The Chicago Bears have a new-look defense headlined by the arrival of All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons, and it's a defense that is seemingly going to cause havoc for opposing quarterbacks in collapsing the pocket.
Simmons' arrival on the Chicago defensive line is going to open up plenty of opportunities for Montez Sweat and Austin Booker, both of whom made big plays in last week's win over Seattle, and with another week under their belt, the production should only increase.
Taking on a Tampa Bay Buccaneers offense that has dominated on the ground over their last two wins in the past two weeks, the Bears should know what to expect, but quarterback Baker Mayfield can still sling in the football around and needs to be accounted for. In their win last week over the Atlanta
Falcons, the Buccaneers were the first team since 1974 to win a game without completing a pass, but they will not be able to sustain that, especially with this Bears defense.
Here are the top three defensive keys for the Bears as they take on a Buccaneers team that is looking to find balance in their offense.
Stop the run
Clearly, Tampa Bay wants to run the ball and they have a two-headed monster in Bucky Irving and Kenny Gainwell, who combined for 310 yards on the ground last week over the Falcons. Jeffery Simmons in the middle of the defensive line should certainly plug up the running lanes in the middle, but with how the Bucs ran the ball last Sunday, it's going to take a collective effort from all three levels to stop the run.
Let Jeffery Simmons pave the way
Speaking of Jeffery Simmons, the impact he made in his first game on short-notice against the Seattle Seahawks was a major one. Now, with a full week of practice around the coaching staff and his teammates, Simmons should be more of a leader on the field that opens up opportunities for others on the defensive line, especially Montez Sweat and Austin Booker. Simmons' presence was absolutely an energizer on the field and the sideline, but this week he should pave the way for the entire defense in stopping Tampa's run game and making life rough on Baker Mayfield.
Improvement in secondary
If Tampa Bay wants to get back to throwing the football with Mayfield under center, the Bears secondary has to be better than they have been in recent weeks. With rookie Malik Muhammad still battling an injury and questionable for the game, it's up to Jaylon Johnson and Tyrique Stevenson to step up and play to their standards. The Bucs' passing game will primarily focus on Chris Godwin, but if Emeka Egbuka can return from his own foot injury, the weapons are doubled and Chicago will have their hands full with two shifty and crafty receivers.
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: 3 keys for Bears defense vs. Bucs in Week 9
