Chiefs scouting report: The Bears’ defense has made the wrong kind of NFL history
The Chiefs have scored an average of 18 1/2 points in their two games this season, but they are a 12 1/2 point favorite against the Chicago Bears in Week 3.
Chicago will be coming to GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday, and things have not gone well in the Matt Eberflus Era.
Eberflus was hired as coach ahead of last season to replace Matt Nagy, who is now the Chiefs’ offensive coordinator. The Bears had a 3-14 record last season and they have started this season with two losses.
Each week, I take an early look at the Chiefs’ next opponent, and here are five things to know about the Bears. Kickoff is at 3:25 p.m. on Sunday, and the game will air on Fox (WDAF Ch. 4).
1. Historically bad defense
The Bears lost their last 10 games of the 2022 season and opponents scored 25 or more points in each contest. Chicago’s defense has given up 25 or more points in each of this season’s games, too, including Sunday’s 27-17 loss at Tampa Bay.
The Fox Sports NFL crew noted no team in NFL history had ever lost 12 straight games and allowed 25 or more points in each game. This is not the Monsters of the Midway that once terrorized the NFL.
Opponents have converted 54.8% of third downs against the Bears. That’s the second highest percentage in the NFL, per Pro Football Reference.
Chicago has recorded just one sack this season.
2. Fields’ troubles
There’s one caveat to that record. The defense wasn’t responsible for all the opponent scoring Sunday.
Bears quarterback Justin Fields threw an awful pick-six late in the game. Buccaneers linebacker Shaq Barrett’s touchdown put the game away.
Fields has thrown for 427 yards in two games with two touchdown passes and three interceptions. Two of those have been pick-sixes, and he’s lost two fumbles.
After rushing for 59 yards in a season-opening loss to the Packers, Fields had 3 yards on the ground in four attempts Sunday.
3. Offensive line issues
It’s not all Fields’ fault. The Bears offensive line hasn’t provided much protection as Fields has been sacked 10 times in the two games.
That included six by the Buccaneers on Sunday.
The Bears have been flagged for five false starts, the second most in the NFL, according to NFLpenalties.com.
4. Secondary injuries
Bears cornerback Kyler Gordon had surgery on his broken hand last week. Safety Eddie Jackson left Sunday’s game because of a foot injury and didn’t return, ESPN said.
NBC Chicago said cornerback Tyrqiue Stevenson “had a brutal day at the office.”
“The Bucs went at Stevenson repeatedly on Sunday, and the rookie cornerback was no match for (Buccaneers receiver Mike) Evans, who racked up 171 yards on six catches, most of which came against Stevenson,” NBC Chicago’s Josh Schrock wrote.
5. A familiar face
Kicker Cairo Santos has been a bright spot for the Bears. Although Chicago has had trouble with its kickers in the past (“double doink” still sends a shiver down the spine of Bears fans), Santos is off to a solid start.
He has made all three of his field-goal attempts this season, including a 52-yarder on Sunday. Santos, who played for the Chiefs from 2014-2017, also has converted his four extra-point tries, and six of his nine kickoffs have been for touchbacks.
This story was originally published September 18, 2023 at 8:48 AM.
