Staley Da Bear
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- Mar 16, 2019
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Bears linebacker Khalil Mack vs. Broncos offensive tackle Garett Bolles
Again, pass rush likely will be the story of the game.
Mack is the central force in the Bears’ defense. He did not record a sack last week, but he still applied plenty of pressure. Floyd credited one of his sacks to Mack, and there wasn’t much to complain about on the defensive end. The Broncos will start Joe Flacco at quarterback, and the 12-year veteran was efficient in the opener.
Mack will have the opportunity to wreak havoc on Sunday. The Broncos’ starting right tackle, Ju’Wuan James, went down in the opener with a sprained knee, so backup Elijah Wilkinson will likely start.
On the other side of the line, Mack will face Bolles, the Broncos first-round pick in 2017. Bolles starts at left tackle. He’s long, big and athletic. He performed well against the Raiders when he neither allowed a sack nor got called for a penalty, both areas where improvement was needed. He even earned measured praise from Broncos coach Vic Fangio.
“I think Garett’s done well since we’ve been here,” said Fangio. “I think he’s still a work in progress like we said, but I think the future’s very bright for him.”
Stopping Mack would be a big deal for Bolles, but it’s hard to imagine Mack going into Week 3 without any sacks on the season.
Bears receiver Allen Robinson II vs. Broncos cornerback Chris Harris, Jr.
Robinson was the Bears’ best weapon against the Packers, catching seven passes for 102 yards. The coaching staff has made little secret that Robinson will be the top target for much of the year.
Harris has been the Broncos’ top cornerback for most of the past six seasons. He’s gone to four Pro Bowls. The Bears anticipate that Robinson might even draw double coverage in Denver, but that would likely open up other opportunities for the offense to spread the ball around.
“You scheme up a route for A-Rob for example, and they might double him,” said offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich, “or they might rotate in a way that takes him out of it. And that’s where as a quarterback, you just have to move on to the next guy and trust your feet and trust your eyes, trust the concept. You’ve gotta protect it, long enough to do that. That’s where it takes everybody on the field to be the hero.”