The Chicago Bears (7-7) will host the Kansas City Chiefs (10-4) in their regular-season home finale on Sunday Night Football, where there are still many questions that need to be answered for a Bears team that is headed home after their final regular season game next week.
While there’s nothing left to play for with the Bears officially eliminated from playoff contention, there’s still plenty to watch as young guys battle for roster spots in 2020 and Mitchell Trubisky has two more games to show the Bears he can be the guy in 2020 and possibly moving forward.
Here are four bold predictions for the Bears’ meeting against the Chiefs:
1. The student bests the teacher
The only time that Matt Nagy and Andy Reid have faced off was during a third preseason game back in 2018, where Reid played his starters into the third quarter and Nagy rested his. Nagy got the best of Reid — as his second team led by Chase Daniel marched down the field on the Chiefs and the second-team defense contained Patrick Mahomes and Kansas City’s offense.
But you can’t put much stock into preseason, which is why this game will be a good gauge on exactly if Nagy, the student, can best the teacher, Reid. It’s not a surprise that both coaches are very similar, considering Nagy learned from Reid. But it’ll be interesting to see how they approach their gameplans.
Nagy is coming off one of his worst games as a playcaller against the Packers, so he’ll be challenged to get back to the basics that make this offense work, including establishing the run game, rolling Mitchell Trubisky out of the pocket and utilizing the up-tempo offense.
2. Mitchell Trubisky will throw for more TDs than Patrick Mahomes
There have been — and will continue to be — plenty of comparisons between Mitchell Trubisky and Patrick Mahomes, the quarterback taken after Trubisky. While this game won’t change any perceptions about the bigger picture — as in which quarterback will be more successful — it would be nice for Trubisky to come out on a primetime stage and outperform Mahomes, if only once.
It’s not too much of a bold prediction to say that Trubisky will throw for more touchdowns than Mahomes, considering that Trubisky has thrown for more touchdowns (8) than Mahomes (5) in the last four games. Trubisky has had two games where he’s tossed 3 touchdowns in the last three games.
But considering how out of sync the offense appeared last week against the Packers — when it appeared to finally get on track — this could wind up being a very bold prediction if it’s more of the same from Matt Nagy’s offense.
3. The Bears defense will force 2 turnovers
While the Bears will miss the playoffs for the eighth time this decade, their defense certainly isn’t the reason this season. They’re still allowing the third fewest points in the NFL, but they need to force more turnovers. But it’ll be a challenge against a well-disciplined Chiefs offense.
First off, Patrick Mahomes doesn’t turn the ball over much. In fact, he’s thrown only four interceptions this season. But three of those picks have come in the last four games. The Bears defense has an opportunity to pressure Mahomes and force him to make some mistakes, something that doesn’t happen often.
But on the flip side, the Chiefs have turned the ball over three times in their last two games, including a two-turnover performance against the Patriots. So there’s definitely an opportunity there for Chicago, and they’re going to need their big names — including Pro Bowlers Khalil Mack and Eddie Jackson — to step up.
4. Allen Robinson, Anthony Miller will have repeat 100-yard games
Considering the fact that prior to last week that Bears receivers have eclipsed the 100-yard mark in a game just five times this season, it was a pleasant surprise when both Allen Robinson and Anthony Miller had 100-yard games last week against Green Bay.
While you’d hope Matt Nagy will commit to David Montgomery and the run game against the Chiefs, this could be a high-scoring affair, which would require the Bears to pass more than they run as the game progresses. It wouldn’t be too much of a stretch to predict that Robinson or Miller will have a 100-yard receiving game, as both have had at least two this season. But both? That’s bold, even considering last week against the Packers.
