Bears a tough task for Giants
BEARS AT GIANTS 1 p.m., MetLife Stadium (Ch. 61)
East Rutherford, N.J. — New York Giants defensive coordinator James Bettcher had no intention of designing two game plans, even though Chicago Bears starting quarterback Mitchell Trubisky has a shoulder injury.
Bettcher is getting the Giants (3-8) ready to face the Bears' offense, and it doesn't matter whether Trubisky is back at the helm today at MetLife Stadium or veteran backup Chase Daniel is running the show again for Chicago (8-3).
Trubisky practiced on a limited basis all week and he was listed as doubtful on Friday, which means Daniel will probably start.
It's not terrible news for the NFC North-leading Bears. They extended their winning streak to five games on Thanksgiving with Daniel leading them to a 23-16 win over the Lions in his first start since 2014.
"They are both good quarterbacks," Giants linebacker and defensive captain Alex Ogletree said. "They haven't changed much of their offense for either one. They play a little different game, but for the most part, they do the same stuff. We are preparing for either one. You never know who is going to play. So if Chase Daniel plays, we will be ready for him, and if Trubisky plays, we will be prepared as well."
Bettcher said his approach every week is to see what the defense needs to do to give the team its best chance. It includes having some tweaks built in for the opposing quarterbacks.
"You certainly have some things that you like versus each of those two quarterbacks," Bettcher said.
Offensive coordinators do the same thing when the status of their starting quarterback is uncertain. They make separate sheets outlining the plays and throws each quarterback likes, although the game plan is relatively the same.
If Daniel gets the call again, he will have had a week practicing with the offense. He did not get that coming off a short week of preparation for the Lions and still completed 27 of 37 passes for 230 yards and two touchdowns.
"Listen, it's never changed for me and I told you this last week and I'll tell you it again: I prepare every day like I'm the starter whether I get practice reps or not," Daniel said. "This week, I got the reps and we'll see what it is (Thursday) and we'll see what it is on Friday. My whole thing is we just try to take it day by day. I try to grasp the game plan day by day."
Bears coach Matt Nagy said the team would do what is best for Trubisky. If he plays, it will be because he is ready to go.