Bears vs. Colts Prediction: Battle of the young quarterbacks |
It's hard to believe that we are already three weeks into the NFL season and have nearly approached the quarter mark. For the Chicago Bears, things have gotten off to an interesting start, as they have split their first two games.
Depending on who you ask, some feel this team should be 2-0, while others feel they are lucky not to be 0-2. Looking ahead to week 3, the Bears will face off against an Indianapolis Colts team that is not only searching for its first win but is also having to cope with some injuries, especially on the defensive side of the ball. That is music to the Bears' ears, and if there was ever a week to get things going offensively, this would be it. No one is going to say a game this early is a must-win game, but when you look at the Bears' upcoming schedule, it would be nice for them to grab this win, as it could jumpstart them for what could be a nice early-season run. Here are some things to look for during the Bears-Colts game:
There have been plenty of disappointments on offense, but none have been more disappointing than the offensive line and the lack of a running game. Both of those go hand in hand, which is why neither of them has had much success, but this is the week the running game needs to get going. Looking back at the past two seasons, you will notice that Chicago has been one of the better running teams in the league. A lot of that had to do with Justin Fields and his ability to scramble and make plays happen. With him no longer in the picture and David Montgomery in his second season in Detroit, the Bears were in desperate need of an RB and chose to add D'Andre Swift in free agency. Coming off a career-best season, you can see why the Bears brought him in, but through two weeks, he hasn't looked good and has been a massive disappointment thus far. Part of his struggles fall on the offensive line, but you can also point to him failing to find the hole and trying to outrun defenders to the outside. Every now and then, that will work, but that isn't a recipe for long-term success. For the Bears' offense to take that next step and make life easier on Caleb Williams, they will need their rushing attack to get going, and this is the week it may happen, as the Colts rank dead last at stopping the run. Indianapolis is also without DeForest Buckner, which makes things much easier for anyone playing them. If the Bears can't run the ball this week, some serious questions must be addressed before week four.
Like Williams for the Bears, the Colts have a young quarterback learning the NFL game. Second-year man Anthony Richardson looks to improve after a week-two meltdown. Richardson played just three games in 2023 before being lost for the season with a shoulder injury and has only five games of NFL experience under his belt. Through two games this season, you have seen the good Richardson against the Texans in week one and the bad Richardson against the Packers in week two. The Bad Richardson struggles to make plays, putting his offense in a very difficult spot. The good Richardson is one of the scariest players in the game, as his ability to use his legs to make plays, mixed with a cannon of an arm, makes him the ideal duel threat option. For the Bears to knock off the Colts, they will not only have to put up points, but they need to find a way to contain Richardson and keep him from using his legs. Sure, Jonathan Taylor is going to get his from time to time, but Richardson is the one that makes this offense tick. The sooner Chicago gets in his head, the more prone he is to make mistakes, and he has made tons of them so far.
Although Ryan Poles has made some additions to give the Bears' offensive line much-needed depth, the quality of those depth pickups hasn't been great, as the play from this unit continues to be poor. When you look back at the Houston film, not only was Williams in duress the entire game but there were times when it looked as if Williams was going to get killed in that game. That can't happen if you want to make the playoffs this season, as one wrong hit to Williams could be the end of the Bears season. At some point, these men must man up front and learn how to block someone to give this offense a chance. Without Buckner on defense, this could be the week where, at the very least, show signs of improvement, even if it is minimal at best. Should they come out of this game in a similar position to where they were last week, Poles will face several questions as he will need to make some changes to the offensive line. Those changes are a topic for an entirely different day, but he knows the offensive line struggles can't continue.
The fate of the Bears' playoff hopes hinges on a six-game stretch that gets underway this weekend. Over the next six games, the Bears will face teams that they are either just as good as or better than, and they could be favored in most of those games. This is one of those games. Chicago may not be the favorites, but they should realistically win this game, given their talent. Expect a very tightly contested game like their first two contests this season, but this is a game where the Bears figure out a way to win as they take down the Colts 21-17. Is this the week the running game gets going?
Don't let Anthony Richardson beat you with his legs
Can the offensive line block better?
Prediction: BEAR DOWN
