The Arizona Cardinals face the Chicago Bears on Sunday in Week 16 at Soldier Field. It is the first time since 2021 when the Cardinals won 33-22 behind four interceptions of Bears quarterback Andy Dalton.
This will be the Cardinals’ first game against Bears starting quarterback Justin Fields.
Before the game, let’s find out more about the opponent from someone who covers the team.
Bears Wire managing editor Alyssa Barbieri gives us some insight and takes us “behind enemy lines.”
Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.
Justin Fields
What can you say about Justin Fields? Has he done enough to be the guy moving forward?
That’s a question only GM Ryan Poles can answer, and I’m not even sure he knows yet. Obviously, the fact that the Bears are trending towards having the No. 1 pick (courtesy of the Panthers) makes this decision a difficult one. Fields has shown marked improvement this season as a passer, and there aren’t many quarterbacks who can do what he can with his elite athleticism. Chicago has the chance to build around Fields – start fresh with a new offensive coordinator and continue to shore up the offensive line and add more weapons. And Fields still has one year (plus a potential fifth-year option) before the Bears have to pay him.
There could be a scenario where Poles opts to clean house with Matt Eberflus and Fields and start over with a new head coach and quarterback. But I wouldn’t be surprised either way if Poles opted to build around Fields or start over with a rookie quarterback. But it doesn’t feel like there’s something definitive that needs to happen in these final three games for that decision to be made. That’ll come with the evaluation process this offseason.
Good and bad
Excluding the 0-4 start, what have the Bears done well and not done well in their last 10 games?
Despite that rough start, where the defense was among the worst in the NFL, they’ve transformed into the strength of this team. Since the acquisition of Montez Sweat, this has been a different team. The addition of a star pass rusher has led to a significant uptick in takeaways. In the past five games alone, the Bears have totaled a league-high 14 takeaways. On offense, Chicago’s strength has been the ground game. D’Onta Foreman has been a solid addition, and he’s worked his way into the lead role. Coupled with Fields’ rushing ability, the Bears offense is a formidable force on the ground, averaging the fifth-most rushing yards per game (134.4).
As for what they haven’t done well, the Bears are a team that doesn’t know how to close out games. They’ve lost three games this season where they were leading by 10-plus points in the fourth quarter, including most recently against the Browns. Those three blown late leads are tied for the most in NFL history, and it’s one of the reasons why Matt Eberflus isn’t the right guy to lead this guy (even though he has proven to be a great defensive coordinator).
Run defense
The Bears have the No. 1 run defense in the NFL and have created 14 takeaways in the last four games. Are those numbers sustainable and real?
I believe so. Chicago has consistently been a top-five run defense all season, and they’ve only allowed more than 100 rushing yards in a game five times this season. The offseason acquisitions of defensive tackles Andrew Billings and rookies Gervon Dexter and Zacch Pickens, along with linebackers T.J. Edwards and Tremaine Edmunds have been key. The addition of Montez Sweat has been instrumental to the defense’s success rate with takeaways. He’s improved the entire defense, including revitalizing the league’s worst pass rush (they have 15 sacks in the past five games) and pressuring opposing quarterbacks into mistakes. The defense has shown no signs of slowing down.
Matchups
What matchups are you most excited about and most concerned about?
While the Bears have consistently been a top-five run defense this season, they’ll face a tall order against James Conner and the Cardinals’ seventh-ranked rushing attack. It’s strength vs. strength and should be a fun battle to watch. While Chicago’s offensive line has improved in pass protection this season, the interior has been the weak link. With left guard Teven Jenkins out with a concussion, I’m concerned about interior pass protection.
Prediction
Who wins and how does the game go down?
Following last week’s fourth-quarter meltdown, the Bears need a get-right game – and this could be it. The Bears haven’t beaten the Cardinals at Soldier Field since 2003, but I see that streak finally coming to an end – thanks to a valiant effort by Chicago’s resurgent defense and a bounce-back effort on offense. Bears 24, Cardinals 20
