Chapter 1: What five sports topics are on the minds of the hosts?
It's time for five on Nailah Rahimi and Marshall Harris with Mark Grote. Bringing you five topics on their mind today. On Chicago Sports Radio 670 The Score. Number one. Bears cornerback Tyreek Stevenson's snap counts over the past four games are as follows. 33 snaps versus the Browns. 27 against the Packers, 18 at San Francisco, and zero snaps against the Lions.
Thanks to the Tribune's Brad Biggs for totaling up those snap counts in a recent article. So, defensive coordinator Dennis Allen said this to reporters on Wednesday. There'll be a plan in place for Tyreek. We'll see how the game plays out. But I think all those guys have to be ready to play. How many snaps do you think Stevenson will get Saturday against the Packers?
I'm still trying to figure this out.
Chapter 2: How has Tyreek Stevenson performed in recent games?
Because this is the quintessential question at this time of year in the National Football League. Who's healthy? How healthy are they? Are they more effective being partially healthy than the next guy? And that's the calculus that is constant. We've had to deal. We have had to deal with it all season long for the Bears because of Jalen Johnson and the like.
So I find it very curious that a healthy Tyreek Stevenson was not a factor in the game against the Lions on purpose. Like it's one thing if he wasn't a factor because he's out there. But on purpose? That's what makes this so confusing. And like there's a quote from Jace Leisure. Dennis Allen says Tyreek Stevenson can still be a factor. What the hell happened behind the scenes here?
Is that the question that you're led to believe? Because healthy bodies, especially ones who are vets on your team, who are of the current regime, you'd think would be part of this, right? Well, my question is this. And this is how I answer the question of like how many snaps he'll actually get this week. How many interceptions has Tyreek Stevenson had this year? One.
He has forced a couple of fumbles and recovered a couple of fumbles. But I don't think Tyreek Stevenson was ever going to be above Jalen Johnson on the depth chart. No, and I think now it's him versus Nashawn Wright. And Nashawn Wright generates turnovers. They're both lacking in coverage. Neither one of them is all pro or a pro bowler. Probably not even a Pro Bowl alternate.
And that's one of those guys led the league in takeaways. Yeah.
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Chapter 3: What is the significance of health for the Bears' players?
So if you got the guy who led the league in takeaways and you know your defense is leaky at best, you got to go with the guy who at least gives you a chance on a 50-50 ball. Well, in front of the score, Caitlin Sharkey had this quote as well around the same time yesterday. Dennis Allen on Tyreek's low snap count.
I think when the season started, none of us thought Nashawn Wright would be playing the way he has. Part of his playing the hot hand. And wasn't that an actual discussion point among the coaching staff? And the player said that they were told that once Jalen Johnson became healthy enough to play. So they're following their message there.
to answer the question about how many snaps, I could see him getting 10 snaps. I could see certain packages, whatever, somebody needs a blow, however you want to put it. Because you've got to have your guys, knowing the way the Bears play, you've got to have your guys at full strength in the fourth quarter, because that's how it feels like this game, like most Bears-Packers games.
Take Ben Johnson out of the equation. Most Bears-Packers game, they come down to the fourth quarter. Well, empty the clip in the playbook, right? Yes. Both if you're the offensive play caller and if you're the defensive caller. So, go ahead... Throw it all out there. Please don't do as many fake blitzes because Jordan Love is going to check down on those even when they're real.
He's going to find the open man. That's all I ask. You know I love an unhinged blitz out of the secondary. I love an unhinged safety blitz. I love an unhinged quarter blitz. I love a double safety blitz. But I don't know that Saturday is the time to do it. You know what I love? Four-man pressure. Let's see if we get some. You know the answer to that. I don't. Packers are out here talking trash.
Here's what Green Bay quarterback Keysaw Nixon told reporters on Wednesday. I didn't want nobody else. I wanted the Bears. I just, you know, however it fell, it was going to fall. If we had to go to Philly, we was going to Philly, but I'd rather play the Bears first. I need to get back. That's just what it is.
Packers quarterback Keysaw Nixon, should the Bears sound more like the Packers do when discussing Saturday's wildcard game? No, because the Bears don't have to go anywhere. They were going to have to go on the road regardless. And I will say, I expected them to be much more comfortable at Soldier Field, which they've shown us in the past.
Not just this year, but in matchups past for everybody on that Green Bay roster who's been a part of the Bears-Packers series for years now, including Jordan Love. Going to see the reigning Super Bowl champs as they're fully rested and fully healthy. 21 of 22 starters available right now from day one to now for the Eagles.
That sounds like a very bad proposition for the Packers because that defense is real. Does Nick Sirianni just flip double birds or something to anybody? Is this the only way to match the Philly energy with more Philly energy? Listen, do you just go there? I know Nick Sirianni and them wish they could see the Packers this week instead of the 49ers. I think that's a fair statement.
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Chapter 4: What are the expectations for Tyreek Stevenson against the Packers?
But I know that from an offensive standpoint, perhaps the most consistent bat you could ask for out of who's left. I mean, when I first read this question, you know what I really thought, first really thought? Kyle Tucker. But I just don't know that that's even an option. But if it was an option...
