Keys to the game for Chiefs’ Week 3 matchup vs. Bears
After shutting down Trevor Lawrence and the Jacksonville Jaguars offense last week, the Kansas City Chiefs are heavy favorites against the woeful Chicago Bears.
Chicago is 0-2, and it is easy to say that the Bears do not have a single strength in any area of the team. This should be a great get-right opportunity for the Chiefs’ offense, as the unit has struggled with consistency and explosive plays.
Here are the main factors at play in Kansas City’s Week 3 contest against Chicago.
Through two weeks, Justin Fields’ credibility as a viable NFL starter has been questioned, and rightfully so. The former Ohio State quarterback has completed only 60.6 percent of his passes for 427 yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions.
Chicago’s coaching staff wants Fields to execute consistently from the pocket, and it is evident in their play calling. Designed runs for Fields have been non-existent.
Kansas City’s defense can make this another cakewalk of a contest if the defense forces Fields to beat them from within the pocket. Preventing him from escaping the pocket and extending plays and drives should be Steve Spagnuolo’s main focus in this game.
Running game has to be a consistent part of the offense
As in week one, the Chiefs’ offense struggled to move the ball against Jacksonville, and much of that is because Kansas City has ignored the rushing attack.
Isiah Pacheco made the most of his 12 carries, gaining 70 yards, but 12 touches are clearly not enough for the second-year runner. Having success with the rushing game forces the opposing defense to have to be more aggressive in pushing the line of scrimmage, leaving open areas in the intermediate areas of the field.
Watch for the Chiefs to get Pacheco involved early and often against Chicago.
Minimize penalties and miscues
Against the Jaguars, Kansas City committed 12 penalties that amounted to 94 yards.
Chicago has done little to prove that it can sustain drives, so playing a clean game will only make that task tougher for the Bears. The Chiefs cannot commit unnecessary penalties.
Those miscues also cannot occur on the offensive side of the ball. If this is the week Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs’ offense figure out things, pre-snap penalties and plays that kill drives cannot be a consistent feature during the game.
This has to be a statement game from a Chiefs’ perspective, and these issues that have been problems in the first two weeks are inexcusable at this point. There is no reason the Chiefs should not win by at least 10 points.
A one-possession win is not good enough for a team that is considered an elite group that has already won two Super Bowls with Mahomes at the helm.