In Week 8’s ‘Matchup to Watch,’ Joey Bosa got to Tyson Bagent early and set the tone for what would become a long Sunday night for the Bears.
And while the Bears are boasting a rough 2-6 record, they head into a winnable game in New Orleans against the Saints in Week 9.
On paper, the Saints look like your typical mid-tier team: a .500 record with some star power on offense with a questionable quarterback at the helm. No disrespect to Derek Carr, but his 17th-ranked QBR doesn’t necessarily scream “elite” status despite an impressive stretch of multiple 300-yard games.
With all that being said, the bottom line is that Carr won’t have to do much on Sunday if this key Saints player can build on his recent level of play from Week 8 into Sunday’s matchup with the Bears at the Superdome.
This leads me to my matchup of the week.
Alvin Kamara vs. Chicago Bears Run Defense
The Bears’ rushing defense is surprisingly one of the league’s best, allowing only 78.8 yards per game through the first eight weeks of the 2023 season. That’s what makes Week 9 so interesting with Alvin Kamara on deck. Kamara has had four consecutive games with 17+ rushing attempts and two touchdowns in that span. He’s averaging 3.6 yards per carry in that span as well.
Those performance numbers on paper aren’t terribly intimidating. Still, the workload that Kamara will get makes him a Fantasy target and the key player that the Bears will need to shut down to have a chance for victory on Sunday.
It’s an exciting matchup, given how quietly the Bears’ rushing defense has snuck into a top-ranked squad. Going up against one of the league’s best names at the running back position makes this the “make or break” battle of the game.
It’s actually pretty simple. When the Bears' defense can shut down an opponent's key offensive weapon, it’s a winnable game. Wide receivers Terry McLaurin and Jahan Doston were contained in the Bears’ blowout of the Commanders. Las Vegas star receiver Davante Adams was held to near-nonexistent numbers in the Bears’ dominance of the Raiders.
On Sunday, it’s all about stopping Kamara for a shot at their third win of the season.
Who Wins?
The Bears' trade for defensive end Montez Sweat gives the defense a much-needed boost in terms of edge-rushing potential, allowing for the line to focus on runs up the gut with a threatening presence outside. While it’s still unknown how quickly Sweat will be integrated into the Bears’ defensive scheme, Chicago's run defense should be adequate even if Sweat's reps are limited.
This matchup is all about who comes out of the gate faster. It’s the momentum. If Kamara scores in the first quarter, the Bears could have a long day containing the star running back.
Allowing minimal gains during the first few Saints’ possessions will set the tone for another strong day for this (as of late) quietly impressive Chicago defense.