Why starting fast has become major focus for Bears as Week 1 approaches

Why starting fast has become major focus for Bears as Week 1 approaches originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago

LAKE FOREST, Ill. – Expectations for the Bears this season are the highest they’ve been since 2019 when the team was coming off a 12-4 season, a division title and a playoff appearance. There’s talk that the defense could be one of the best in the NFL. There are more talented playmakers on offense since, ever? And potentially, hopefully, maybe, finally, they have a franchise quarterback who can put them over the top.

Yet the team seems to be laser focused on the present. Around the locker room, sights aren’t set too far along the horizon.

“We know what we want to do,” said nickel corner Kyler Gordon. “We know that starting fast is what we’re going to do. It’s imperative for us that we start fast.”

Starting fast is something the Bears haven’t done a lot of lately. Last year they began the season 0-4. In 2022 they got out to a 2-1 record, but quickly fell to 2-4. They went 3-7 over their first 10 games in 2021.

The last time the Bears had a seriously hot start was 2020, when they opened the season 5-1. That’s also the last year they made the playoffs, even though they went through a six-game skid in the middle of the season. That’s likely no coincidence.

“Just look at the numbers,” said head coach Matt Eberflus. “Look at who makes it to the postseason, they start fast.

“I showed that to the guys in the spring. They’re at least 2-2, most are 3-1 and a couple were 4-0, in the NFC. So we did talk about that. The guys understand how important it is to start fast.”

That starts by taking the Tennessee Titans seriously in Week 1. Read a handful of predictions from around the web and not many believe the Titans will leave Chicago with a victory this Sunday. At the time of publication, the Bears were 4.5-point favorites. That was tied with the 49ers for fourth-largest spread in opening week action, behind the Bengals over the…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/why-starting-fast-become-major-215510776.html

Author : NBC Sports Chicago

Publish date : 2024-09-04 21:55:10

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