The Bears will be forced to utilize backup quarterback Tyson Bagent in this game, which usually means fewer pass attempts and more rush attempts.
This week’s spread implies an extreme throwing game script for the Bears, who are huge -8.5-point underdogs.
The Chargers defense has been a notorious pass funnel this year, compelling opposing teams to attempt the 5th-most passes in football (39.8 per game) this year.
The predictive model expects Cole Kmet to accumulate 5.3 targets this week, on average, putting him in the 85th percentile when it comes to tight ends.
Cole Kmet’s 45.0 adjusted receiving yards per game this season shows a noteworthy improvement in his receiving talent over last season’s 32.0 figure.
Cons
The model projects the Chicago Bears to be the 8th-least pass-centric team among all teams this week with a 54.0% pass rate, accounting for their underlying strategic approach and matchup dynamics.
The model projects the Bears offense to be the 5th-slowest paced team in the league (context-neutralized) at the present time, averaging 29.21 seconds per snap.
With a RATE1-RATE2 point drop-off in WOPR (Weighted Opportunity Rating—an advanced statistic that weighs high-value offensive volume) from last year to this one, Cole Kmet has been incorporated much less in his team’s air attack.
The Chargers pass defense has been quite strong when opposing tight ends have gotten into space, giving up an average of 4.03 yards-after-the-catch this year: the 6th-fewest in football.