Former Bears Head Coach Lovie Smith will return to Soldier Field for the first time as a head coach as his winless Texans come to town. What would be sweeter for him to get his first win of the 2022 campaign against his old team. The Bears have never lost to a Lovie Smith team going 3-0 since he was ran out of Chicago.
Bears fans 30 and younger had some of their best memories with Lovie at the helm in Chicago. From dominating the Packers, incredible comebacks, and multiple playoff runs including a Super Bowl appearance.
If you’re like me you feel that Lovie was unfairly fired after a 10-6 season that saw them lose five of their last eight games after quarterback Jay Cutler go down for a few weeks. Chicago has been searching for the guy ever since. We love you, Lovie, but that’s in the rearview mirror now though. Just win baby.
Bears Will Have Their Hands Full With A Frisky Texans Team
One thing about Lovie teams is they always play hard, disciplined football. That has stood true this year. Many picked them to finish last in the AFC South, and they very well may, but so far they’ve taken it to every team. Tying the Colts in the opener and holding a Denver team to only 16 points last week has shown they’ll play with anyone this year.
Their defense has been quite the conundrum. They’ve given up 433 YPG, second to only the Ravens, yet only given up 18 PPG — T-9th in the league. 27th in passing defense and 30th in rushing defense should allow for the Bears to move the ball in between the 20s. Houston has clearly implored the “bend but don’t break” mantra.
On the flip side of their defense, the offense hasn’t done much. Bottom third in both passing and rushing and tied with the Bears for 26th fewest PPG. It could turn into a shootout or look like the score of a baseball game.
How Chicago Takes This One Over
Use that two-headed monster in the backfield. David Montgomery and Khalil Herbert should be able to do their thing and run at will against this defense. Last time these two teams played it got ugly for Houston’s defense. Monty was a man on a mission and opened things up with this 80-yard home run:
Last time against the Texans, @MontgomerDavid turned on the afterburners 💨 pic.twitter.com/UsKug1b1EJ
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) September 22, 2022
This is the way the Bears will win on offense. With the Bears taking the “bend but don’t break” approach and effectively running the ball it will make for a quick game and fewer offensive plays being ran. Unless Fields hits on a couple of home runs I don’t foresee him having a big boxscore game. Montgomery and Herbert behind this O-line will handle business. This will help Chicago in the event that Jaylon Johnson or Roquan Smith can’t go on Sunday.
The biggest thing that needs to be seen still is getting Mooney and Cole Kmet involved. Mooney only having five targets and Kmet having zero catches is inexcusable and needs to be addressed. You played arguably two of the best defenses you’ll see all year, but now it’s time to turn it on. When Fields and Mooney can rebuild that chemistry they had all last year and through camp this offense will begin to make major strides.
The Defense That Shows Up Is The Team That Will Win
On the defensive side of things the front seven must impose their will. Chicago got eaten up by two top ten rushing teams, but now they must advantage of a bottom-feeding rushing attack. It’s a new system, but the linebackers have to be more gap disciplined. The corners have to set the edges and make the tackles when it presents itself. Roquan specifically can’t be lazy and try to backdoor every tackle–scrape over top and make the play.
Make Davis Mills beat you. He has struggled to finish games all season. The Bears Secondary is its bread and butter. Eddie Jackson is in Pro Bowl form, Jaylon Johnson might as well be the Bermuda Triangle because receivers get lost on his island, and Jaquon Brisker is everything Bears fans hoped he’d be.
“Bear Down Chicago Bears, Make Every Play Clear The Way To Victory…”
Unfortunately for our old pal, Lovie this will be a great day for the Baby Bears. The offense is going to come out swinging with a hungry Justin Fields making just enough plays to aid the run game. The defense will stifle the Texans lackluster run game and force Mills into making mistakes. Bears win easy at home 24-13
Bear Down
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