The Chicago Bears defense just played one of the best games of the season. They ranked as the fifth-best unit in fantasy last week during their win over Atlanta. But don’t let those high numbers fool you. A tough matchup against New England on Thursday night makes them a dangerous start for fantasy managers.
The Patriots offense is finding its rhythm. Per Yahoo Sports, New England has averaged 33.3 points per game over their last three contests. Drake Maye is playing well, too. He has 10 touchdown passes against just one interception recently. He also hasn’t been sacked much lately, having only two sacks in that span after nine sacks in the first three games of the year.
Secondary Struggles and Big Threats
Chicago has some serious problems to fix on the field. Jaylon Johnson is struggling to stop the pass. According to reports, quarterbacks are completing 82.6 percent of passes thrown his way. The Patriots have great weapons to exploit this. They just got star wide receiver A.J. Brown back. Last year, Brown had 10 catches for 132 yards and two touchdowns against Chicago when he played for Philadelphia.
The Bears must also watch out for the run. New England is good at moving the ball on the ground. Rhamondre Stevenson leads them with 263 rushing yards so far this season. He has started every game for the team. If the Patriots keep their backs fresh, Chicago’s front will be under constant pressure.
Injuries and Defensive Impact
Kyler Gordon’s return changed the vibe in Chicago. Nate Davis said the team looked “awfully good after getting a key guy back” during his report for USA TODAY. Gordon had three sacks and two forced fumbles in just 17 snaps on Sunday. This performance helped the Bears move up in the power rankings.
But the unit isn’t fully healthy. Right guard Jonah Hascall is dealing with a hip flexor. Per reports, his status for the Thursday game is uncertain. Losing him would hurt an offense that only had 98 rushing yards last week. The Bears need to win this game to stay close in the NFC North behind Minnesota and Green Bay.
