Sunday | 4:25 ET
The Arizona Cardinals will head to Chicago to take on the Bears on a muggy December day this week. The Cardinals sit at 3-11, already eliminated from the playoffs. They currently hold the number three overall draft pick, only one game ahead of the league-worst Carolina Panthers. The Bears come in at 5-9, and still technically alive in the playoff race. QB Justin Fields, head coach Matt Eberflus, and offensive coordinator Luke Getsy are all auditioning for their futures over these last three weeks of the 2023 season. If Fields and Getsy don’t put up big numbers against a very poor Arizona defense (allowed second-most total points this year), it would look dire for them.
The Bears offense focuses on the run game, both with the running backs and with Justin Fields. Although, the team has had trouble finding rushing production over the past three weeks, in which its leading rusher has only posted 59 (Fields), 58 (Fields), and 36 (Roschon Johnson) rushing yards. Chicago’s yards per carry has lowered to ninth in the NFL, while it still sits at fourth in rushing attempts and fifth in rushing yards. Today’s matchup against the Cardinals defense offers the perfect opportunity to right the ship. Arizona has allowed the second-most rushing yards, fourth-most rushing attempts and gives up the ninth-most yards per carry this season. Opponents take the lead and then pound the run game. Even though the Cardinals know this, the team still allows good rushing efficiency. The Bears should be able to take advantage of this with RB D’Onta Foreman. Despite a quiet past several games, I expect him to be the game’s leading rusher and add a touchdown as well.
The Bears are 24th in net yards per pass attempt and 27th in passing yards. Justin Fields and the offense must have a good showing this week. The Cardinals are horrible against the pass. They allow the third-most net yards per pass attempt. Despite facing the fourth-least passing attempts this season, Arizona has allowed the third most passing touchdowns (tied with the Bears). Without any daunting cornerbacks, WR DJ Moore will have a big day. The Cardinals have one of the weakest pass rushes in the NFL. The unit is last in pressure percentage and QB knockdowns. Justin Fields should not take more than two sacks. He also must limit the turnovers, as the Cardinals are 25th in takeaways. I think that the Bears will be pass-heavy and try to see what Fields can do against such a weak secondary.
Switching sides, the Cardinals do not have a strong offense. Arizona is 29th in net yards per pass attempt, 27th in passing touchdowns, and 29th in passing yards. QB Kyler Murray had to miss the first nine games of the season, so the passing attack is a bit better than the season-long numbers suggest. Murray has already thrown for 1,075 passing yards in his five games since returning, but has a four-to-four touchdown-interception ratio. With his best receiver Marquise Brown out, Murray could struggle through the air. The Bears have allowed the third-most passing touchdowns, but are also second in interceptions. The secondary has been playing a lot better in the second half of the season (especially in terms of takeaways) and has been keeping opposing passing numbers low (minus an insane fourth quarter passing performance from Joe Flacco last week). Tight end Trey McBride will be Arizona’s main target. He’s led the team in receptions two weeks in a row and has 29 targets in his past three games. With Brown out, these numbers will only increase. With no reliable wide receivers alongside McBride, it could be a long day for Kyler.
On the ground, the Cardinals have good efficiency numbers. They are third in yards per attempt and seventh in rushing yards, but only 18th in rushing attempts. They are usually losing, which means that opposing defenses tend to sit back and invite the run. It’s tough to tell how good this rushing attack really is. Either way, the Bears are fantastic against the run. They’ve allowed the least rushing yards in the NFL this year, third-least rushing touchdowns, and third-least yards per carry. Cardinals RB James Conner will have a slow day, be it from simple lack of efficiency or lack of rushing attempts due to trailing.
The Bears win this one fairly easily. The Cardinals defense is simply one of the worst in the NFL and the Bears should be highly motivated to trounce on it. RB D’Onta Foreman will have a big game, as well as QB Justin Fields. Without Marquise Brown, expect Trey McBride to have a massive target share. The Cardinals will struggle to run the ball against the Bears defense, and will turn the ball over when forced to pass the ball exclusively.