to win 24-21.