Heading in different directions, Bears, Saints meet in New Orleans

 

[November 02, 2023]  The Chicago Bears won't be getting Justin Fields back this week.

Montez Sweat is arriving, and running backs coach David Walker is moving on.

It has been a tough week and turbulent first two months of the season for the Bears (2-6) as they prepare to visit the New Orleans Saints Sunday.

"We really feel we're turning the corner," head coach Matt Eberflus said, noting that both wins have come in the last four games. "I think the direction is good. The defense is on the rise."

On Tuesday, the Bears traded a 2024 second-round draft choice to the Washington Commanders in return for Sweat (pending a physical) to try and upgrade one of the NFL's weakest pass rushes.

General manager Ryan Poles called Sweat "a huge addition" to a defense with an NFL-worst 10 sacks. Sweat has 6.5 sacks so far this season, giving him a total of 35.5 in five seasons.

Rookie quarterback Tyson Bagent will make his third straight start in place of Fields, who continues to rehab a thumb injury.

Bagent completed 25 of 37 for 232 yards but was intercepted twice in a 30-13 loss to the Chargers last Sunday in Los Angeles.

Eberflus announced Wednesday that Walker had been dismissed and assistant quarterbacks/wide receivers coach Omar Young would take over his duties.

"We are building a program and have standards to be upheld as a staff and organization both on and off the field," Eberflus said, "and those standards were not met (by Walker)."

The Bears fired defensive coordinator Alan Williams in September.

The Saints (4-4) had lost four of five before recording their highest-scoring performance in the last 20 games in a 38-27 victory at Indianapolis last Sunday.

New Orleans has changed the left side of the offensive line because guard James Hurst missed the last two games due to injury, and Trevor Penning was benched three games ago. Andrus Peat moved from guard to tackle, and Max Garcia started at guard.

The Saints had season highs of 350 passing yards, 161 rushing yards and 511 total yards against the Colts. It was the third consecutive game in which they gained 400 yards.

"The effectiveness of any offense starts up front," coach Dennis Allen said. "It affects the ability to run the football and to throw the football by giving the quarterback a clean pocket to throw from. Every quarterback is affected by sacks and pressure, not just physically but mentally."

New Orleans entered the game against the Colts ranked 28th in the NFL in red-zone efficiency. In four trips against Indianapolis, the Saints scored three touchdowns, and the fourth produced a field goal that gave them a two-score lead in the final minute.

"The last few weeks we've been moving the ball well," quarterback Derek Carr said, "but (last week) we finished our drives with touchdowns. We connected on some big plays. That helps too. When you finish in the red zone with touchdowns it makes everybody feel better."

Hurst (ankle) returned to practice on a limited basis Wednesday. Fields was one of four Bears starters that did not practice. The others were guard Nate Davis (illness), linebacker Tremaine Edmunds (knee) and safety Jaquan Brisker (concussion).

Wide receiver Lynn Bowden (illness) and linebacker Ty Summers (Concussion/hamstring) did not practice Wednesday for the Saints.

--Field Level Media

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