Bears Offense Scored Just 3 Points In The First 58 Minutes
AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast
Anytime you score just 11 points in a game, it never should be enough for a victory in todays NFL. The Bears defense allowed just 19 points to a Colts offense thats been averaging over 30 points this season, which was more than enough to win this game.
The Bears, on the other hand, managed to score just three points in the first 58 minutes of the game, which is absolutely inexcusable. They were never able to consistently move the ball down the field. And just when they were starting to, mistakes be it a turnover or penalties stalled them.
Indianapolis Colts At Chicago Bears: Week 4 Game Prediction
The Chicago Bears will face their toughest test yet this season as the 2-1 Indianapolis Colts come to Soldier Field. Indy is fresh off a 38-7 domination of the New York Jets. Theyre playing some strong football and present a far bigger challenge than previous Bears opponents. Not a great sign considering how much they struggled to beat those teams.
Then again you are what your record says you are. None of Chicagos wins have been pretty, but theyre still wins. The fact theyre stacking Ws without playing their best football has to be an encouraging sign. A lot of answers about who they really are should come out of this matchup.
What should people look for and expect?
Takeaways From Week Three
The Colts have perhaps created some distance from the memory of suffering an opening week upset against the Jacksonville Jaguars as they have disposed of their two successive opponents since then. Their most recent prey: the lowly New York Jets. Closing as a 12.5-point favorite, the Colts had no issue covering the number as they would lambast Gang Green by a tally of 36-7. Indianapolis has now won both of their victories this season by an average margin of 23 points.
Heroics and theatrics once again characterize the Chicago Bears as they staged another fourth-quarter comeback on the road for the second time in the last three weeks. This time, their assailed was the Atlanta Falcons, who have built up a track record for blowing leads. The Bears trailed by as much as fifteen points before Quarterback Nick Foles would lead them back to an incredulous 30-26 victory. The Bears would stage the outright upset closing as a 2.5-point underdog. Chicago has now won four games in a row dating back to the 2019 season. It is worth annotating that all of these contests were settled by a combined 14 points.
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Keiths Pick To Cover The Spread: Chicago +120 Money Line
I am going to go for the gusto here and play this one outright. The fact that Chicago is priced as an underdog on its own field in this situation, quite frankly, is an insult. I can completely understand that the Bears have put together an undefeated campaign season-to-date through spit-wad and shoe-shine, but nevertheless, this team finds ways to win, even when it seems that the game is all but declared a win for the opposing side. In contrast to what we have seen in preceding weeks, the Bears will put together their most comprehensive and convincing win this week against an Indianapolis team that doesnt simply have the credentials to be spotting road points. Give me the Bears on the Money Line.
Rd Quarter: Colts Increase Lead To 16
Rodrigo Blankenship made his third straight field-goal attempt to push the Colts lead over the Bears to 16-3 with 55 seconds to play in the third quarter.
Blankenships 44-yarder provided the only points of the third quarter for either team.
Colts quarterback Philip Rivers had a 27-yard pass to Marcus Johnson and a 16-yarder to Jordan Wilkins to fuel the drive.
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History Tells Us Nick Foles Impresses Vs Colts
This type of argument doesnt always hold up, but if we base this matchup on history, Nick Foles is going to have a strong performance against the Colts on Sunday. Over his career, Foles has faced the Colts three times most recently, just last season while playing for Jacksonville.
In those three games, Foles has completed 66.0 percent of his passes for 850 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions. In last years game alone, he threw for 296 yards and two scores, with one interception.
The game in 2019 was a 33-13 loss, but Foles was hardly to blame. Jacksonvilles defense was atrocious against Indy on that occasion, and for some reason, Doug Marrone decided to run the ball just nine times all game talk about a horrific game script from the get-go.
On the flip side, the Colts rushed for a whopping 264 yards against that Jags defense. Again, Foles was hardly to blame.
Halftime: Colts Go Up 13
Rodrigo Blankenship made a 30-yard field goal with six seconds left to give the Colts a 13-3 halftime lead against the Bears.
Bears defensive lineman Brent Urban sacked quarterback Philip Rivers for a loss of 4 yards on third-and-goal from the 8, and the Colts turned to Blankenship.
