You are what your record says you are, but the Bears know they can’t be deceived by the 2-7 Giants on Sunday.
The Giants have lost their last three games to the Broncos (8-2), Eagles (6-2) and 49ers (6-3), three teams with a combined 20-7 record. In fact, the Giants have more victories against winning teams this season — the Chargers (6-3) and Eagles (6-2) — than the Bears, who have zero.
‘‘This is a good team coming in here,’’ head coach Ben Johnson said. ‘‘I know what their record says and I know I’ve been saying that for the past few weeks, but you talk about a really talented group. . . . Since they made the quarterback change, you can tell [rookie Jaxson Dart is] really giving them a spark.
‘‘Their offense can score some points, and they have playmakers. And defensively, you could argue this is the best defensive front that we’ve seen so far this year. So huge challenge at hand. We’re going to have to be on our stuff.’’
That’s not just bluster. After the Ravens with Tyler Huntley and the Bengals with Joe Flacco beat the Bears’ defense, Dart is absolutely a threat. Almost anybody is.
It’s on the other side of the ball where the Bears should take care of business. The Giants’ impressive defensive front — with Brian Burns (an NFL-best 11 sacks), Kayvon Thibodeaux and Dexter Lawrence — wasn’t enough to prevent the Broncos (33 points), Eagles (38) and 49ers (34) from scoring two touchdowns or more above their season average against the Giants.
Johnson’s offense is primed for similar success, weather permitting.
There has been an excitement about the Ben Johnson Effect since the day he was hired. Now there’s a confidence his offense can put the same hurt on vulnerable defenses as anyone else.
That confidence stems from the methodical, steady and consistent progress the Bears have made under him. The Bears are sixth in the NFL in points, fourth in yards and one of three teams in the top 10 in rushing (second) and passing (10th).
And they’re doing it without anyone playing out of his mind. Quarterback Caleb Williams is 19th in the NFL in passer rating (93.5). Running back D’Andre Swift is 20th in rushing (464 yards). Wide receiver Rome Odunze is 31st in receiving (473 yards).
The Bears scored 47 points last week with their leading rusher not playing and their leading receiver having no receptions. Yes, it came against a horrid Bengals defense without All-Pro defensive end Trey Hendrickson, but still. Previous offenses under Marc Trestman and Matt Nagy at times had two quarterbacks, one running back and one wide receiver — not a recipe for sustained success. Johnson’s offense has one quarterback, two running backs and two (or more) wide receivers. That’s how you build an offense with staying power.
Even the threat of inclement weather at Soldier Field is less daunting with an offense becoming more and more founded in the run. The Bears are averaging 186.5 rushing yards in four games since the bye.
The Bears’ offense still has a lot to prove against better defenses, but their assignment Sunday is in Johnson’s wheelhouse.
When the Bears have the ball
With the obvious weekly focus on quarterback Caleb Williams, the intrigue Sunday might be in the backfield, where leading rusher D’Andre Swift (questionable/groin) could return after missing last week’s game but rookie Kyle Monangai is coming off a fabulous game against the Bengals — 26 carries for 176 yards (6.8 average) and single-handedly pushing the pile on several occasions.
Monangai has 46 carries for 281 yards and a touchdown in his last three games (6.1 yards per carry, 93.7 yards per game). He likely will get his chance to continue that progress, especially if it becomes tough sledding in bad weather.
“I believe in a guy having the hot hand,” coach Ben Johnson said. “One guy, if he’s feeling it and giving us a spark, we might lean on that a little bit longer.”
Regardless of the conditions at Soldier Field, the Bears figure to lead with the run against a Giants defense that ranks 31st in rushing yards allowed (150.0) and 32nd in yards per carry (5.5). The Giants have allowed an average of 195 rushing yards in their last three games.
Williams and the passing game also could be boosted, not only with the possible return of Swift, but wide receiver Luther Burden (concussion) and tight end Cole Kmet (concussion), who also missed the Bengals game. Rome Odunze figures to be a prime target after having no receptions on three targets last week.
When the Giants have the ball
The Giants’ offense has been rejuvenated with rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart, who is 2-4 since replacing veteran Russell Wilson but has a 100.3 passer rating in his last four games (seven touchdowns, one interception).
Dart’s mobility adds to the challenge for a vulnerable Bears defense that has been short-handed all season and will be without linebacker T.J. Edwards (hand/hamstring). Dart has rushed for 251 yards and five touchdowns (5.1 yards per carry, 41.8 yards per game).
“He sees the field well,” Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen said. “He does a good job of getting the ball out of his hands at times, and when he doesn’t see what he likes, he’s able to create with his feet.”
Dart is operating without two key weapons in rookie running back Cam Skattebo (season-ending ankle injury against the Eagles in Week 8) and second-year wide receiver Malik Nabers (season-ending knee injury against the Chargers in Week 4).
Veteran Devin Singletary and Tyrone Tracy pick up the slack on the ground. But Dart was the Giants’ leading rusher against the 49ers last week (eight carries, 56 yards, one touchdown). Wan’Dale Robinson (47 receptions, 540 yards, two touchdowns) and Darius Slayton (19-254-0) have been Dart’s top targets with Nabers out.
The Bears’ defense leads the NFL with 13 takeaways (and a plus-13 turnover differential). The Giants have six giveaways in Dart’s six starts — one in the last four games.