Bear Digest

Three Keys to a Chicago Bears Win Over the Jacksonville Jaguars

it's best to keep things simple while on a European road trip and it doesn't get more basic for the Bears than keeping Caleb Williams protected and stopping the run.
Gene Chamberlain|
The deep pocket for Caleb Williams to throw is a key. It keeps his feet clean and he can step up and fire while also seeing downfield better.
The deep pocket for Caleb Williams to throw is a key. It keeps his feet clean and he can step up and fire while also seeing downfield better. | Daniel Bartel-Imagn Images

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Chicago Bears

Bears coach Matt Eberflus and assistant coaches seemed to be simplifying the game for the London fans and media unfamiliar with their sport. 

"We're learning and finding our formula for winning and I think that's an important thing to do early in the season," Eberflus said.

On the field, it's not so simple. The formula for winning must vary week to week, however. 

what worked against the porous Carolina Panthers defense last week might not against Jacksonville because the Jaguars have two good pass rushers in Travon Walker (5 sacks) and Josh Hines-Allen (1 sack). Carolina's pass rush lacked much punch and Caleb Williams could set up to throw without a great deal of fear.

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The plan of attack will vary this week, as it will when the Bears return to the U.S. and play at Washington Oct. 27 for a Sunday Night Football game after their bye week.

Here are the three keys to beating Jacksonville.

1. Keep the Pocket Deep

The offensive line over the last two games formed a deeper pocket for Williams, allowing him room to step up or move a few steps before he throws. He can get the passes off with clean feet, as Eberflus likes to say.

This needs to continue even against a fairly good pass rushing team like the Jaguars, who have 11 sacks, three less than the Bears.

"It's just when you're firm in the pocket you can really do a good job of keeping your eyes downfield and really stay with your progressions," Eberflus said. "I think we had a third down last week where he really progressed all the way through (for targets). We didn't convert that one, that particular one, but he did a really good job of progressing through that and that was a really good moment.

"But the only reason he really can do that is because of the firmness of the pocket."

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2. Remember Keenan Allen

In other games, it didn't matter as much. Against a Jacksonville defense so entrenched in cover-2 scheme and/or two-man coverage scheme, the chance for Keenan Allen to get open is tremendous. He is an effective target who finds the dead spots in zones. Allen had games last year where it almost seemed he was the only Chargers receiver. He hasn't fallen off that much in a season.

Williams could find this a friendly option in the game with the Jaguars cornerbacks and safeties struggling and overcommitting to keep the outside receivers in check. For Williams to have the time to attack that zone to Allen, on some routes it will require more time to throw. See key No. 1.

3. Gap Control

Tank Bigsby is not only leading the league in yards per carry (8.0) but he's third in attempts per broken tackle (6.8) and is No. 1 in the Next Gen Stats efficient rushing metric, because he wastes no time getting headed upfield. He cuts, runs fast and with power. And Travis Etienne is actually the starter and can go the distance, as well. The Bears run defense has leaked all year and staying in their gaps of responsibility will be critical both up front and at linebacker. They support from the secondary is big, too. Jaquan Brisker usually could be counted on to bring this but they'll need Elijah Hicks to do it this week.

Stop the run and make Trevor Lawrence on-dimensional, and make no turnovers against a defense that hasn't made a single interception and the battle is won.

Twitter: BearsOnSI

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Gene Chamberlain
GENE CHAMBERLAIN

Gene Chamberlain has covered the Chicago Bears full time as a beat writer since 1994 and prior to this on a part-time basis for 10 years. He covered the Bears as a beat writer for Suburban Chicago Newspapers, the Daily Southtown, Copley News Service and has been a contributor for the Daily Herald, the Associated Press, Bear Report, CBS Sports.com and The Sporting News. He also has worked a prep sports writer for Tribune Newspapers and Sun-Times newspapers.