Chicago Bears @ Arizona Cardinals – Week 9 Game Preview: Overview, Keys to Game, Insights
The Bears (4-3) have spent the last few days trying to makes sense of the crazy ending to their game in Washington last Sunday. Chicago appeared to have stolen a victory they had no business taking, moving ahead 15-12 on a touchdown scored with just 26 seconds left after being thoroughly outplayed for most of the contest.
Unless you were living in a cave you know what happened next. Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels connected on a Hail Mary as time expired to hand the Bears a stunning defeat. What followed was an ugly round of finger-pointing with several defensive players blaming head coach Matt Eberflus and a lot of scrutiny fell on cornerback Tyrique Stevenson, who was taunting fans instead of focusing on the action on the field.
Chicago is going to have to try and move past all the drama at Halas Hall as they stay on the road to take on the Cardinals (4-4) in Glendale this Sunday. Arizona started out slow going 1-3 in their first four games but they now have won three of their last four to get back to .500.
The Cardinals fortunes are closely tied to their franchise QB Kyler Murray, who has battled back from some major injuries to regain some of the form that made him an impact player the first two years of his career. They also used the number three overall pick in 2024 on rangy wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., who has already had a couple of big moments.
Arizona has been productive yardage wise on offense with 338.6 yards per game. The problem has been converting their scoring chances into touchdowns scoring just 22.3 points per game. Running back James Conner and Murray’s scrambles have made the running game the strongest aspect of the team.
The defense in the desert has been a pretty big issue with the unit giving up 376.6 yards per game. They have just 15 total sacks as a team and they have struggled stopping both the run and the pass.
The Bears are facing the first adversity of the season after their difficult loss in Washington. Will they respond with a quality effort or will they crack a bit under the pressure? It’s also a big test for the much maligned coaching staff, can they earn back the trust of the players and fans? If they can’t they may not be around after this season.
Where to Watch/Listen
- Sunday, November 3 at 3:05pm CT on CBS, WBBM Radio (English), and WRTO Radio (Spanish).
Keys to Victory
Here are my keys to Sunday’s game. If these things happen, the Bears should have a shot to win.
- Try to have a less sloppy start to the game. The Bears have consistently gotten off to very bad starts. It was particularly bad against Washington. They have to be more prepared if they want to avoid outcomes like last week.
- Give more help to the tackles in pass protection. Chicago was leaving both of their offensive tackles to block on the edge with no help, even after starter LT Braxton Jones had to leave with an injury. It left Caleb Williams exposed to a lot of unnecessary hits and they need to have running backs or tight ends help them more often, especially with injury issues this week.
- Keep Murray contained. The speedy Cardinals quarterback is the definition of a dual-threat and can do big damage with his feet. He is undersized and needs to move around to find passing lanes. If the Bears can keep him in the pocket they can really limit his effectiveness.
Don’t Tell Me the Odds
Arizona is a 1.5 point favorite at home against Chicago on Sunday. Vegas expects an average scoring game an over/under set at 44.5.
It’s Football Weather
State Farm Stadium in Glendale is climate controlled so the weather isn’t an issue Sunday.
My Prediction
I think the Bears will again start slow and fall behind before rallying back to make it a game. In the end, the Cardinals will get the last word and take home a 24-21 victory.
Official Bears Preview
Join Jeff Joniak and Tom Thayer as they dive into the Bears’ upcoming matchup against the Cardinals in the latest episode of the Bears, etc. podcast.
