CHICAGO — The Chicago Bears are gearing up for his or her first sport after making some massive strikes forward of the commerce deadline.

The Miami Dolphins boast the highest-rated passer within the NFL and the best pair of receivers.

They’re stringing collectively wins and have reinforcements after making some trades earlier than the deadline they hope will assist them make a deep playoff run.

It is truthful to say issues are trying good for Miami heading into their matchup towards the Chicago Bears on Sunday.

Chicago Bears purchase Chase Claypool in commerce with Steelers

“I believe all through OTAs and all through coaching camp, we might see the potential that we had as a group offensively and defensively, and we’re not afraid to speak about Tremendous Bowls right here,” quarterback Tua Tagovailoa stated. “We’re not afraid to speak about going to a playoff sport, having a possibility to go to at least one after which hopefully profitable one.”

The Dolphins (5-3) have gained two straight since Tagovailoa returned from a concussion, rallying to beat the struggling Detroit Lions 31-27 final week. The oft-criticized quarterback leads the NFL with a 112.7 score – 3.2 factors larger than Kansas Metropolis’s Patrick Mahomes.

The Dolphins then gave their move rush a lift once they acquired Bradley Chubb from Denver for his or her 2023 first-round draft decide earlier than Tuesday’s commerce deadline. Miami additionally landed working again Jeff Wilson Jr. in a commerce with San Francisco.

Chicago (3-5) could possibly be in for some tough Sundays, significantly on protection after two massive trades prior to now two weeks. However the offense is a minimum of displaying progress.

The Bears have scored a mixed 62 factors the previous two weeks in a win at New England and loss at Dallas. Quarterback Justin Fields has regarded extra snug passing out of a transferring pocket and having extra designed runs referred to as for him.

And now, he has a brand new downfield weapon.

The Bears acquired receiver Chase Claypool from Pittsburgh to assist stability an offense that leads the NFL in dashing and ranks final in passing.

For the protection, it is a totally different story.

Common supervisor Ryan Poles dealt three-time Professional Bowl defensive finish Robert Quinn to Philadelphia final week after which despatched star linebacker Roquan Smith to Baltimore on Monday. In return, they received principally draft picks.

“The ideas undergo your head like, ‘What are we taking part in for?’ Is their imaginative and prescient nonetheless the identical because the gamers?’” security Eddie Jackson stated. “We’re making an attempt to make it to a Tremendous Bowl, get to the playoffs, issues like that.”

Jackson stated he appreciated Poles and coach Matt Eberflus addressing the group’s leaders within the wake of the Smith commerce and explaining the pondering behind these strikes.

Fields, in the meantime, insisted the Bears aren’t trying out on this season.

“No person’s waving the white flag,” he stated.

The Chicago Bears activated left guard Cody Whitehair on Friday.

He had been on injured reserve since early October, when he harm his proper knee in a loss to the New York Giants on Oct. 2.

The 30-year-old has been a fixture on the Bears line at middle and guard since they drafted him within the second spherical in 2016, beginning 99 video games.

POTENT PASS RUSH

The Dolphins added Chubb, the previous Broncos’ star exterior linebacker, on the commerce deadline not simply to be a distinction maker on their protection, however a season-altering piece to solidify their hopes of contending for a Tremendous Bowl.

The mix of Chubb and Jaelan Phillips, Miami’s gifted second-year linebacker, is predicted to assist a protection that has struggled to generate strain with out blitzing.

“What one other edge rusher, particularly of his high quality, can add to the protection, it could possibly make our group that significantly better,” stated Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel, including that it impacts all of the defensive place teams. “It is all collective.”

McDaniel stated Chubb, who has 5 sacks this season, will play Sunday, although he does not but know the way a lot.

SHOWING PROGRESS

Fields set a profession excessive for the second time in 4 video games final week towards Dallas with a 120 passer score.

He was 17 of 23 for 151 yards and two touchdowns. He additionally ran for 60 yards and a rating. Within the win at New England the earlier Monday night time, Fields threw for 179 yards and a landing and ran for 82 yards and one other rating.

DYNAMIC NUMBERS

Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle have been the best receiving duo by the primary half of the season, and their capacity to get open downfield has made Miami’s offense one of many league’s most effective. Hill leads the league in receiving with 961 yards and Waddle is fourth with 727.

The duo has 5 of the NFL’s high 10 single-game receiving totals this season, and their 1,688 mixed receiving yards is essentially the most in league historical past by a pair of teammates of their group’s first eight video games.

UP FOR THE CHALLENGE

Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson was able to embrace the duty of dealing with two of the NFL’s most efficient receivers.

“One hundred percent. Everyone says and argues that he is (Hill) probably the greatest within the league. And Jaylen Waddle’s been extraordinarily productive,” he stated. “He is working his means up that listing as nicely. I stay up for these prime matchups.”

THE RUNAROUND

The Bears might be part of the 1976 Steelers as the one groups within the Tremendous Bowl period to hurry for a minimum of 225 yards in 4 straight video games.

Chicago had 240 final week, after working for 237 in a loss to Washington and 243 in a win over New England.