Chicago Bears vs. Buffalo Bills: 10 Keys for the Bears To Beat the Bills
Sure, the Buffalo Bills come to Toronto as a team that has yet to win this season. But they have played well of late and with the Bears coming off of consecutive home losses to teams they should have beat, no opponent should be taken lightly by Chicago.
That said, the Bears certainly must beat this team if they to have any chance of remaining in the playoff hunt. To make the playoffs they need to win their division as the Wild Card is no likely to come from the Central.
With Green Bay passing Chicago and moving into first place last weekend, the Bears absolutely must have this game. The good news is that if they play well, they should easily win this one. Of course, as always, there are potential obstacles for the Bears to overcome.
Meanwhile, former San Diego Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman, who was claimed off waivers by the Bills, will not play against Da Bears on Sunday.
The game is a road game for both teams, technically, as it is being played at the Rogers Centre in Toronto.
So let's get to the keys to a Bears victory this weekend. After all, a mark of 5-3 heading into their first showdown against the Vikings looks a lot better than 4-4.
The Bears Need To Win The Turnover Battle
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Buffalo is tied for 31st in takeaways, with only six this season. Meanwhile, the Bears game is to strip the ball, so the turnover differential will be one thing to watch this weekend.
But Buffalo is not nearly as prone at turning the ball over as the Bears. The Bills have given it away 11 times vs. the Bears' 18 times.
However, the Bears have taken the ball away from opponents 11 more times than Buffalo has.
The Bears Should Be Able To Put Up Points Against The Bill Defense
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Buffalo's defense is bad, folks.
Really bad.
Opponents average just over 30 points and 384 yards of offense against the Bills D this season.
But lately, the Bears have struggled on offense and the Bills have been more stingy, giving up only 13 points to Kansas City last Sunday.
This may be the Bears' best chance to score points all year.
Mike Martz Must Be Willing To Run The Ball
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We all know that Martz hates to run. But in an effort to cut down on interceptions and in deference to the lack of pass protection from the offensive line, the Bears need to establish the ground game.
Not only will it help keep Cutler upright, it makes sense since the Bills are dead last in run defense. Opponents average 5.0 yards per carry and give up almost 200 yards per game.
While we're at it, how about a little more Chester Taylor please?
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The Line Needs To Protect Cutler
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Why should Bears fans have any confidence that the O-line will keep Cutler off the ground on Sunday? Well, they are facing a pass rush that isn't very good, for starters.
The Bills are tied for 25th in sacks with 11, and were so desperate they claimed Shawne Merriman, once a fearsome pass rusher but someone who has only four sacks in his past three seasons.
The lack of a pass rush has hurt the Bill's defense, which has only one interception after finishing second in the NFL with 28 in 2009.
Roberto Garza comes back to the line following knee surgery.
Bears Need To Pressure Bills QB Ryan Fitzpatrick
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Prior to this year, Fitzpatrick had bounced around with three different teams without any success.
Then, after being inserted as the Bills starter in game three this season, he played decently. In fact, he was tremendous in the OT loss to Baltimore with almost 400 yards passing and four touchdowns.
Last week against KC he was pedestrian, throwing a bad interception at the end of regulation and being flagged for intentional grounding on third down from the Chiefs' 43-yard line in overtime.
The Bears need to get a hat on this guy and prevent him from playing like he did vs. Baltimore. Someone needs to generate a pass rush for the Bears or he has proven he is capable of exploiting the Bears secondary.
Bills WR Steve Johnson's six touchdown receptions are tied for sixth in the NFL.
Don't Be Fooled By The Bills W-L Record
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If the Bears overlook the game or take this team lightly, they could be in for some trouble on Sunday.
The Bills are winless, but have lost four games by eight points or fewer to the Ravens, Patriots, Chiefs and Dolphins and have dropped their last two in overtime to the Chiefs and Ravens.
The Bears, meanwhile, have lost consecutive games at home to average teams.
Throw The Flag, Lovie!
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While it is true that Bears head coach Lovie Smith has a poor track record at challenging calls on the field, when in doubt, he needs to follow his own advice and go for it.
Last week, after losing a challenge on a long play to Earl Bennett, Cutler fumbled on the goal line but replays showed his forward progress had been stopped and that the ball may have crossed the plane.
Smith did not throw the flag and the Bears lost the ball and the game.
Bye Week Allows Bears To Get Healthier
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Major Wright is expected back after being sidelined since week two because of a severe hamstring pull, a move which will help the Bears secondary.
Meanwhile, Lance Briggs is expected to play on Sunday too. Returning from a sprained ankle, Briggs should start against the Bills. And, as previously mentioned, Roberto Garza will return to the O-line.
Only cornerback Zack Bowman. who continues to rest his sprained right foot, is not expected to go.
Win The Field Position Battle
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Special teams may mean a lot in this game. Last week, the Bears had poor field position, but Bills punter Brian Moorman is not good at kicking inside the 20. Meanwhile, the Bears have one of the best in brad Maynard.
CJ Spiller has been good at returning kicks, but having the second highest yardage is more a function of how often the Bills have been scored against. His average is about the same as Danieal Manning. Spiller does have a 95 yard TD return, however.
The Bears lead the NFL in average punt return yards and Devin Hester looks like his old self.
Stop The Run
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Just as it's key for the Bears to be able to run the football against the Bills, it is just as important to stop the Bills rushing attack, a doable feat.
Fred Jackson, who gets the most touches, has averaged just 3.2 yards per carry in each of the past two games for Buffalo.
The Bears rank fourth in rush defense. If they stop the run, it makes the Bills offense one dimensional.
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