Bears vs. Jaguars: Showdown in London |
For the second week in a row, there will be some early football as the London games continue at 8:30 AM on Sunday. This time, the Chicago Bears will play against the Jacksonville Jaguars across the pond.
With the NFL going to a 17-game schedule a few years ago, every team will either have one more home game or one more away game, and this is technically considered a home game for the Bears. This is the experience of a lifetime for everyone involved, but it is also no vacation, as a game still needs to be played, and there is work that needs to be done. Coming in with a 3-2 record and riding a two-game winning streak, Chicago seems to be turning things around after a rough start and is in the middle of a stretch of games where they could win plenty of them. The Jaguars, on the other hand, picked up their first win last week, but apart from that, they have looked completely lost on the field, and that isn't what anyone expected this season. That has the makings of being a trap game for the Bears as they not only are the favorites, but this is a game they should win. That sometimes causes a team to overlook their opponent which is something this team can't do against anyone.
Here are some things to look for in week 6:
Secondary depth will be tested
When you look at this team's strength, its defense, it's hard to put into words how good it has been. Going back to last season and now throwing in five games this season, the Bears have gone 14 straight games without allowing more than 20 points, which is the longest active streak in the NFL.
Defense will always win championships, and the Bears have had a championship-caliber defense for a while. This weekend, however, their defense might be put to the test as there are some significant injuries to account for. The secondary will especially be hurting this week as both Tyrique Stevenson and Jaquon Brisker are out for this game, while Kyler Gordon has been limited at practice all week.
That accounts for 60% of the Bears' secondary that is either hobbled or out this weekend so that part of the defense will be tested. Trevor Lawrence can make you pay at times, but he is also prone to mistakes, so as long as the backups step up, the Bears should be fine.
One game at a time
As cliche as it may sound, the Bears sole mindset should be talking the NFL season one game at a time instead of worrying about the big picture. Sure, this team wants to win as many games as possible and set themselves up for a great season, but looking too far ahead is also a bad idea, as it could cause this team to overlook certain teams, resulting in a setback.
Given that the Bears are in a stretch of games that gives them roughly one of the easiest schedules for the next two months, it's very easy to see why most fans want to look beyond this week and think about what could come from this season. There is a real chance the Bears are sitting at 9-3 or 8-4 when week 12 rolls around, and if that happens, there will be playoff football in Chicago. All that matters right now is winning week six and then focusing on their next opponent.
Caleb Williams is the real deal
It took roughly four games for Caleb Williams to settle in as a starter, but the Chicago Bears rookie QB appears to be the real deal. Coming off his second 300-yard game in his last three, to go with two TD passes and no Interceptions, Williams now has five TDs to four Interceptions, and all five of those TDs have come in the past three games.
He has also gone back-to-back games without turning the football over, and anytime that happens with a rookie quarterback under center, the team will be in great shape. Coming into the season, everyone knew that 2024 season would be a learning curve for Williams, but that he also had the potential to take the Bears places that many QBs haven't.
Sure, he may not be playing at the same level as Jayden Daniels right now, but Williams was the No. 1 pick for a reason, and last week was the reason why. He completed over 66% of his passes in the win against the Panthers for 308 yards and a pair of TDS, and he now has more than 1100 yards passing for the season.
Sure, if he keeps that pace up for the rest of the season, you could be looking at the first quarterback in Bears history to top 4000 yards, and that alone is an incredible feat. Williams wants to win in this league, and you can see that every time he takes the field. His teammates are starting to see that, too, and they have rallied around their new leader and are starting to come together in a big way.
PREDICTION: BEAR DOWN 24-17
Football across the pond has been going on for several seasons now, and it is getting to the point where every team will have at least one International game per year. This year, it's the Bears' turn to head overseas, while the Jaguars seem to get two games in London every season.
With the Vikings playing there last week and having a bye this week, the Bears need to win this game to keep pace in the division. They don't want to fall farther behind the front runners right now. On paper, this is just another football game, but given the field, the time, and the overall festivities that go into play, everything about this game is out of the ordinary.
Whoever wins this game will be the team able to put the distractions behind them and focus solely on the game in front of them. Look for the Jaguars to come out and give Chicago all they can handle, but the Bears are starting to play the football they want to play, which will continue with a 24-17 win.
