Bears best positioned to cause problems for the Patriots

The unique aspect of this year’s Bears schedule is that their home schedule is not only filled with weaker teams in the division, but also with opponents that they can match up well against.

The Bears certainly have to worry about Drake Maye, because the Patriots quarterback is gifted with a big arm, he’s a bigger player who can move, and he’s done both so far.

“His two-minute operation was good,” Bears coach Matt Eberflus said. ‘He did a very good job there.

“He used his legs when he needed to. Last week he had a lot of meters.’

However, he was prone to errant throws and interceptions, including six in four starts.

“He’s a young player, just like a lot of the young quarterbacks playing in the league this year,” Eberflus said. ‘A number of them have been set up.

“And again, he’s learning while he’s there. But he’s impressive.’

Taking on the Bears secondary in Chicago isn’t the easiest task.

The Bears have won nine straight as a home team, eight at Soldier Field, and weaker defenses on the perimeter have struggled against the Bears’ offense. The Bears are stronger when attacking the middle of the field in their passing game, and a team that is weaker on the perimeter invites trouble from all sides.

Here the bears are best positioned to cause problems for New England.

1. RB D’André Swift

Swift’s ability to work in the short passing game for screens or flash out of the backfield has been solid all year, and when the Bears’ offense looked at its best against the Jaguars, Panthers and Rams, he did damage this way On. The Patriots defense hasn’t been their biggest weakness, but they are at their worst against the shorter passes. In Swift’s case, he will be doubly dangerous for New England because he is the best outside rusher and New England ranks 20th in run stopping around the left side (6.42 yards per carry) and 24th as he puts them on the right side (6.15 ypc).

BEARS MAY BE OPPOSED TO YANNICK NGAKOUE ON SUNDAY

2.S Kevin Byard

Their ballhawk could come into play opposite a rookie QB with a big arm who has thrown four interceptions in four starts. In fact, New England’s receiving corps is the worst in zone coverage, with the exception of Demario Douglas, who gets passes under zones. Ja’Lynn Polk and Kayshon Boutte have a lot of speed, but they won’t try to beat man coverage much. If they challenge the Bears deep, Byard ranks eighth against the pass-by Pro football focus and ninth overall. Stathead/Pro Football Reference tracks Byard at 56% completions allowed when targeted (14 of 25), the third-lowest percentage of his career and the best since 2021.

3.LB Tremaine Edmunds

Young quarterbacks have the greatest tendency to hold the ball too long and throw deeper over the middle when they do. Most have never played against a coverage linebacker who is 6-foot-4 and had an arm length and wingspan that was in the top 3% of all linebackers ever measured at the combine.

If Maye makes the mistake of throwing into zone coverage and thinking it goes over Edmunds’ head, it can be picked up or tipped for someone else to get it. Edmunds started well this season, but like TJ Edwards, has slid down the PFF rankings. This is the kind of team Edmunds should thrive against.

BEARS FORCED TO SWEAT IT OUT NOW IN NFC NORTH RACE

BEARS FORCED TO SWEAT IT OUT NOW IN NFC NORTH RACE

BEARS OFFENSIVE TREND INDICATES IT’S TIME TO TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT

BEARS LEAN ON A STRONGLY RENEWED OFFENSIVE LINE AGAINST PATRIOTS

4. TE Cole Kmet

Make sure the Bears have repeated passes with Kmet being the primary target this week. They can’t go through another week where he isn’t targeted after being on pace for possibly his best season in their sixth game. The Patriots’ issues with pass defense on shorter routes, especially in the middle of the field, could make it easier for Kmet to do damage. New England had traditionally played mainly man-to-man, but plays more two-deep safety coverage than in the past. This is another reason why the tight end or tight ends – referring here to Gerald Everett – could hurt New England. The Jets hit them with seven passes to tight ends for 108 yards in one game and in both games combined, former Vikings tight end Tyler Conklin made eight receptions. Greg Kittle led the 49ers in catches in their win over the Patriots.

5. THE Montez sweat

He’s back. The Bears defense looked lost without Sweat. When they were without Sweat or Andrew Billings last week after his injury, they were really lost up front. New England will throw a lot of shorter and timing passes and Sweat can’t get home with that, but he’s also one of the better Bears run defenders and leads the team in tackles for loss with five. Patriots third-year tackle Vederian Lowe, from Illinois, is rated 55th out of 76 tackles by PFF and the Bears may want to take advantage of this matchup by moving Sweat to his side.

6. Lock CB Kyler Gordon

Another reason the Bears struggled to stop the run last week was Gordon’s absence, but like Sweat, he’s back. He was a Bears wild card on defense with a pair of tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries and a pass defense to match his coverage. The Bears like to use him on slot blitzes or even run blitzes. Gordon is rated as PFF’s 10th-best cornerback or slot cornerback in defending against the run. His play near the line was one of the reasons the Bears were able to stop the one-two punch that Jacksonville had in the ground game early, before his hamstring injury.

7. WR Keenan Allen

Allen’s ability to catch passes over the middle should work well with the Patriots defense being vulnerable through the air in this part of the field. Marcus Jones is the Patriots cornerback and has tremendous speed. He has been a real threat on special teams, but in coverage he is six inches shorter than Allen at 5-8 and when moved to cover Kmet he is 10 inches shorter. In Allen’s case, a six-inch head start is all he needs to contort his body and make a critical catch.

8. G Bitches Jenkins

The Bears love to move their guards to the outside when blocking a wide area. The Patriots’ vulnerability on the perimeter thus far could make a mobile guard a threat, both in the running game on stretch plays and on screens with wide receivers or even backs. Jenkins battled his way through a knee injury last week and appears ready to go as his name has been removed from the injury report.

9. QB Caleb Williams

He’s at home, where he has a 105.1 passer rating, 67.3% completions, seven of his nine TD passes and just one of his five interceptions. Home sweet home. If Williams goes for checkdowns, this is a team he can burn.

Twitter: BearsOnSI