The drive featured more sloppy play from the Bears.
Cornerback Kyle Fuller was called for pass interference on a deep pass to T.Y. Hilton, a 28-yard penalty that brought the Colts to the Bears 10-yard line.
The Colts got an extra 15 yards to start the drive when Cordarrelle Patterson was called for unsportsmanlike conduct for taking off his helmet to talk to an official after a Bears punt.
The Bears put up just 124 yards of offense in Nick Foles first half as starting quarterback. They also committed five penalties for 73 yards in the half.
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Why We Like Chicago To Cover
The number that Chicago is presently priced at can be the bait to play the favorite in this spot. Mirroring the trends that already raise an elevated stock in Indianapolis, the Colts may appear to be an easy wager here should they win by a field goal as that produces a cover. However, if anything, it suggests that the underdog in this contest has the full capability to stage an upset as the market itself is not confident in even granting Chicago said field goal. In addition to the aforementioned, lets call it what it is here: Indianapolis lost outright in Week One to a team that almost all of the market pegged as an easy pick to beat in survivor pools . Indianapolis would follow this up by feasting on cupcakes, but Chicago is the best team that the Colts will face season-to-date. Given the defensive acumen of this football team and the overall jolt that Nick Foles brings to this team, I am hard-pressed to buy into the Bears relinquishing that momentum on their own turf.
The Colts Entered With The League’s No 1 Defense And It Lived Up To Its Reputation
The Indianapolis Colts defense came into Sunday’s contest with the No. 1 defense in points allowed and yards allowed, and they performed up to that level in a dominant 19-11 victory over the Chicago Bears — a game that really wasn’t as close as the final score indicated. Indianapolis held the Chicago offense to just 269 yards, making the Bears one dimensional as they were held to just 28 yards rushing .
Nick Foles had a rough first start with the Bears, completing 26 of 42 passes for 249 yards with a touchdown and an interception, averaging 5.93 yards per attempt. The Bears offense failed to record a touchdown until late in the game, when the Colts defense went into soft coverage after controlling the ball midway through the fourth quarter to build a 19-3 lead. Philip Rivers and the Colts offense made enough plays to win, as a 13-yard pass from Rivers to Mo Alie-Cox on the Colts’ first possession gave Indianapolis the lead for good. Rivers, who entered the game leading the league in completion percentage, finished 16 for 29 for 190 yards with a touchdown. The Bears defense held the Colts to 289 yards and 4.3 yards per play, but Indianapolis did not turn the football over — which ended up being the difference in a defensive battle.
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The Chicago Bears Week 4 Matchup With The Indianapolis Colts Presents Some Shocking Numbers
That word pretty much sums up the Chicago Bears season so far, though: Shocking. In some fashion, each and every game through three weeks has been a shocking victory. Three games and three anxiety attacks is the best way to describe this season for most fans.
But, the outcome has been three victories nonetheless. With Matt Nagy making the switch to veteran Nick Foles, this team seemed to rise up and flip the switch on Atlanta. It was just a matter of Foles getting comfortable over his first few snaps before he and the offense turned the tables on the Falcons.
This coming Sunday, the Bears face off against the 2-1 Indianapolis Colts. With a new face under center in Philip Rivers, Indianapolis went into this year thinking about a Super Bowl run. So far, things havent gone as smooth as they would like to see, particularly from Rivers.
But, its early early for both teams. Things could change drastically over the next few weeks for either team. Just as the first three games had the chance to go much different based on a handful of plays for Chicago, the next few games could have similar outcomes for either team.
Without a preseason this year, its tough to know exactly what to expect from any team through just three games. However, the numbers do speak for themselves. It may be a three game sample size, but for Chicago and Indianapolis there are some eye-popping numbers to keep an eye on going into their matchup.
Chicago Bears Vs Indianapolis Colts
The Bears are 6-2 SU in their past eight against Indianapolis, including a pair of outright wins as betting underdogs. Chicago is also a perfect 3-0 SU and ATS on the road vs the Colts since their move to Indianapolis, surrendering just 14.3 points per game in those contests.
