The Chicago Bears are set to face off against the Cleveland Browns in a battle of wills and physicality at Soldier Field this Sunday, with temperatures plummeting to near-archic levels that could play right into their favor.
Coach Ben Johnson's decision to install a heavy-hitting rushing attack early on has proven to be a masterstroke, as the Bears have consistently been one of the most feared ground-and-pound outfits in the league. With running backs like Kyle Monangai and D'Andre Swift leading the charge, Chicago is primed to wreak havoc on Cleveland's defense.
The numbers are staggering - 152.6 rushing yards per game is the second-most in the NFL, with an average of 175 yards per contest since a mid-season bye that saw them implement new tactics to get their offense rolling. Meanwhile, Cleveland's Browns are being exploited for all they're worth, allowing a paltry 3.8 yards per carry, the fourth-lowest mark in the league.
But it won't be an easy task - the Bears will face off against a team that's proven itself capable of stopping even the best rushing attacks. A few weeks ago, Tony Pollard had a monster game against the Browns, running for 97 yards and scoring twice.
Still, Chicago is feeling confident as they head into Sunday's matchup. According to Monangai, "We studied what they did... We have our own game plan, our own thoughts, going into the game." And with their bruising attack and tenacious defense, the Bears are poised to make a statement against their AFC North rivals.
In this wintry showdown at Soldier Field, it's likely that the one team will emerge victorious who can weather the cold better - and in this case, it might just be the Bears.
Coach Ben Johnson's decision to install a heavy-hitting rushing attack early on has proven to be a masterstroke, as the Bears have consistently been one of the most feared ground-and-pound outfits in the league. With running backs like Kyle Monangai and D'Andre Swift leading the charge, Chicago is primed to wreak havoc on Cleveland's defense.
The numbers are staggering - 152.6 rushing yards per game is the second-most in the NFL, with an average of 175 yards per contest since a mid-season bye that saw them implement new tactics to get their offense rolling. Meanwhile, Cleveland's Browns are being exploited for all they're worth, allowing a paltry 3.8 yards per carry, the fourth-lowest mark in the league.
But it won't be an easy task - the Bears will face off against a team that's proven itself capable of stopping even the best rushing attacks. A few weeks ago, Tony Pollard had a monster game against the Browns, running for 97 yards and scoring twice.
Still, Chicago is feeling confident as they head into Sunday's matchup. According to Monangai, "We studied what they did... We have our own game plan, our own thoughts, going into the game." And with their bruising attack and tenacious defense, the Bears are poised to make a statement against their AFC North rivals.
In this wintry showdown at Soldier Field, it's likely that the one team will emerge victorious who can weather the cold better - and in this case, it might just be the Bears.