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Bears vs Jaguars: Five Questions with Black and Teal

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 12:57 p.m. ET

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Oct 2, 2016; London, United Kingdom; Jacksonville Jaguars cheerleaders enter the stadium before the game between Jaguars and the Indianapolis Colts at Wembley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Flynn-USA TODAY Sports

As we prepare for Bears vs Jaguars, we get some inside info from our friends at Black and Teal in our weekly Five Questions exchange.

It’s Bears vs Jaguars in our Week 6 matchup.  You can throw out the records when the Chicago Bears and Jacksonville Jaguars match up.  No, really, throw them out.  They’re awful!  Both teams had higher expectations heading into 2016, but so far, neither has come close to living up to them.  The Bears and Jaguars have only tallied a 2-7 record between them so far this season.

The Bears were expected to improve in Year 2 of the John Fox era but a combination of injuries and poor play have led to yet another slow start.  Jay Cutler is injured and many believe he could have thrown his last pass for the Beloved.  Former first round picks Kyle Fuller, Kevin White are both on IR while 2016 draftee Leonard Floyd has 0.5 a sack and has already missed a game due to injury.  That’s not what you were expecting from the building blocks of your team.

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The Jaguars have yet to win on US soil, recording their lone victory in Week 4 during what’s become their annual trip to London with a 30-27 win over the Indianapolis Colts.  What’s been holding them back?  How is there young defense coming together?  What’s up with big ticket free agent Chris Ivory?  Who’s an under the radar player to be on the lookout for on Sunday?  Who wins the game?  These are the questions that need to be answered.

To help us get ready for Bears vs Jaguars, we’ve enlisted the help of Daniel Lago from our FanSided sister site BlackandTeal.com to give us a Jaguars point of view on Sunday’s game.

Sep 25, 2016; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) reacts after a play in the second half against the Baltimore Ravens at EverBank Field. Baltimore Ravens won 19-17. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports

1. The Jaguars were a popular “breakout” or “surprise” team this season, but have gotten off to a disappointing 1-3 start. Why have they struggled? Can they turn it around after their bye and make a push for the playoffs?

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There’s plenty of blame to go around for the Jaguars’ rocky start, but I would lump a large portion of it on two folks – head coach Gus Bradley and quarterback Blake Bortles. Bradley now boasts the worst record of any head coach in the modern era (13-39) and he no longer has the same excuses he had over his first 2 years. The talent is there in Jacksonville to compete, so total meltdowns like what happened to the Jaguars in San Diego in week 2 are inexcusable. It’s become quite clear Bradley just isn’t a very good head coach, putting the Jaguars at a weekly disadvantage.

Bortles hasn’t helped matters with his play over the first 4 games either. If he was playing at a higher level, the Jaguars would likely be 3-1 as opposed to 1-3. Bortles had a chance to win the game at the end against the Green Bay Packers and he had numerous chances to put the Baltimore Ravens away in week 3. He’s struggled and it’s hurt the Jaguars so far.

Sep 25, 2016; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey (20) and defensive end Dante Fowler (56) react after a play in the second quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at EverBank Field. Baltimore Ravens won 19-17. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports

2. The Jaguars were heralded for picking up some great picks in the draft, getting Jalen Ramsey and Myles Jack in 2016 and while Dante Fowler gets into the mix this season after suffering a season-ending injury prior to his rookie year in 2015. How are these young Jaguars defenders developing? Is this the core of the Jacksonville defense for years to come?

Those three players certainly look like the core of the defense moving forward and they aren’t the only young guys making plays. Ramsey has looked like a lockdown cornerback (down to the trash talking aspect) and has more than justified his draft position thus far.

Fowler has been productive but is clearly still getting his legs under him, while Jack only just started playing regular snaps. The other two guys making their mark are defensive end Yannick Ngakoue and defensive tackle Sheldon Day. Keep an eye on both of those pass rushers as they try to disrupt Brian Hoyer on Sunday.

Sep 25, 2016; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars running back Chris Ivory (33) is brought down by Baltimore Ravens strong safety Eric Weddle (32) during the second half of a football game at EverBank FieldThe Baltimore Ravens won 19-17. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

3. Did the Jaguars blow it spending big free agent bucks on Chris Ivory when it seems like TJ Yeldon is the more productive runner? How does the Jacksonville backfield shape up the rest of the season? Fantasy players need to know!

So far the returns on Chris Ivory aren’t great, but the veteran back is still trying to get back to 100% after an undisclosed medical emergency sidelined him for the first two weeks. He’s flashed some of the power running that’s made him great over the years, but he still has a ways to go.

I would expect Yeldon to continue starting and receiving more carries than Ivory for the time being. That said, I expect Ivory to take over as the primary back by mid-season if he is healthy by then.

Oct 2, 2016; London, United Kingdom; Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Yannick Ngakoue (91) tries to get past Indianapolis Colts tackle Anthony Castonzo (74) during game 15 of the NFL International Series at Wembley Stadium. The Jaguars defeated the Colts 30-27. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

4. Who’s an under the radar Jaguars player who might not be a household name but will make a big impact on Sunday’s result and why?

I mentioned Yannick Ngakoue before but I’ll elaborate here – he’s probably a darkhorse candidate for defensive rookie of the year over the first four games. He recorded a sack and a forced fumble in three straight games, and he even notched an interception against Andrew Luck in the Jaguars lone win of the season so far.

Between him and Fowler, Yannick looks like the more polished edge rusher and he’s consequently received more regular snaps as the “LEO.” The Bears have very good guard play, but Yannick should be able to find some success along the edge against the tackles. If he can create one big play, it’ll certainly help the Jaguars’ chances.

Oct 2, 2016; London, ENG; Jacksonville Jaguars fans dance during the game between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Indianapolis Colts at Wembley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Flynn-USA TODAY Sports

5. What’s your prediction for the game, including the final score?

I was fairly confident about the Jaguars heading into the season but their performance so far in 2016 has brought me back down to earth. They were absolutely eviscerated by San Diego in week two, proving once again that Gus Bradley just isn’t very good at preparing his team to play on the road against a quality opponent.

While Chicago is by no means a world beater, they have solid coaching and Brian Hoyer has shown he can dissect a Bradley defense (he did so last year with ease as a Houston Texan). With that in mind, I have no reason to believe this week will be any different. I think the Bears win in relatively comfortable fashion.

Bears 27 – Jaguars 20

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