NFL Chicago BearsNew England Patriots

Predicting the Final Score of Bears vs. Patriots

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By @edpvideo

Tom Brady New England Patriots

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Injuries have presented an opportunity for the Chicago Bears to have a bounce-back game on the road this Sunday against the New England Patriots. While the Bears have returned to full health (by mid-season standards), the Patriots are dealing with the recent losses of key players. Most notably for the Bears in this matchup are the voids created by linebacker Jerod Mayo (out for the season) and defensive end Chandler Jones (out for a month). Combine the absence of a pass rusher with a sure tackler in the middle of the field and you provide hope for a Bears offense that needs a spark. Could Patriot injuries be the X-factor for the Bears, or will Tom Brady once again prove he wins in spite of injuries, lack of receivers or other support factors?

The Patriots have been inconsistent this season, which is out of character for Bill Bellichick’s team. Despite their 5-2 record, they have shown a tendency to be up one week and surprisingly down the next. Case in point, they were the recipients of a rare 41-14 beat down Week 4 to the Kansas City Chiefs. The following week they destroyed an impressive Cincinnati Bengals team 43-17. In their latest game, they barely held off the struggling New York Jets 27-25, giving up over 200 yards rushing in the process.

The Bears have taken inconsistency to a new level. Their up-and-down tendencies often show up in a single game — up in one half, down the next. The best example is their Week 4 second-half meltdown against the Green Bay Packers at home. After an impressive opening drive where the offense ate up more than 10 minutes while marching through the heart of the Packers defense for a 7-0 lead, they imploded on offense and disappeared on defense, leading to a devastating 38-17 loss. At least once, the up-and-down pattern worked in their favor. Falling behind 17-0 in Week 2 on the road against the San Francisco 49ers, they rallied in the second half for an impressive 28-20 win. You can’t predict which Bears team will show up in any game, or any half.

This Sunday, expect a bounce-back game from the Bears offense. I believe they can take advantage of the weak areas of the Patriot defense caused by their recent injuries. However, success for the Bears starts with the running game. If they can get Matt Forte consistent touches and move the ball on the ground, they have a shot at opening up the passing game and going toe-to-toe with Brady. In the end, expect the weak Bears’ defense to be their downfall, especially against Brady, who feasts on weak secondaries — and the Bears possess one of the weakest. I’ll call this one an impressive game, that the Patriots pull out with a few field goals.

Prediction: Patriots 34, Bears 28

Paul Kakert is an NFL and Chicago Bears writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @edpvideo, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.

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