Chiefs’ keys vs. the Bears: Rattle Trubisky, take advantage of red-zone opportunities
The Kansas City Chiefs and Chicago Bears don’t know each other well from team history perspective given Sunday’s game is just the 13th meeting between the teams.
But the same can’t be said for Chiefs head coach Andy Reid and Bears head coach Matt Nagy, who served on Reid’s staffs with the Philadelphia Eagles and Chiefs. Given their mutual familiarity, the offenses might provide mirror images of each other.
Where the Chiefs (10-4) earn the edge in that situation, though, is at quarterback, with Patrick Mahomes throws to guys like wide receiver Tyreek Hill and tight end Travis Kelce.
The Bears (7-7) counter with Mitchell Trubisky, whose 2,774 yards passing ranks 23rd in the league.
Much will be made of the Trubisky vs. Mahomes matchup, of course, but there should be little debate about which team won the 2017 NFL Draft.
Meanwhile, the Bears hold a 7-5 edge over the Chiefs in this all-time series, but Reid holds a 6-5 career mark over the Bears, including the Eagles’ 33-19 win over Chicago in the 2002 playoffs.
Here are four key areas to monitor for the Chiefs as they seek to improve to 11-4 and keep pressure on the New England Patriots in the race for the No. 2 seed.
Make Trubisky throw
In six losses this season, Trubisky averaged 230.1 yards passing and totaled three touchdown passes with five interceptions. Opponents also sacked him 18 times in those six games, where he averaged a 69.9 passer rating. Chicago enters Week 16 ranked a dismal 26th in the league in scoring, averaging 18.3 points per game. In those six aforementioned losses, the Bears scored 78 total points — an average of just 13 points per contest.
Rattling the Bears signal-caller should be easy if the Chiefs stop the run. Chicago ranks 29th in rushing (85.6-yard average).
Turning the Bears into a one-dimensional offense means putting the game in Trubisky’s hands. If that happens, the Chiefs hold a clear advantage.
Slow down Mack
The Bears’ defense is loaded with playmakers, including safety Eddie Jackson, linebacker Roquan Smith, defensive tackle Akiem Hicks and pass-rusher extraordinaire Khalil Mack.
Mack enters Sunday’s game with 7.5 sacks this season. Accounting for him is a priority.
The Chiefs, though, are battle-tested this season against elite pass rushers, having faced the likes of J.J. Watt, Von Miller, Za’Darius Smith and Joey Bosa, among others. And for the most part, their protection has been effective, evidenced by Mahomes being sacked just 16 times this season (and Matt Moore eight times).
With experience and a relatively healthy offensive line — only left guard Andrew Wylie (illness, ankle, shoulder) hasn’t practiced this week — the Chiefs should have a plan in place for Mack.
Get in the end zone
Despite averaging 28.1 points per game this season, fourth-best in the league, the Chiefs have had problems punching it into the end zone. They rank 21st in red-zone touchdown percentage (51.1).
Their lack of a consistent running game inside an opponent’s 20 is a primary culprit. The Chiefs’ 14 rushing TDs this year rank 15th.
Damien Williams has scored three of those touchdowns, but he hasn’t played since suffering a rib injury in Week 11. While Williams put in two limited practices in the week leading up to this game, it remains to be seen if he plays.
The bottom line here for the Chiefs is to not let a team that already has problems scoring stick around.
Chicago’s defense is stingy, allowing 18.1 points per game, so chances to get in the end zone from inside the 20-yards line might be few. When the opportunity presents itself, the Chiefs must put touchdowns, and not field goals, on the scoreboard.
Ignore outside noise
The Chiefs did a good job last weekend of avoiding a potential trap-game loss against the Denver Broncos. They need that same focus Sunday night.
With the Buffalo Bills-New England Patriots game being played Saturday, the Chiefs will know before kickoff in Chicago where they stand in the chase for the AFC’s No. 2 seed.
Saturday’s outcome aside, Chiefs must keep the pressure on by taking care of business against the Bears and extending their winning streak to five games.
This story was originally published December 20, 2019 at 5:00 AM.
