KEY MATCHUP
Giants working again Saquon Barkley burned the Bears for 125 dashing yards on 24 carries as a rookie final 12 months (the Dolphins’ Frank Gore was the one different rusher to achieve 100 or extra yards in opposition to the Bears — and each wanted additional time to do it). Barkley’s 29-yard run on the primary play from scrimmage in additional time keyed the Giants’ successful field-goal drive.
But after a quick begin this season — 120 yards in opposition to the Cowboys and 107 in opposition to the Bills — Barkley suffered a excessive ankle sprain and a shoulder harm and his manufacturing his progressively diminished. In reality, he has rushed for 29 yards on 27 carries (1.1 avg.) in his final two video games — together with 13 carries for one yard in opposition to the Jets in his final sport.
Coming off a bye week of relaxation, Barkley figures to be as wholesome as he’s been in awhile, which presents a problem for Bears inside linebackers Roquan Smith and Nick Kwiatkoski — each wonderful run defenders. Smith specifically is coming off an excellent sport in opposition to the Rams, through which he had an interception and 11 tackles, together with 4 third-down stops.
A 12 months in the past, Smith was blocked cleanly by working again Elijhaa Penny on Barkley’s 29-yard run in additional time. As with any deal with machine, avoiding these conditions is the important thing to his sport.
TRENDING
The Bears’ offense ranks 30th within the NFL in yards per play, 29th in dashing yards per carry and 32nd and final in passing yards per try. They have had one sport with greater than 300 whole yards — each different group within the league, together with the Redskins, Dolphins and Jets, has had no less than three video games with greater than 300 yards.
But the Bears’ offense has no less than had matches of manufacturing in opposition to dangerous cross defenses — three touchdowns in opposition to the 25th-ranked Redskins; three touchdowns in opposition to the 27th-ranked Lions. The Giants are in that class, ranked 31st in passing yards per try and 26th in yards allowed per play.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Giants rookie quarterback Daniel Jones ranks 21st within the NFL in passer score (88.0) with matches of excellence — together with 308 yards, 4 touchdowns and no interceptions in opposition to the Jets in his final sport. But he’s struggled in opposition to top-half defenses and the Bears, even with out Akiem Hicks, nonetheless are a top-10 protection — sixth in yards per play, fourth in dashing yards per carry and ninth in passing yards per try.
X-FACTOR
Bears quarterback Mitch Trubisky suffered a hip-pointer in opposition to the Rams, however practiced all week and is predicted to play. Even if he performs, it stays to be seen how efficient he’ll be coming off the harm; how a lot the harm will inhibit him, notably as a runner; and if he can keep away from aggravating the harm irrespective of how cautious he may be.