An inside look at Sunday’s Giants-Bears NFL Week 10 matchup in Chicago:
Marquee matchup
Bears DE Montez Sweat vs. Giants RT Jermaine Eluemunor
Sweat spent the first four-plus years with the Commanders, going against the Giants twice a season.
He is not a prolific pass rusher (51 sacks in 100 games), but he does lead the Bears this season with four sacks, including a strip-sack of Spencer Rattler.
Eluemunor missed last week’s game with a sore pectoral muscle, was limited in practice this week and is listed as questionable.
He has allowed two sacks in 333 pass block snaps, according to Pro Football Focus.
If he cannot go, rookie Marcus Mbow gets another start.
Four downs
Go play outside: They aren’t stupid out there. Teams realize there is no reason to pound away inside against the Giants when they can find greater success running it to the perimeters.
“Teams are starting to run toss, toss slash, toss crack, all those perimeter runs in the ‘C’ gap to the alley,” linebacker Bobby Okereke told The Post. “It’s a great challenge in understanding how your defensive scheme can neutralize it and attack it.”
So far, not so good. The Giants are 31st in the league in run defense, allowing 150 yards per game. The Bears are second in the NFL in rushing at 144.4 yards per game. D’Andre Swift (groin) is listed as questionable, but Kyle Monangai ran for 176 yards last week.
“I think it’s just collectively raising our individual standards,” Okereke said. “The standard shouldn’t be just to strike a guy and fit where you’re supposed to be. The standard should be, strike a guy, get off of him and make a play.”
Fast start: In Jaxson Dart’s seven starts, four times he directed the Giants down the field for a touchdown on the first offensive series. Whatever offensive coordinator Mike Kafka is scripting for the opening series, it is working.
“They’ve been doing a great job early in the game, executing, playing with great tempo and great urgency, communication,” Kafka said. “So, we’ve just got to continue to do that throughout the game, throughout the drives.”
Ball security: No team in the league is better at taking away the ball than the Bears.
They have an NFL-high 13 interceptions. Safety Kevin Byard and linebacker Tremaine Edmunds have four apiece.
Byard is dealing with back and ankle issues but is not listed on the injury report. The Bears also have six fumble recoveries for an NFL-high 19 takeaways.
“We’re definitely going to have to do our due diligence in making sure that we take care of the ball,” Dart said. The Giants are in the middle of the pack with nine giveaways (six interceptions, three fumbles) on offense this season.
Bear down: The Giants were in the quarterback market in the 2024 draft but knew they could not trade up into the No. 1 spot to get Caleb Williams, who went to the Bears with the first pick.
Two quarterbacks who went after Williams — Jayden Daniels at No. 2 and Drake Maye at No. 3 — have been more consistent than Williams, who has shown flashes of brilliance but not enough just yet.
He has 12 touchdown passes and four interceptions this season and faces the Giants for the first time.
“I’d say he’s got very good arm talent,” Giants coach Brian Daboll said. “He can put the ball in tight windows and make some, I’d say, unbelievable ‘wow’ throws.”
Paul’s pick
Can the Giants win this game? Sure. Will they? Past and recent history with this team says no.
This will be a winterish-mix situation, but rookie Jaxson Dart is from Utah and has played in the elements before.
The Bears want to run the ball, and the Giants almost always cannot do anything to stop the run. That sounds like a bad football mix.
Bears 24, Giants 16
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
