The New York Giants play host to the Chicago bears on Sunday afternoon in a crucial NFC matchup from MetLife Stadium. Not many expected both of these teams to have winning records at this point when the season started, as both come into the weekend with 2-1 records. The quality of the wins is somewhat lacking for both sides, though the opportunity to improve to 3-1 has to be intriguing for whoever can come away with the win in this one. Home field has been crucial for both finding success this season, which could be a precursor for who comes out on top in this one. The Bears dominated when the two met in January, coming away with the 26-point win at Soldier Field. The Bears have actually won three in a row overall in the series, dating back to 2019, though going on the road could be a challenge in this one.
The Bears came into the season looking like one of the worst teams in the NFC but after three weeks of action, the Bears are looking like they at least have the defense to compete with most opponents. A win over the 49ers in week one certainly turned some heads, though with how much weather played a factor in that one, questions remain about how that game might have gone otherwise. A win on the road against the Packers brought them back to reality slightly, though the score seemed more lopsided than the game actually went, with a goal-line stand setting back Chicago in that one. Last week, the Bears bounced back well, taking advantage of opportunities against the Texans to come away with the three-point win. Luck has certainly factored into quite a few of their wins and now that they'll be on the road, it'll be interesting to see if everything falls in line yet again for this group.
From an injury standpoint, the Bears continue to navigate the growing length of their report. Their depth on offense is a concern, especially considering Byron Pringle (calf) has already been ruled out, while David Montgomery (ankle) is questionable, though trending towards not playing. On the defensive side, the status of Roquan Smith (quadricep) will want to be monitored as well, given his importance in the middle of the field.
What's your favorite memory against the Giants? pic.twitter.com/SinH4ZiLG2
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) September 29, 2022
While the wins have been coming for this group, the offense has been struggling to do its part. Chicago hits the road ranked last in the NFL when it comes to total yards per game, as well as last in passing offense. Having the league's second-best running game has helped offset those woes, though, without Montgomery, it remains to be seen how they adapt. Khalil Herbert (7.3 yards per carry, 3 touchdowns) has filled in well though. All eyes will be on Justin Fields and unless he can start to become more of a downfield threat, the offense might continue to struggle.
Defensively, the Bears have struggled to stop the run as well, leaving the Giants with a great opportunity to control the clock at home. While ranking in the top ten in the league in passing defense, that's not likely to help in this matchup, considering New York's ability to avoid moving the ball through the air anyway. Having Smith (36 tackles, 0.5 sacks) in the fold at linebacker could go a long way to helping, while Eddie Jackson (21 tackles, 2 interceptions) will be flying around the field as well.