I would want a healthy Kyle Tucker for the entire season, and that hasn't happened in the past two seasons. So I don't even know that that's a thing. Like, that's the hard part about this, is how much were you burned by that? And by you, I mean anybody listening, Jed Hoyer, the Cubs, because I feel like I was burned by that. So it's affecting me as far as to who I want playing for the team.
And thusly, I think probably sacrificing offense. But you already decided to sacrifice offense yet again anyway. So somebody better be coming through that door. I like the idea of Bo Bichette.
and having a situation where Matt Shaw doesn't have to play all the time, and you've got some super utility-type stuff with the mobility, not just Bobachet himself, but also we know Nico Horner can play multiple positions. Now, I know a lot of people are saying, well, if you get Bobachet, they've got to trade away Nico Horner. You don't have to do that, okay?
Also, why do you have to trade away the better player? Like, why do you have to trade away Nico? No, that's a good point. Not better than Bo Bichette. No, better than Matt Shaw. I got you. The cheaper, because he's cheaper. That's why. It's fewer years of control. They want to keep the cheap guy that they have control over. Listen, for me, it's Kyle Tucker.
But if we take him off the table because he's not available, it's Bo Bichette. But also... Bo Bichette will be 28 next year. Alex Bregman's in his 30s. It's Cody Bellinger. And then I'll take any of the four, to be honest. I'll be like, hey, sir, here's my advice. Get one of these guys and add them to your lineup this year without subtracting anyone else that could be a force.
Yeah, the question, why not both, should be asked more often. Yeah, I think that's where we are right now. And there's a growing belief within me. Now tell me if I'm, this is foolish of me, but a growing belief that they will not come in second somehow, some way to one of these guys. They'll just get one of them. I think it's the pressure and knowing that they have to.
They have to sign one of these. Why do they have to? Because they don't have enough offense. That's not what Jed Hoyer told me. Well, Jed Hoyer also gave Shota Imanaga a raise. So they thought that they were probably going to get somebody else to bite on that and that they were going to get a pick in exchange. And it didn't happen. Fair. And that sits with me. Number four.
The Bulls lost to the Pistons on Wednesday. Here's how it sounded on 670 The Score on the Bulls Radio Network. And this ball game is over. Pistons win it 108-93. In one word, Bill, how would you describe this game? Uh, sloppy. Bulls Radio Network analyst Bill Wennington describing the Bulls' performance as sloppy.
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Chapter 5: What insights does Mark Grote provide about the Bears' preparation?
He also tells us what needed to be better in the first game against Green Bay. So I want you guys to hear this. It's fairly lengthy, just a little bit over a minute. I guess it's not that long. And then I will fill in some blanks on some of the things that you will hear from Ben Johnson.
But I just think this is a really good synopsis from Ben Johnson of what needs to be better to win this game on Saturday night. Here's Ben Johnson. I think we're having problems with our system. And I don't hear the Ben Johnson cut, but I can fill in some of the blanks for you guys. Now hold on for a second. I want people to know that they can watch you on Twitch.
Twitch.tv slash Chicago670, the score. And Mark has many bears behind him. Ah, see there? We've got the audio now. What do you think needs to be better against the Packers, even relative to winning that game? Yeah, I mean, they're a very talented group from top to bottom, and we've kept the game close both times we played them and had a chance at the end of the game to come out on top.
I'd like to see us play better early in the game, particularly on offense. It felt like the last couple times we played, we haven't gotten off to as fast of a start as you'd like. I think... You know, particularly the first game against them in the first half, we did not do well on third down. Second half, we were a little bit better, and we had a little bit more success moving the ball.
The last game we played against them, same thing. They did a good job with their third down plan, and we weren't able to stay on the field. The story of both games so far has been their offense possessing the ball, and when that happens, you just have limited opportunities, limited possessions, and it makes each play and each game each possession that much more valuable.
Their offense is, is one of the best, if not the best in the NFL on third and fourth down. And so that we got a big challenge there in terms of getting off the field when we get them in those situations. And yet, you know, I do feel good about our red zone defense and they came big through big force last time we played and would like to see that happen again.
Yeah, I'm paying very close attention to the third down. I get it on both sides of the ball, but Green Bay on third down against the Bears and the Bears win over Green Bay. The pack was six for 12 on third down in that first game. that the Bears lost, obviously. The Packers were 8 of 12 on third down in that game, and we know all the issues that went down in that game.
Green Bay, time of possession against the Bears this year, and the Bears win. The Packers had the ball 38-57 to the Bears, 26 minutes and 13 seconds in the first game. A little bit better. Green Bay 33-29 to the Bears, 26 minutes and 31 seconds. And in general, the Green Bay Packers back to the third down thing, their offense, that is, their offense.
In general, they are second in the league on third down. So I thought that was really interesting how specific Ben Johnson got. It's specific and it's very obvious, too. Those areas need to be cleaned up as tight as both of these games were. Even though the Bears won their last game, they got away with some stuff, and that stuff needs to be tightened up to win this game on Saturday.
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