Colts vs. Bears, Week 3 Preview: Something has to happen

Today is official game day for the Indianapolis Colts and the Chicago Bears and both teams are looking to gain some momentum.

The Colts are still winless with an offense that relies on big plays and a vulnerable defense, while the Bears have had to rely on their defense and special teams to split in their first two games while their offense continues to show little sign of life.

On the surface, this could be an exciting duel between the two promising young quarterbacks Anthony Richardson and Caleb Williams, but so far this season has been a learning experience for both of them.

Here’s everything you need to know about the Colts vs. Bears clash this Sunday.

Broadcast information

Date/Time: Sunday, September 22, 1:00 p.m. ET
Where: Indianapolis, Indiana; Lucas Oil Stadium
TV: CBS – Andrew Catalon (live commentary), Tiki Barber and Jason McCourty (color), AJ Ross (sideline) | RTL (International) – Jan Stecker (live commentary), Björn Werner (color), Jana Wosnitza (sideline)
Electricity: Paramount+, NFL+, NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube/YouTubeTV, Hulu TV, Fubo TV
Find out which games are on in your area on Sunday here.
Radio: WFNI 1070-AM The Fan, WLHK 97.1 HANK FM – Matt Taylor (live commentary), Rick Venturi (color), Larra Overton (sideline)

All series

The Colts lead 24-19. The Colts have won the last two meetings.
Last game: Week 4 of 2020; the Colts won 19–11.

Coaching staff

Colts: Head coach Shane Steichen; offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter; defensive coordinator Gus Bradley; special teams coordinator Brian Mason

Bears: Head coach Matt Eberflus; offensive coordinator Shane Waldron; defensive coordinator Eric Washington; special teams coordinator Richard Hightower

Colts

Bears

QUESTIONABLE — G Nate Davis (groin)
OUT OF — WR Keenan Allen (heel, personal), FB Khari Blasingame (hand, knee), DT Zacch Pickens (groin)
IR-IR- RB Travis Homer (fingers)

Establish a run, collect points early: The Colts offense could pay dearly if they aren’t careful against this opportunistic Bears pass defense. The key is to establish the run with Jonathan Taylor (and Richardson?) and score points early so they can maintain some control in this game without becoming one-dimensional. They lost at least 40:00-20:00 of possession time in both games. The Bears defense was solid, especially in the back end, and they now face a quarterback in Richardson who hasn’t yet found his rhythm and has forced some passes that have led to interceptions.
This is a poorly managed team. Prove it: The Bears are one of the least productive running teams in the league, averaging just 77.5 yards per game and 3.5 yards per carry, but the Colts have by far the worst run defense in the NFL, allowing an astonishing 237.0 yards per game and 5.1 yards per carry. The Colts defense has done little to stop anyone from doing what they wanted. Last week, they cracked down on the run in the second half after allowing the Green Bay Packers over 200 yards running in the first half, but can they do it again? Will it cost them in pass defense to put an extra man in the box? If their defense can consistently pressure Williams, they should have the upper hand.
Keep Caleb Williams unproductive: Williams will look great at some point, but he hasn’t yet. In two games, he’s averaged just 133.5 passing yards and no touchdowns. But he’s also under constant pressure, having been sacked nine times, the most per game in the NFL. The Colts had four sacks and 10 QB hits in Week 1, and then zero sacks or hits in Week 2. Those were very different situations, but things can’t continue like that.

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Forecast weather

Referee assignment

Favorite: Colts (-1.5)
Over/Under: 43.5

STATISTICAL GUIDES

Colts

Passing by: QB Anthony Richardson (416 yards)
Rush: RB Jonathan Taylor (137 meters)
Reception: WR Alec Pierce (167 meters)
Touchdowns (no pass): WR Alec Pierce (2)
Tackles: FS Nick Cross (29)
Tackles for loss: DE Kwity Paye, DT Grover Stewart (2)
Bags: DT DeForest Buckner (1.5)
Intercepted balls: N/A
Pass interruptions: CB Jaylon Jones, CB Kenny Moore II (1)

Bears

Passing by: QB Caleb Williams (267 yards)
Rush: QB Caleb Williams (59 yards)
Reception: WR DJ Moore (89 yards)
Touchdowns (no pass): RB Khalil Herbert, S Jonathan Owens, CB Tyrique Stevenson (1)
Tackles: Linebacker TJ Edwards (23)
Tackles for loss: DT Gervon Dexter Sr., LB TJ Edwards, CB Jaylon Johnson, DE Darrell Taylor (2)
Bags: DT Gervon Dexter Sr., DE Darrell Taylor (2.0)
Intercepted balls: Center back Jaylon Johnson, center back Tyrique Stevenson (1)
Pass interruptions: Center back Jaylon Johnson, center back Tyrique Stevenson (3)

Notes

This week, the Colts made the following roster changes: DT DeForest Buckner was placed on the injured list. DE Genard Avery was promoted to the 53-man roster from the practice squad. DT Adam Gotsis, DE Gregory Junior and DE Titus Leo were signed to the practice squad. MC McTelvin Agim and CB Ameer Speed were released from the practice squad.
RB Jonathan Taylor needs 2 rushing touchdowns to pass Marshall Faulk (42) and score the fourth most in franchise history.
Linebacker Zaire Franklin needs just one more game with more than 10 tackles to overtake Gary Brackett (23) and reach the second-most games of this type in franchise history.
CB Kenny Moore II needs 1 pass breakup to pass Ray Buchanan (56) for the third-highest mark in franchise history.

Sean Ackerman: Bears 21, Colts 20
Jake Arthur: Colts 20, Bears 16
Noah Gebert: Colts 31, Bears 16
Zack Hicks: Bears 22, Colts 19
Andrew Moore: Colts 24, Bears 17
DrakeWally: Colts 21, Bears 20

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