The New York Giants (2-8) and Chicago Bears (4-6) will square off on Sunday in Week 12.
The Giants opened the week as 6.5-point road underdogs, and the spread hasn’t changed as of Saturday morning.
With this matchup on tap, Giants Wire took the opportunity to hold a Q&A with Bears Wire managing editor Alyssa Barbieri.
Giants Wire: When pouring over the individual statistics, Khalil Mack appears to be having a down year in comparison to some of his more numerically successful seasons in recent years. However, after watching some film it’s clear that offenses are simply building an entire game plan around him, often double- and triple-teaming him. How can the Bears go about freeing Mack up a bit and positioning him to re-emerge as the same game-breaker we’re used to?
Alyssa Barbieri: Surely the Bears would like to have defensive tackle Akiem Hicks back in the lineup (he’s eligible to return in Week 15). Typically when teams double- and triple-team Mack, they free up other players to attack, Hicks being the primary beneficiary of that. If other players can take advantage of the focus on Mack — Leonard Floyd being a player that needs to utilize those one-on-one matchups — the offense will have to account for them at the expense of one less man on Mack. But even when Mack is absent in the box score, as he was last Sunday against the Rams, he’s still making an impact on the field freeing up other guys or bringing pressure but not ultimately getting there.
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Mitchell Trubisky is a bit of an anomaly. Some film looks good, some film looks bad, some numbers look good, some numbers look bad. Who is Trubisky the quarterback at this point of his career, and does the perception in Chicago differ from what we see in regards to Trubisky on a national level?
At this point in his career, Trubisky is a question mark. While some have already labeled him a bust, which seems unfair considering some of the busts that have gone down in NFL history, three years isn’t enough time to label him that for his career. Surely he’s a disappointment in Chicago, considering the growth he made last season and has failed to continue, as is the fact that he’s not Patrick Mahomes or Deshaun Watson. But quarterback development isn’t linear, and given Trubisky’s relative inexperience at the collegiate level, he’s someone that was always a work in progress rather than a finished product. But the perception surrounding Trubisky in Chicago is the same as what you see nationally: The Bears messed up badly taking Trubisky over Mahomes and Watson, and they’re being hindered by the quarterback position.
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After winning Coach of the Year in 2018, Matt Nagy has seen his team fall back down to earth a bit and arguably even underperform compared to initial expectations. How much of the 4-6 record this season is on the shoulders of Nagy, and is there any reason for Bears fans to be concerned with him moving forward?
Nagy is facing a lot of criticism, not only for the Bears’ inability to build off a solid 2018 campaign but also for the offense’s struggles. Last season, everything went right for the Bears, thus Nagy looked like a genius. Now, he’s facing his first real adversity, and it’s not going as well as everyone expected. As far as any concerns moving forward, it’s more about Nagy as a play-caller than a coach. Nagy is too stubborn to admit that he hasn’t done a good job calling plays this season — look no further than the Saints game, when Chicago ran the ball just seven times, which was a franchise low. You’d like to reserve judgment until Nagy gets the quarterback he gets to choose, but that won’t necessarily happen next season as Trubisky will surely be back for his fourth season.
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The Bears have just 799 yards rushing this season and average a paltry 3.5 yards per carry, which is tied for third-worst in the NFL. What has factored into that level of futility — is it more the backs, the offensive line or all of the above?
It’s a combination of the offensive line and play-calling by Matt Nagy, who admittedly doesn’t like to run the ball. Running the football was an issue last season, as well, although Jordan Howard masked some of those concerns. With this essentially being the same unit — aside from right guard Kyle Long, who is on injured reserve, the onus falls on the offensive line’s inability to create holes for rookie running back David Montgomery, who hasn’t gotten an opportunity to show what he can do behind an adequate line.
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A face familiar to Giants fans is cornerback Prince Amukamara, who remains loved in New York. How has his career unfolded in Chicago, and how is he playing this season?
Amukamara has had a nice career since signing with Chicago, especially paired with All-Pro Kyle Fuller opposite him. While Amukamara doesn’t have an interception this season, he has been an effective cornerback for the Bears. He’s allowed just one touchdown this season. His ability to play physical press coverage without notching many penalties is something that the Bears surely appreciate. This season hasn’t been as productive for the entire Bears defense in terms of last year, but Amukamara remains one of Chicago’s dependable players and leaders.
Make sure you check out Alyssa Barbieri for all of your Bears needs over at Bears Wire.
