The Chicago Bears travel to London this week to face a Jacksonville Jaguars side ready to play their first of two back-to-back games in the English capital. The Bears, who remain one of the most popular teams in the UK, take on a side in the Jaguars who have attempted to make London their second home.
If you were to look at the collection of London games before the season, this would have been the most appealing encounter on paper. Five weeks into the season, it’s clear that this is not the marquee matchup that many expected.
Poor Starts
Caleb Williams is not the second coming of Johnny Unitas and has had a slow start to his NFL career. Combine that with a porous o-line and suspect play calling from Shane Waldronand it’s no surprise that the Bears rank 25th in offensive EPA.
Despite having such a poor offense the Bears still travel across the Atlantic with a winning record, in no small part because of their defense. They rank 5th in defensive EPA and have held their opponents to under 20 points in four of the first five games.
There are signs that the offense is beginning to show signs of life as the last two weeks have been their best performances of the year. Last week was especially impressive as they comfortably handled the Carolina Panthers, with Caleb Williams throwing for over 300 yards and two touchdowns in the process.
Yes, they were playing the Panthers. However, they did what all good sides should do in this matchup and did not give the lesser team a chance.
The Jaguars meanwhile have finally secured their first win of the season following a winless run in the first four weeks. They defeated the Indianapolis Colts 37-34, requiring a late field goal to defeat their divisional rivals.
This game was incredibly promising for believers in Trevor Lawrence, who belied calls for him to get benched by leading his team's offense to nearly 40 points.
While the Bears at least have a strong defense to carry them, the Jaguars don’t have that. They allowed Joe Flacco and the Colts offense to score 34 points, including 24 in the fourth quarter. In complete contrast to the Bears, they have allowed all but one opponent to score at least 20 points, and that was the moribund Cleveland Browns.
This matchup is notable for involving two of the most exciting first-overall picks to come out of college since Andrew Luck. So far, neither has lived up to expectations. Williams has not hit the ground running but is only a handful of games into his career, while Lawrence has been the victim of organizational incompetence.
However, based on at least last week, both quarterbacks will be traveling to London with some momentum at their back, looking to showcase the talent that made them generational prospects.
However, despite what the NFL would have you think, it is not all about the QBs.
Key Match Ups
DJ Moore vs Jaguars Secondary
DJ Moore is coming off the best game of his year so far, torching his former teams for over 100 yards and two touchdowns. With his confidence sky high he’ll be looking forward to playing a Jags secondary that has been hit hard with injuries.
Their secondary has been struggling all season in the absence of their star cornerback, Tyson Campbell. They have been susceptible to the deep threat so far this season, getting torched by Alec Pierce last weekend.
DJ Moore is a burner of a receiver, and with his chemistry with Calem Williams building, expect him to be a constant threat on deep balls.
Travon Walker vs Darnell Wright
Travon Walker was a dominant force against the Colts last week with three sacks from seven pressures, including a strip sack and a game-ending one. Walker has always had the physical profile to be a dominant pass rusher, so this could be the start of him becoming the finished product.
Lined up opposite him is Darnell Wright, perhaps the best part of a poor Bears offensive line. The second-year tackle has taken a step forward from last year as seen by the dramatic decrease in pressures that he has given up.
While the rest of the Bears line may cause more issues for Caleb Williams, I am highlighting this matchup for a reason. Should Walker get the better of Wright, then we may be witnessing a full-on onslaught of the Bears Quarterback.
Jaylon Johnson vs Brian Thomas Jr
While the Jaguars languish without Tayson Campbell, the Bears can rest assured that their star cornerback, Jaylon Johnson, is healthy and playing some of the best football at his position. In a strong Bears defense, he is arguably their best player, putting up an 84 PFF throughout the first five games of the season.
He will be tasked with containing Jaguars receiver Brian Thomas Jr, who has enjoyed a strong start to his NFL career. The rookie boasts game-breaking athleticism that has seen him thrive in an otherwise struggling Jacksonville offense. Through his first five games, he has gone for 397 yards and 3 touchdowns, including one for 85 yards against the Colts last week.
Thomas has already emerged as Lawrence’s main target, and with his athleticism, one lapse in concentration by the secondary can end in a touchdown. To this end, Johnson will have to be constantly diligent regarding the attention paid to Thomas and expect him to receive safety help over the top on most occasions.
When to Watch
- UK - 14:30 GMT
- US - 09:30 EST
