Can the Bears upset the Chiefs?
The last victory the Bears celebrated was an away game where they weren't the favorites.
Entering that week, they were underdogs by 7 1/2 points against the New England Patriots in a game that drew national attention. By kickoff, 79% of bettors sided with New England according to Vegas reports. However, the Bears silenced the doubters, cruising to a 33-14 victory by the third quarter.
Repeating this feat against the Chiefs in Kansas City this Sunday seems nearly impossible. Upset victories have conditions, and this game seemingly lacks those favorable factors.
For instance, in 1996, the Bears faced the reigning champions, the Dallas Cowboys, and pulled off an easy 22-6 win. But the Cowboys had several key players missing. Similarly, in 2020, when they met Tom Brady's Buccaneers at Soldier Field, Tampa Bay was missing Chris Godwin and had the disadvantage of a short work week. Moreover, in the lead-up to their win against New England, the Bears had shown promise, securing victories against teams like San Francisco and Houston.
A victory against the Chiefs would be their most unforgettable upset to date.
Their current 12-game losing streak doesn't inspire much confidence, and off-field woes like their defensive coordinator stepping down and their quarterback expressing dissatisfaction don't help. Add to this the absence of their left tackle due to injury, which is problematic especially with Teven Jenkins on IR, making the protection for Justin Fields even weaker.
With two primary players from their defense missing and a pass rush that hasn't found its groove, facing Patrick Mahomes at Arrowhead seems daunting. "You have a young quarterback still figuring things out," remarked Poles. "He's performed incredible athletic feats in the past, especially given the limitations. But now, surrounded by talent, he needs to strike a balance between leveraging his athleticism and relying on his teammates. It's a delicate balance that requires time and experience."
However, Poles' assertion that Fields has a stronger team around him might be overly optimistic. Though Fields has received enhanced support like DJ Moore at wide receiver, there's still debate on whether this team's version of Chase Claypool outshines the previous one. Plus, talents like Robert Tonyan remain underutilized. Their running game hasn't been capitalized on, and the continuous reshuffling of their offensive line remains a challenge.
The revamped Bears, believing in their new talent roster, must focus on steady improvement and hope for better outcomes as the season progresses.
Considering their vulnerable state and inherent challenges, anticipating a significant upset against the reigning world champions seems more of a dream than a reality.
| POLL | ||
23 SEPTEMBRE | 38 ANSWERS Can the Bears upset the Chiefs? Will the Bears lose vs. the Chiefs? | ||
| Yes | 28 | 73.7 % |
| No | 10 | 26.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
