GLENDALE, Ariz. — The Bears badly need these next two wins, Sunday at the Cardinals and next week at home against the Patriots, before their schedule gets much harder.
It was clear from the jump their schedule was backloaded, which seemed ideal for the development of rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, but the Bears haven’t taken full advantage of it and sit 4-3. And the Cardinals are no joke with two-time Pro Bowl quarterback Kyler Murray.
Here are three keys for the Bears to win:
1. Williams must shine
Williams doesn’t have to carry the Bears, but they’re counting on him to make things happen. He was at 36 yards passing early in the fourth quarter last week against the Commanders, and they simply can’t survive with him producing that little. They need sharp accuracy on his passes, heady decisions in the pocket and smart play calling from offensive coordinator Shane Waldron to maximize Williams and the significant skill talent around him.
2. Manage Murray
The Bears were fortunate to hold the Commanders to 18 points last week, especially given that rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels hit them with 326 yards passing and 52 yards rushing. Dual-threat quarterbacks can be really problematic, but Daniels is far from the only one the Bears will face. Murray can beat them by air or ground, too. He’s having one of his best seasons with a 67.2 completion percentage and a 98.0 passer rating, both the second-highest marks of his career, plus he’s good for 8.4 yards per carry. He also is throwing fewer interceptions (1.3% of his passes) than any other time in his career.
3. Utilize Kmet and Allen
Veteran wide receiver Keenan Allen and tight end Cole Kmet aren’t necessarily big-play threats the way DJ Moore, Rome Odunze and D’Andre Swift are, but they’re essential to the offense. Those are the players Williams needs on third downs and in other crucial situations. Allen got seven targets last week against the Commanders, but had just two catches for 39 yards. Kmet got one target, which he caught for 14 yards. That’s not a viable template for the Bears’ passing game.