Chicago’s secondary passed a big test last week. That group could have a big day against Anthony Richardson and the Colts if the Bears’ front seven can generate some pressure on the second-year quarterback on Sunday.
Bears Secondary
Colts Receivers (and Tight Ends)
Bears Secondary Expectations
Chicago passed one of the tougher tests it will face this season last week when they held the Houston Texans to just 19 points. Despite Nico Collins looking like a potential problem early, Matt Eberflus’ secondary made the necessary adjustments, and Collins had a quiet second half.
The Bears have allo𒉰wed opposing teams a 68.9 percent catch rate in their first two games, with much of that coming on short throws. Jaylon Johnson has only allowed three catches on eight targets his way (37.5%) and has two forܫced incompletions, two pass breakups, and an interception.
Tyrique Stevenson has seen the most action, with his assignments getting 19 targets in two games, and Stevenson has only allowed t💖en receptions (52.6%). The second-year corner has registered two forced incompletions, two pass breakups, and an interception, which wen🔥t for six points in Week 1 against the Tennessee Titans.
Kyler Gordon has allowed only 62.5 his way to be caught and has a forced incompletion, a pass breakup, and a dropped interception in two games, but he’s not had a coverage assignment score a touchdown on him.
If Chicago’s front seven can create some pressure on Anthony Richardson, the Bears secondary will have opportunities to take the football away. Richardson has four interceptions in two games and hasn’t fared well under pressure.
Colts Receivers Expectations
Despite torching the Houston Texans secondary in Week 1, Indianapolis wide receivers not named Alec Pierce managed only 64 receiving yards in the Colts’ loss to the Green Bay Packers in Week 2 at Lambeau Field.
The Colts are getting wide receiver Josh Downs back this week, which will provide Anthony Richardson with another dangerous weapon. Downs suffered an ankle sprain in the offseason, sidelining him for over a month. Downs caug🌼ht 68 passes for 771 yards in his rookie season with Indy.
Indianapolis’ best receiver is Michael Pittman Jr., who has done most of his work over the middle and in the short-to-intermediate range. Pittman has five catches for 33 yards on targets less than 10 yards and one for 13 yards on medium targets.
Alec Pierce has been Indianapolis’ most productive receiver this season, and like Pittman, most of his work has come between the hashes, with Pierce doing the Colts’ heavy downfield lifting through the first two games. Pierce has four catches for 48 yards on passes in the medium range, two catches in short range, two catches for 117 yards, and a touchdown on deep balls (20 or more yards).
Shane Steichen’s offense relies heavily on Jonathan Taylor, and RPO looks to the middle of the field at all three levels. Josh Downs figures to add to that element this week, but the Colts will have their work cut out against the Chicago defense.
Quarterback Anthony Richardson’s average time to throw on all dropbacks is 3.10 through two weeks, and he’s 0-for-6 on pass attempts that have come when the opposing team blitzes and has been intercepted twice. When pressured, Richardson has a 53.8 completion percentage.
X-Factor
The front seven is the X-Factor for the secondary this week. We know that the Bears secondary has a knack for taking the footballﷺ away, and they will have some chances to do that this week if the front seven can generate pressure on Anthony Richardson.
