3 Critical Stats Reveal Broncos' Blueprint to Beating Bears
The Denver Broncos Week 4 tilt vs. the Chicago Bears is being labeled as the 'toilet bowl' and various other names depicting two cellar-dwellers going head to head. The battle of the beaten.
Both teams have lost in embarrassing fashion. Both the Broncos and the Bears are 0-3 and looking for their first win of the season.
Here are three numbers that, if the Broncos take to heart, will get the team in the win column.
10
The Bears are struggling with tight ends in the passing game. Chicago has given up 10 yards per reception to the main tight end targets through the first three games.
One would expect Travis Kelce to have a good game against the Bears, but he comes in second at 9.9 yards per reception. It was rookie Luke Musgrave who had a huge day in Week 1, averaging almost 17 yards per reception on three catches.
It was by far his best performance of the season. Even the lesser-known Cade Otten got in on the action with almost seven yards per reception. Adam Trautman may not be an explosive tight end or even above average at the position, but against the Bears, he can be a valuable target for Russell Wilson.
Trautman could get five receptions for 45 yards, if targeted, and help move the chains when necessary. It's unfortunate that Greg Dulcich is on injured reserve because a solid pass-catching tight end could have a very nice day vs. Chicago.
3
The Bears’ pass defense is not formidable by any stretch, and Wilson could have his best day of the season in the Windy City. The quarterbacks that have squared off against the Bears so far this season have an average of +3 yards per attempt versus the other teams they have faced.
In fact, the three starting quarterbacks have averaged 8.9 yards per attempt. Wilson is averaging 7.6 yards per attempt, currently sixth-best in the NFL. It's no stretch to think he could add two yards to that average on Sunday.
Furthermore, the Bears are allowing nearly seven yards after the catch. Both Baker Mayfield and Jordan Love had a field day, with the former increasing the yards after catch by a full yard and a half over his other two performances and the latter reaching +5 yards over his other two performances. The Broncos would be wise to let Wilson attack the defense and get the ball into the hand of playmakers on offense.
6
The Bears' interior offensive line has struggled, giving up six sacks on the season to interior defensive linemen. It wasn’t just Chris Jones who upped that number because four other linemen have gotten in on the action this season.
If Vance Joseph's scheme doesn’t allow receivers to immediately run wide open and Justin Fields has to hold the ball a tick longer than he should, the interior defensive line should have a good day. Zach Allen needs to earn his large payday starting in Chicago.
If he can be as dominant as he was in training camp, he could record two sacks.
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