The Chicago Bears will visit the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium in Week 4 for what's projected to be another rainy Sunday for Bears football.
Despite the weather, this game will present the Bears with a very winnable contest as long as they don't self-destruct.
Here are my three keys for a Chicago Bears victory over the Giants.
Run the Ball
Bears fans are extremely frustrated with the offense right now. The passing game looks broken, and quarterback Justin Fields' weekly pass attempts total resembles Bears teams from the 80s. Several reasons for this are disappointing, such as Fields not playing well or the offense as a whole still not grasping the new scheme.
The abysmal passing numbers can still be interpreted as good news for the Bears. Chicago's run game has been unstoppable, averaging nearly 190 yards per game.
I get it. Like every other Bears fan, I want to see a high-flying, modern offense in Chicago like we see with the Kansas City Chiefs. But the fact is the Bears just aren't at that level yet.
Hopefully, the passing game gels soon, and we eventually add enough talent to light up the scoreboard. For now, the Bears must go with what works, and that's the run game.
Stop Saquon Barkley
The New York Giants are missing three of their top receivers, and quarterback Daniel Jones isn't scaring any secondary, even one missing its best defender, as the Bears will be with Jaylon Johnson out for a second week in a row with a quad injury.
If the Giants want to win this game, they need their star running back, Saquon Barkley, to dominate.
The Bears cannot allow that to happen. Chicago's allowed opponents to run the ball effectively thus far in 2022 but improved tackling helped slow the Houston Texans rushing offense a bit in Week 3. The Bears need to build on that success, stack the box, and dare Daniel Jones to throw to a depleted receiving corps in windy, rainy conditions.
Touchdowns
This one is fairly obvious, but this week it will be more important than ever to find the endzone. Kicker Cairo Santos will miss the game due to personal reasons, which means field goals won't be nearly as predictable. The Bears' offense can't leave it up to a kicker to decide the game.
It's better to avoid that scenario altogether and simply score touchdowns.
Week 4 should provide the Bears with a chance to find a spark on offense. The Giants are 2-1 but not looking particularly good. Chicago's defense could be in line for several takeaways in slippery conditions, and I'm betting on the quarterback/running back combination of Fields and Khalil Herbert over Jones and Barkley.
The Chicago Bears will win in a game that isn't quite as close as the final score, 21-16.