Preview: Justin Fields Will Be Rusty in Return against Lions
Gene Chamberlain covers the Chicago Bears for Bear Digest. He answered five questions from All Lions to preview Sunday's matchup between Detroit and Chicago.
1.) What has been your assessment of why the Bears have struggled this season?
Gene Chamberlain: They tried to rebuild the team by gutting it last year, and for cap purposes, could only sign free agents on one-year deals who were bottom of the barrel players. So, essentially, they were making it into a two-year process. This year, they had plenty of money, and there wasn't enough talent available or players at the spots where they needed the help who wanted to come to Chicago, namely the defensive line. So, they signed Tremaine Edmunds and T.J. Edwards, because they badly needed linebackers but didn't really have their defense together and going until last week. The starting defense never practiced together all offseason and preseason due to injuries. Now, they finally have Montez Sweat commanding double teams. Things are looking up with three wins in the last six after their 0-4 start.
2.) Tyson Bagent was able to go 2-2 with Justin Fields out of action. What did he bring to the table for the offense?
Chamberlain: Consistency, but more than anything, he brought the Bears the ability to get the ball out fast. Fields was 32nd in the league in sack percentage. Bagent is No. 1, because he isn't holding the ball looking for long passes every down and then deciding to run. He got rid of the ball. His inability to get the ball downfield beyond 17 yards was his downfall in the two losses. Plus, he lacks experience against top-level talent as a Division II QB who went undrafted.
3.) Montez Sweat has been as advertised early with the Bears. What does he bring to the Bears’ defense?
Chamberlain: He brings the "Tez Effect," or multiplier effect. He makes everyone else on the line better by commanding double teams. It showed up almost immediately, with more pressures in two games, back-to-back, than any time this season. He had three QB hits right away, and Chicago hadn't been able to get a sniff of a QB for most of the season. Even Yannick Ngakoue is starting to show a pulse now that he isn't getting double teams, because teams go to the other side of the line and Sweat.
4.) What are one-two key matchups you are looking forward to seeing on Sunday?
Chamberlain: David Montgomery and T.J. Edwards. Chicago loved Montgomery for his toughness, and Edwards has helped turn around the Bears’ run defense from next-to-last in the league to second, and first in yards allowed per carry.
Sweat against Penei Sewell should be interesting. Sweat isn't just a pass-rusher. The reason the Bears were interested was his ability to also be stout against the run. So, Sweat rushing against Sewell, who shouldn't need much double-teaming of the top Bears pass-rusher. The Bears rotate their ends, so it might not be an all-game matchup but will be interesting when it happens.
Also, Sam LaPorta against Bears safety Jaquan Brisker. While Brisker makes plenty of big plays, he gets burned often by tight ends and receivers downfield.
5.) The Bears are a pretty big underdog, but still possess a very solid rush defense. What is your prediction for this NFC North divisional game?
Chamberlain: The Lions should win, 31-17. Fields is sure to be rusty after four weeks away and playing with a taped-up thumb. The Lions’ offense is like playing against the Chiefs and Chargers, and the Bears had trouble with both of those offenses. They didn't have Sweat then, but he's not going to make that much of a difference.
