PLAYER NOTES
–QB Mitchell Trubisky (shoulder) practiced Wednesday only on a limited basis. Trubisky did not throw during his participation, in the individual portion of practice. He was only handing off or running. He’ll likely be a game-time decision on Sunday.
–DE Akiem Hicks (heel) did not practice Wednesday due to Achilles soreness. His status for Sunday’s game is uncertain.
–TE Adam Shaheen (concussion) returned to practice Wednesday after missing last week’s game and is expected to play against the Giants.
–OLB Aaron Lynch (concussion) returned to practice Wednesday after missing last week’s game and is expected to play against the Giants.
–RB Benny Cunningham (right ankle) did not practice Wednesday due to an injury suffered in Thursday’s game. His status for the Giants game is uncertain.
–DB Sherrick McManis (hamstring) did not practice Wednesday due to an injury suffered in Thursday’s game with Detroit. His status is uncertain.
–CB Prince Amukamara twice in Thursday’s game was checked on the sideline for a concussion but was never diagnosed with one and continues to practice. He was able to finish the Thanksgiving Day game with the Lions.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: G Bryan Witzmann. For someone who just came to the team and began playing five games ago, and now after three straight starts, Witzmann is making a major contribution. He hasn’t had a penalty yet at right guard — something the Bears are becoming known for on the offensive line. The 6-foot-7, 320-pound former Chief was acquired as protection because of Kyle Long’s injury status, and wound up taking the starting job from regular replacement Eric Kush. Witzmann had some pass-blocking troubles against the Lions, but by and large has held his own in his starts. That includes a strong start against a tough Minnesota Vikings defensive front. His knowledge of the Chiefs’ offensive system was a huge plus, and the obvious connection made him an easy choice for signing after he’d been cut by the Vikings. If Witzmann continues to progress, Long recovers from his foot injury by Week 17, and the Bears qualify for the playoffs, they could have a big decision to make at starting right guard.
GAME PLAN: If Mitchell Trubisky is able to play, the Giants are a team he can burn with scrambles or even read-option runs. New York’s defensive tendency in its 3-4 is to play two-man coverage most of the time — a safety over the top with a cornerback trailing close off the inside shoulder. It’s the same thing that happens against a man-to-man team when they blitz and the defensive backs have their backs to the line of scrimmage. The quarterback is running downfield 10 yards before anyone sees him. Chase Daniel is no speed demon, but does run well enough to execute this at times. When the Giants are in straight zone coverage, they tend to leave big gaps that can be exploited with in-cuts and slants. The Giants should be easier to hit with power inside running than other defenses the Bears have played recently. They sent Damon Harrison to the Lions and have been a target for running teams even when they had him. Now it’s worse. It could mean Jordan Howard has a rare meaningful impact on the attack.
Vic Fangio’s Bears defense faced Pat Shurmur’s offense twice a season when he was a Vikings offensive coordinator. The Giants will try to run Saquon Barkley both inside and off the edge and really want to feed him screens and swing passes out into the flat to get him a bit of open space to use his combination of speed and power. It’s not the kind of attack the Bears can afford to blitz often against. At most, they can devote five on occasion. Trying to play receiver Odell Beckham Jr. man-to-man is a quick way to defeat. The Bears will need to have a safety over the top on his side. New York’s offensive line has been entirely ineffective protecting Eli Manning as only the Titans have given up more sacks than New York (38). Expect Khalil Mack to have a big role in this one.
MATCHUPS TO WATCH
–Bears LB Roquan Smith, who leads the Bears with 82 tackles, vs. Giants RB Saquon Barkley, who is fourth in the NFL in rushing (829 yards). Smith has gradually picked it up as his knowledge of the defense has improved, and his ability to get out into the flat and snuff out the short passing game makes him valuable all-around. Although he has better speed than the great majority of linebackers and matches up with almost all running backs, he may not be able to match up entirely in the passing game on Barkley, who averages 6.4 receptions per game. They may need to put Adrian Amos or Eddie Jackson on him at times. Barkley is a load to tackle, besides being fast and elusive, so low open-field tackles are needed. That’s a specialty of Smith.
–Bears TE Trey Burton, who had a dropped pass and fumble last week, vs. Giants LB Alec Ogletree, who was burned twice in coverage by Eagles TE Zach Ertz last week. Ogletree has good speed and should be able to stay with most tight ends. Burton has plenty of reason to bounce back after what had to be his worst game. In addition to the drop and the lost fumble, he got flagged for holding on a first-down run by QB Chase Daniel. The Giants have struggled on defense mostly against the run, but haven’t been a solid pass defense, either. The Bears can look to exploit this matchup.
–Bears LB Khalil Mack, who has eight sacks and five forced fumbles, vs. Giants LT Nate Solder, who has one holding penalty this season. Former Patriot Solder is one tackle who might be expected to have the ability to block Mack, if there is such a player. And the Giants’ pass blockers as a group have played better in the last three games than earlier this season. After allowing seven sacks to Washington, they’ve gone on to give up seven sacks total in the last three games. Then again, Mack has been able to rush any opponent. Expect even someone of Solder’s pedigree to get help. It’s also possible the Bears could swing Mack to the other side, which was where he played the first four weeks of the season.
