Bears vs. Jaguars: 3 keys for Chicago's defense in Week 6

The Chicago Bears have made their way across the pond to play the Jacksonville Jaguars for some Week 6 action in London, forcing fans of the two teams to wake up bright and early to watch them play at 8:30 a.m. CT. The two franchises are wildly popular in Europe, and they often are selected as candidates to play across the world.

Unfortunately for the passionate UK fans who will be in attendance at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, this will not be a contest of two young, up-and-coming teams that they may have thought. The Bears certainly can embody that sentiment – the club is an encouraging 3-2 on the year and has only shown improvement with each game that passes. The Jaguars, on the other hand, have severely regressed from the product they demonstrated last year, gradually losing control of their season with a 1-4 record.

The Jaguars have shown some fight in their Week 5 matchup with the rival Indianapolis Colts, however, putting on a showcase by accumulating nearly 500 yards of total offense. That should serve as a reminder to Chicago that Jacksonville still has the talent to ignite some fireworks, and they should take them lightly. The Bears defense has been one of the few elite units in the league, but they come to London short of a few playmakers due to injury.

The London games have been known to produce wild, unpredictable games, so it’s no exaggeration to say anything can happen this Sunday. Let’s break down the three keys for Chicago’s defense in Week 6.

1. Limit WR Brian Thomas Jr.

The Jaguars come into Week 6 with few offensive weapons to work with. The Florida team came into the 2024 year with an assortment of playmakers on the roster, including offseason pickups Gabe Davis and 2024 first round selection Brian Thomas Jr. As it so often does, the injury bug made its rounds around Jacksonville, causing several of their skill players to miss time. Coming into this Sunday, they still have several starters working through their ailments, and their availability for Week 6 is in question. They may be without some difference-makers yet again in their contest against the Bears, so quarterback Trevor Lawrence will almost certainly continue to rely on his favorite target and frequently attempt to get the ball to Thomas, who’s been one of the most impressive rookies in 2024.

The Bears have been known to suffocate opponents’ passing attacks this year, but their ability to accomplish that goal may be hindered this week. Safety Jaquan Brisker will have to put his career year on pause for at least this week as he recovers from a concussion suffered in Week 5; cornerback Terrell Smith is out with a hip injury, and cornerback Tyrique Stevenson is doubtful to play with a calf injury. Chicago’s secondary has taken a blow, but that doesn’t mean they’ll be overwhelmed by Lawrence and the air attack.

Jacksonville had a horrible start to the season, losing their first four games, and much of the blame for the losses can be attributed to Lawrence, who has seemingly regressed from his previous successes. The former number one overall pick has sparked his offense by establishing an explosive connection with Thomas, so the Bears’ coverages should be centered around the rookie receiver. Jacksonville will be left with little offensive options if Thomas is blanketed all game.

2. Consistently pressure QB Trevor Lawrence

Disrupting the pocket is any defense’s best friend, and that truth certainly applies to the Bears. Chicago has incrementally improved each game in getting to the quarterback; star defensive end Montez Sweat is a force of nature of the edge, of course, but much of the supporting cast has risen to the occasion this year, with defensive tackles Gervon Dexter and Andrew Billings constantly getting into the opponent’s backfield. Their elevated level of play will be integral to the defense’s success in London this Sunday. It’ll be hard for Lawrence to work out of his slump if he can’t allow plays to develop downfield because he’s scrambling in the pocket.

Making the opposing signal caller’s day difficult is a core fundamental of any team looking to win. The Bears secondary will aid the front four in their efforts; their elite coverage skills should cause Lawrence to hitch and hold the ball a second or two longer, giving the D-line time to wreak havoc. In the wider scope of the game, the talent on the Bears’ defense edges out the Jaguars’ offensive talent, but Chicago still has to execute in their roles to fly out of Europe as the victors.

3. Contain the run game

The Jaguars’ run game has been largely absent most of the year, putting even more pressure on their struggling QB to carry the load. The ground attack began to show signs of life the last couple of weeks, with electric running back Tank Bigsby gashing defenses with his limited carries. He was awarded the majority of the rushing workload in Week 5, and he gave the offense a much-needed boost, going over 100 yards rushing and scoring twice. Chicago has been vulnerable to the run so far this year, meaning that Bigsby and similarly talented running back Travis Etienne could have their best game of the year. The Bears are tasked with tightening up their run defense and keeping a lid on the Jaguars’ talented ball carriers.

The game script for Week 6 could describe very different ways Sunday’s game can go. The best case scenario involves Chicago’s offense putting the team up early on the scoreboard, forcing the Jaguars to lean more into the pass, which plays into the defense’s biggest strength. The opposite is also in play, however: the Jaguars could start things off with a strong opening drive and quickly put the Bears down early, which would allow them to run the ball more freely. The club has given up time-consuming, methodical drives in which they are unable to stop the rushing attack from getting big gains, and that could be trouble down the stretch. Chicago needs to be stout in their run defense early if they don’t want to be on the losing side of an upset in Week 6.

This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears vs. Jaguars: 3 keys for Chicago's defense in Week 6