Three Bears necessities vs. Chargers

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MICHIGAN STATE OVER WISCONSIN

The Bears chose  ex-Sparty RB Jeremy Langford in the fourth round of the draft last May. The Chargers traded up a couple of spots in the first round to select Badger Melvin Gordon. The latter has yet to reach the end zone and is averaging just 3.7 yards a carry, in part due to the Bolts’ banged-up offensive line. Stopping Philip Rivers from a sixth straight 300-yard passing game will be difficult enough. The defense can at least make them one-dimensional by keeping Gordon on lockdown while Langford’s first NFL start comes against the league’s 27th-ranked run defense. The “hold-the-ball/burn-the-clock” cause that’s kept the Bears in games must be put to use again, keeping Rivers and his still-talented receiver fleet off the field, despite the absence of Keenan Allen.

[MORE: Langford-for-Forte not the real issue for Bears offense]

KEEP THE “TEAMS” CLEAN

It’s not surprising the two “cleanest” games the Bears have played on special teams has resulted in both of their wins. The four losses have included at least one area of catastrophe. Once-talented return man Jacoby Jones was cut loose. Allen also contributed in that department, so San Diego likely turns to 2014 undrafted free agent Javontee Herndon. The Chargers’ four return and coverage teams rank between 22nd and 30th.  Before Bears coordinator Jeff Rodgers’ beard gets any more gray, all on those units must get on the “How To” page, go over it together, and stay on it.

[SHOP: Gear up Bears fans!]

GET “HOME” & MAYBE FLY HOME HAPPY

The Chargers will be without two starting offensive linemen (left tackle King Dunlap and center Chris Watt) and probably a third (left guard Orlando Franklin). Rivers is stationary. And he’ll be throwing a lot. It might not be a bad time for the defense to add to the season sack total of just 12. Pernell McPhee and Jarvis Jenkins account for 8.5 of those. Vic Fangio promised a week and a half ago that interceptions for the secondary would eventually come, and Kyle Fuller provided a pick while Antrel Rolle should’ve had a second. Fangio predicted this week the sacks will start coming. Let’s see if he’s right on that, even if he wasn’t on his Cubs World Series prediction.

Get ready for Monday night’s game by joining Dan Jiggetts, Lance Briggs, Jim Miller and Chris at 6:30 on Comcast Sportsnet Plus with “Bears Pregame Live, brought to you by Meijer.”  As soon as the second quarter ends, log on here at CSNChicago.com as Jim and Chris break down the first 30 minutes and go over adjustments on “Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois Bears Halftime Live.” Then when the clock hits zero at Qualcomm Stadium, flip over from ESPN back to Comcast SportsNet as the four guys bring you 90 minutes of reaction, analysis, live press conferences and locker room interviews on “Bears Postgame Live, presented by Nissan.” 

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