Bears-Packers preview: Finish drives and make long downs count

Tyson Bagent completed a six-yard pass to Cole Kmet in the third quarter against the Jets while Luther Burden III was open about 15 yards farther downfield, Larry Mayer reported for chicagobears.com. The available throw suggests how Chicago might make a productive possession less demanding: take the gain that brings a scoring chance closer before another snap introduces another chance for error.

The Bears visit the Packers at Lambeau Field seeking a third straight victory and a 4-1 record. The Sunday, October 11 kickoff has been moved to noon CT. Chicago is also pursuing three consecutive wins over Green Bay for the first time since 2005-06. Those stakes sharpen the possession question: how much of Chicago’s control will become points?

Possession needs a finish

Against the Jets, Bagent directed an offense that produced a franchise-record 34 first downs, gained 492 yards and held the ball for 42:45. Chicago scored touchdowns on only two of seven trips inside the Jets’ 20, leaving its three-game red-zone total at four touchdowns in 15 possessions.

Ben Johnson’s Friday admission was direct: “Clearly, we didn’t get it fixed.”

In his Bears media availability, Johnson said the problems had differed each week and called for sustained focus throughout long drives, clear communication of sound calls and execution that finishes possessions. His assessment points toward several repairs rather than one cure.

There is a working foundation. Mayer reported that Bagent changed two first-quarter plays at the line against the Jets, producing completions of 21 yards to Rome Odunze and 22 yards to Burden. In his Wednesday media availability, Bagent credited accumulated practice repetitions and executing plays as taught, saying good things happened when the offense worked on time.

His diagnosis of the missed opportunities was narrower: he had been “a little quick” to reach the checkdown. Bagent identified trusting his feet and each play’s timing, without hesitation, as the correction. The successful audibles and the Kmet completion belong in the same evaluation. Better decisions after the snap could make more of the advantages created before it.

Offensive coordinator Press Taylor praised Bagent’s huddle and line-of-scrimmage operation, saying it enabled shifts, motion and audibles while helping Chicago live in third-and-6 or less against the Jets. The Bears closed with an 18-play, 76-yard possession that consumed the final 9:07. Taylor said that drive began with passes and evolved into clock management as Chicago accumulated first downs, eventually reaching the instruction to go down after securing another first down.

The red-zone self-scout asks whether that same offense becomes harder to operate near the goal line. In comments reported by Mayer, Taylor called three weeks of poor finishing concerning, questioned whether Chicago carried too much inventory there and said opponents had sometimes presented different looks than anticipated. Those questions put preparation and play selection under scrutiny alongside the quarterback’s choices.

Keep the options available

Kyle Monangai is out with the toe injury sustained against the Jets. D’Andre Swift practiced fully Friday and received no game injury designation after dealing with hip and knee issues earlier in the week. Roschon Johnson moves to No. 2 on the depth chart. Chicago’s roster announcement also confirmed Zavier Scott’s elevation from the practice squad for the Packers game.

Swift’s opportunity comes with a ball-security concern: he did not touch the ball again against the Jets after losing a fumble midway through the third quarter.

The Bears, etc. Podcast discussion emphasized offensive-line performance when assessing a running game, arguing that backs must create for themselves when holes do not open. If Swift or Johnson can reach a crease without first avoiding penetration, Chicago could keep second down manageable.

Chicago’s official availability supports continuity up front: Joe Thuney, Jonah Jackson and Darnell Wright have no game injury designations and will be available. Ben Johnson credited Roschon Johnson’s ability to run hard between the tackles. Separately, he praised Johnson’s receiving and tied his size to an advantage in pass protection. Green Bay remains without Micah Parsons, who is on PUP, and lost Edgerrin Cooper for the season with a torn ACL.

The coverage presents a different complication. Taylor said the Packers keep the ball in front and praised their two safeties and nickel for disguising and rotating coverage. He also said Chicago would continue using underneath completions when called shots were covered downfield. The Kmet play should sharpen the distinction between an available checkdown and a necessary one.

Bagent said Chicago was practicing silent cadence and stressed communication both under center and from the shotgun. He remains the announced starter, while Caleb Williams is questionable. The test is whether Bagent can retain the audible flexibility while recognizing what Green Bay’s coverage becomes after the snap.

Make long downs count

Green Bay’s possession problem starts earlier. Mike Spofford reported for packers.com that, through four games, 30 of the Packers’ 46 third downs required at least six yards, with 16 requiring double-digit yardage. Spofford identified early-down penalties as a key reason for those distances, forcing the offense to recover from first-and-15 or first-and-20.

Tucker Kraft supplied a separate diagnosis for his drops: he was trying to make a game-saving play during offensive lulls and taking his eyes off the ball, prompting his instruction to himself to “Catch the football.” His correction concerns securing the gain before trying to enlarge it.

The Bears, etc. Podcast discussion put Green Bay’s rushing average at 58 yards per game, last in the NFL. Packers receiver Jayden Reed is out for the season, and left guard Aaron Banks is doubtful for Sunday. Those constraints make early-down execution an especially useful place for Chicago to press its advantage.

The Bears have held their last three opponents to a combined 17.2% third-down conversion rate and rank second for the season at 23.7%. The podcast discussion credited Dennis Allen with creating uncertainty at the line about where defenders would come from. Long yardage could give that uncertainty greater value, provided Chicago finishes the down.

The latest roster announcement confirmed Noah Sewell’s activation from PUP. Kyler Gordon and Shemar Turner were downgraded to out. Allen had cautioned that returning players would need gradual incorporation rather than immediate full-time workloads.

Love remains capable of undoing an otherwise successful defensive series: Allen said a clean pocket and throws on rhythm allow him to perform among the league’s best. Love has taken only one sack over his last two games after taking seven in the first two. Pressure must turn the difficult distance into an actual possession change.

Chicago’s next scoring opportunity would then supply the other half of the test. Taylor’s account of the 18-play finish shows how the Bears adjusted once first downs made clock management possible. Before a lead permits that choice, the meaningful measure will be touchdowns per red-zone trip. Another long possession should leave Green Bay needing points, rather than merely waiting for the ball.

Related reading

• Bears at Packers: Bagent Must Trust His Reads Against Disguises
• Bears vs. Packers: Give Swift Room and Bagent Time at Lambeau
• Packers Place Chris Brooks on IR Ahead of Bears Matchup