While the Chicago Bears are off this week, there are still plenty of storylines to watch in Week 6, and there are a few that Bears fans should be particularly interested in.
Here are four storylines to watch in Week 6 of the NFL:
1. QBs that weren’t: Patrick Mahomes vs. Deshaun Watson
The Chicago Bears traded up one spot to select quarterback Mitch Trubisky in the 2017 NFL Draft, and Bears fans have spent the last three seasons watching two other quarterbacks from that draft class dominate the league.
MVP Patrick Mahomes and MVP candidate Deshaun Watson will faceoff Sunday in what’s sure to be a high-flying, offensive game featuring two of the league’s best young quarterbacks as the Kansas City Chiefs take on the Houston Texans.
The Bears will host the Chiefs in Week 16 on Sunday Night Football, where Trubisky and Mahomes will battle it out.
2. Battle of the NFC North: Lions vs. Packers
The NFC North is one of the league’s most competitive divisions this season with all teams having a winning record. After the Bears lost to the Raiders in Week 5 — dropping to 3-2 — the Packers were able to extend their lead in the division.
Not to mention the Lions aren’t a team to overlook this season. Every win is important — and every loss for Chicago’s division rivals is key. Which makes Monday night’s showdown between the Packers and Lions a must-watch for Bears fans.
The only question is: Who should Bears fans be rooting for? The hated Packers, who lead the division and could pull further away with a victory Monday. Or the Lions, who would maintain a hold on second place with a win.
3. Cody Parkey’s return
Bears fans won’t soon forget Cody Parkey’s infamous double-doink missed field goal that ousted them from the playoffs, and neither will the NFL world.
Which makes Parkey’s return to the NFL a newsworthy storyline this week. The Titans cut former Bears kicker Cairo Santos after he missed four field goals a week ago and brought in Parkey as his replacement.
Luckily, the Bears seemed to have found their answer to their kicker woes in Eddy Pineiro, who has been more than reliable for Chicago. But all eyes will be on Parkey waiting for his first missed kick or a doink off the upright.
4. Previewing next week’s opponent in New Orleans Saints
Bears fans can get a glimpse at next week’s opponent in the 4-1 New Orleans Saints, who take on Gardner Minshew and the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Saints are without starting quarterback Drew Brees, but that hasn’t limited them in the slightest. Backup quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has stepped up in Brees’ absence, and the Saints again look like one of the top teams in the NFC.
The Bears will face a Bridgewater-led Saints team in Week 7, and they’ll need their defense to rebound and the offense to finally come to life to beat them.
