Saints (5-1) at Bears (3-2)
Saints schedule
W ........ Houston ........ 30-28 L ...... at L.A. Rams ...... 27-9 W ....... at Seattle ....... 33-27 W .......... Dallas .......... 12-10 W ..... TampaBay ..... 31-24 W...atJacksonville...13-6 Oct.20..atChicago..4:25 Oct. 27 ........ Arizona ........ 1 Nov. 3 .............. BYE .............. Nov. 10 ........ Atlanta ........ 1 Nov. 17 .. at Tampa Bay .. 1 Nov.24 ....... Carolina ....... 1 Nov. 28 ... at Atlanta ... 8:20 Dec.8 ...SanFrancisco ...1 Dec. 16 . Indianapolis . 8:15 Dec.22 ..atTennessee ..1 Dec. 29 .... at Carolina ..... 1
Bears schedule
L ......... Green Bay ......... 10-3 W ....... atDenver ....... 16-14 W ... at Washington ... 31-15 W ........ Minnesota ........ 16-6 L at Oakland (London) 24-21 BYE
Oct. 20 . New Orleans . 4:25 Oct.27 ...L.A.Chargers ...1 Nov. 3 ... at Philadelphia ... 1 Nov. 10 ......... Detroit ......... 1 Nov. 17 . at L.A. Rams . 8:20 Nov. 24 ...... N.Y. Giants ...... 1 Nov. 28 ... at Detroit ... 12:30 Dec. 5 ........ Dallas ........ 8:20 Dec. 15 .... at Green Bay .... 1 Dec. 22 .. Kansas City .. 8:20 Dec. 29 ... at Minnesota ... 1
Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, Soldier Field, Chicago
TV: Fox
Danny Sheridan’s line: by 4
Saints’ keys to victory: Win the battle in the trenches, run the football early and often, and pressure the quarterback. The Bears were outmatched and outplayed in Week 5 against Oakland in London, where the Raiders won the battle in the trenches on both sides of the ball. They were able to neutralize the threat that is OLB Khalil Mack by running the ball down Chicago’s throat, which the Saints should try to do with RB Alvin Kamara. The Bears’ offense has become one-dimensional with the lack of a run game.
Bears’ keys to victory: Lean on the defense, establish the run and protect the football. The Bears had relied on their defense in the first five games, but the defense came out flat against the Raiders in Week 5. That needs to change against a Saints offense that is winning even without QB Drew Brees. QB Teddy Bridgewater has been a capable replacement for Brees, who will be out for at least one more week.
Matchup to watch: Saints RB Alvin Kamara vs. Bears NT Eddie Goldman, DT Nick Williams and DE Roy Robertson-Harris. Bears DE Akiem Hicks is out 4-8 weeks because of an elbow injury, but Williams and Robertson-Harris have played well in his place. They face another stud running back in Kamara, who is battling an ankle injury.
Who wins? Even with the Bears’ offense struggling, the Chicago defense has proved it can win games on its own. Coming off a week of rest after a heartbreaking loss to the Raiders, expect the defense to step up at home.
Bears, 20-17 Bears