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It’s finally here! Today marks the unofficial coming of Fall. The Bears will be playing football and we got you covered!
The first match-up of the preseason is a showdown with John Fox’s former team, the Denver Broncos. This is actually a really good measuring stick for this Bears team. Bears fans, myself included, are very curious about what we will see with this new look offense.
For the first time since 2008, there will be a new starting quarterback for the Bears, Mike Glennon. Additionally, this is the first look at second-overall pick, Mitchell Trubisky. While it may take some time to come together, there are some exciting weapons on offense that I will be anxious to get my first look at.
After a bevy of off-season moves, there will be a lot of new faces for many fans to get their first look at. In fact, 46 of the 90-man roster are new from last season. That is an incredible amount of turnover for one year, so make sure to print out a copy of the Bears roster. If you are watching locally, the team of Sam Rosen and Jim Miller are not the best with names, so you might want to have some additional information on hand.
But as always, keep in mind that this is a preseason game, the first preseason game. Take everything you see with a grain of salt.
In lieu of keys to the game, since this is preseason and all, I am going to give you match-ups and players to watch for.
How to watch Preseason Game 1
Who: Chicago Bears vs. Denver Broncos
Time: Thursday, August 10, 8 p.m. EST
Place: Soldier Field, Chicago, IL
TV: NFL Network and locally on FOX
Announcers: NFLN - TBA, FOX - Sam Rosen and Jim Miller
Online: NFL Game Pass offers live audio and re-airs after the game.
DirecTV's NFL Sunday Ticket has expanded its online streaming service. Verizon subscribers can watch games live with the NFL Mobile app (subscription required, and usual TV blackout rules apply even online).
Radio: Click here for all the Bears’ affiliate stations that carry the game.
What to Watch For
On offense, be sure to watch how the team gets in and out of the huddle. This is a new offense for all 3 quarterbacks, so there is a learning curve for everyone. Additionally, I am going to be looking for efficiency. I am not concerned with scoring a bunch of points with the first team. My focus is going to be on moving the ball and getting into a little bit of a rhythm.
Defensively, I am going to watch for two things. First, how does the front look against the run. This was a weak spot last year and so far in camp, they have looked really good. I want to see that continue against another team. Secondly, I want to see what this secondary looks like. Are they making plays on the ball or giving up a ton of underneath passes as they have in the past.
Who to Watch
Mitchell Trubisky (#10): This is, of course, the most obvious choice. Why wouldn’t we want to watch our shiny new toy? Well as stated above, there is a lot of new information being thrown at Trubisky right now and I want to see how he reacts to it. Are there any snap issues? Can he get in-and-out of the huddle? Can he handle the speed of a live NFL game?
Tarik Cohen (#29): Well have all heard about Cohen’s speed and elusiveness. The real question is can he hold up to the pounding that NFL defenders heap on opposing players? Does the speed translate to games? Does he have the ability to avoid big hits, like the successful small players that have come before him?
Jonathan Bullard (#90): Bullard had a disappointing rookie season in 2016. The fans and team expected a lot out of him. He seems to have put that behind him as he bulked-up for the 2017 season and seems to be having a great camp. Is he pushing the pocket and/or holding his ground versus the run? Is he getting pressure in the pass game? Most importantly, do you notice him out there in a positive way?
Eddie Jackson (#39): The rookie free safety appears poised to grab hold of the starting spot next to Quintin Demps. First and foremost for me is can Jackson tackle? This was an issue in college. Next, I want to see how he moves and reacts to plays. He looks like he reads the play well in camp. Does he make plays and is he around the ball tomorrow night?
Who are and what are you all looking for from tomorrow night’s first preseason game? I am very glad to have Bears football back in my life, so I will definitely be tuning in.
Bear Down!