TARIK COHEN
Throughout the week, there were comparisons made between the Chiefs offense and the Bears offense.
Schematically, yes, there are similarities. Bears coach Matt Nagy was Andy Reid’s offensive coordinator in Kansas City from 2016-17.
The Bears are sneakily having a strong season on offense, averaging 27.8 points per game, but they can’t match Kansas City’s firepower. Few teams can. Chicago doesn’t have a Tyreek Hill or Travis Kelce.
They do, however, have a unique weapon out of the backfield. The 5-foot-6, 181-pound Tarik Cohen is in a near 50/50 timeshare with Jordan Howard. He can change the game on a single play, as we saw against the Dolphins. Matched up with Miami rookie linebacker Jerome Baker, Cohen ran an angle route out of the backfield and separated away from Baker, sprinting into the secondary for 50 yards.
The Pats have been susceptible to big plays. They’ve been particularly vulnerable against running backs.
Kansas City’s Kareem Hunt racked up 105 receiving yards, and probably should’ve had 26 more when he ran past Dont’a Hightower and into the end zone on the Chiefs’ first drive. Patrick Mahomes simply missed the throw.
The Pats struggled with Detroit’s duo of Kerryon Johnson and Theo Riddick, too.
Make no mistake: The Bears will try to get Cohen matched up with the Patriots linebackers, a group that isn’t exactly fleet of foot.