- Chicago is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games
- Chicago is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games
- Chicago is 6-3 ATS in its last 9 games on the road
- The total has gone OVER in 4 of Chicago’s last 6 games on the road
- Chicago is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games when playing Indianapolis
- Chicago is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games when playing Indianapolis
- The total has gone OVER in 4 of Chicago’s last 6 games when playing Indianapolis
- Indianapolis is 3-6 ATS in its last 9 games
- Indianapolis is 3-6 SU in its last 9 games
- The total has gone OVER in 4 of Indianapolis’s last 5 games
- Indianapolis is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games at home
- Indianapolis is 16-7 SU in its last 23 games at home
- The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Indianapolis’s last 12 games at home
- Indianapolis is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games when playing Chicago
- Indianapolis is 2-6 SU in its last 8 games when playing Chicago
- The total has gone OVER in 4 of Indianapolis’s last 6 games when playing Chicago
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Breaking Down The Colts Vs Chicago Bears Matchup
Storylines:
Nick Foles era begins Most people view Foles has arguably the greatest backup in NFL history. They still refuse to consider him a viable starter. So this will be his latest opportunity to prove them wrong. Its rather fitting it would be against Indianapolis, one of the teams that put a swift end to his time in Jacksonville last season.
Philip Rivers revival Even has his 40th birthday draws closer, Rivers is out to prove he still has gas in the tank. Thus far hes been off to a solid start with the Colts, enjoying some of the best protection of his career. This week will mark the toughest test so far against a strong Bears pass rush. Will he overcome it?
Injuries:
Michael Pittman Jr. Indianapolis hoped the big receiver from USC could make for a strong complement to T.Y. Hilton in the passing game. Unfortunately, a nasty leg injury will keep him out for the coming weeks. That will further limit the already few options they had on the outside. This could force Rivers to rely even more on the tight ends and running backs.
Sherrick McManis The ageless Bears special teams ace came up lame in the win over Atlanta. Hes the only one who has missed practice so far this week. Its not ideal considering he was continuing to play such reliable football. It will be difficult to replace him.
Key matchups:
Nick Foles’ Lack Of Chemistry With His Pass Catchers
Mike Dinovo-USA TODAY Sports
While last week Nick Foles orchestrated an impressive fourth-quarter comeback coming off the bench, his first start as a Bear certainly didnt go as planned. It was evident from the start that Foles lacked the chemistry with his receivers that likely was his downfall in the training camp quarterback competition.
Foles and the offense were never in sync aside from the final garbage-time touchdown drive and his deep-ball accuracy was questionable throughout the game. Matt Nagy preached patience in Foles developing chemistry with his receivers. But how long is that going to take exactly?
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Th Quarter: Nick Foles Interception Halts Bears Drive
Colts safety Julian Blackmon intercepted Nick Foles at the Colts 22-yard line to take away a key Bears scoring opportunity.
On third-and-10 from the 26, Foles pass buzzed by Anthony Millers hands and into Blackmons grasp.
The Bears had gotten into Colts territory thanks to a Colts penalty.
On fourth-and-2 from the Bears 28-yard line, Foles threw a deep shot to David Montgomery. Colts safety Khari Willis was called for pass interference, and the Bears got 32 yards out of the play.
On the injury front, the Bears ruled out safety Deon Bush with a hamstring injury.
Bold Predictions For The Colts Vs Bears Matchup In Week 4
The Indianapolis Colts and Chicago Bears will look to build off the respective wins they achieved in Week 3 when they face off.
It was easily the Colts best performance of the young NFL season when they beat up on the Jets winning the matchup 36-7. Indianapolis managed to score twice as many points from pick-six plays than New York produced during their entire performance.
There was more drama involved in the Bears victory over the Falcons. After falling behind and facing a double-figure deficit, Chicago decided to pull Mitchell Trubisky from the lineup in favor of Nick Foles. Ultimately, the team put up 20 points in the fourth quarter to win 30-26.
Both the Colts and Bears have managed to achieve a winning record to start the season. Chicago has managed to go undefeated while Indianapolis has established a two-game winning streak after coming out flat against the Jaguars in Week 1.
With that being said, lets take a look at five bold predictions for the Indianapolis Colts vs. Chicago Bears matchup in Week 4 of the 2020 NFL season.
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