The Chicago Bears are one of the up-and-coming teams in the NFL. They have second-year quarterback Caleb Williams and first-year head coach Ben Johnson leading the way. Together, they are changing the narrative around the team.
After losing the first two games of the season, the Bears are now winners of three straight. There have been some miracle victories in this run, but they are also cases of games that would have been lost in previous years.
This weekend, they will take on the New Orleans Saints. These aren’t your older siblings’ Saints, either. This team isn’t good, hasn’t been good for a while, and may take a long time to get back to the NFL prominence that they once knew.
That does not mean that the Bears are in line for a free win here. They must play them hard, to the game plan, and take them seriously if they want to win. If they don’t, the Saints will take the trap victory. Five Bears players, in particular, must lead the charge to avoid this from happening.
QB Caleb Williams
Caleb Williams has only been okay in the last two wins, but he came up big when the team needed him most both times. Late in games, he has a knack for listening to what Ben Johnson needs from him, and it has resulted in wins. Earlier in games, Williams is still working on things that make players elite. This is a new system for him, and he’s still working through his development. We have evidence now that the coaching staff above him is doing what they can to go about this the right way.
RB D’Andre Swift
After what was D’Andre Swift’s best game as a Bears player, running for over 100 yards and leading the team in receiving (67 yards), how will he follow it up? There were some health concerns throughout the week, so he must get on the field for any of this to matter, but it would help the Bears in a big way if he were able to follow that up with another solid performance. For what it’s worth, Swift says he’s going to play, which is huge for Chicago.
DE Montez Sweat
The Bears need something out of their pass rush, and this is the kind of game where defensive end Montez Sweat needs to step up. Sweat has just one sack through six games this season, and while he’s double teamed a lot, he hasn’t been able to overcome that as much with Chicago, which is a problem considering his massive contract.
LB T.J. Edwards
T.J. Edwards is someone to keep an eye on, as all of the linebackers are going to be needed in this one. The Saints’ best chance of winning is running Alvin Kamara a lot. If Edwards and Tremaine Edmunds can lead the run defense in a way that keeps Kamara from making too much of an impact, they may be able to pull off keeping him quiet.
K Jake Moody
For the second straight week, the Bears will turn to former San Francisco 49ers kicker Jake Moody as Cairo Santos remains sidelined with a right thigh injury. Moody stepped up big against the Commanders, connecting on 4-of-5 field goals, including the game-winner. Don’t expect another kicker controversy, should Moody do well again, as Ben Johnson made it clear Santos is the starter when he’s healthy.
This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears vs. Saints: Chicago players to watch in Week 7
