The Kansas City Chiefs meet up with the Chicago Bears this Sunday. The Bears have a 7-4 record, so far this year, and are bringing to the game a 3rd down conversion rate of 35% (22nd in NFL) and have a red zone efficiency of 58% (7th in NFL).

In this weekly article, Pro Football Spotlight will bring you the upcoming opponent’s rushing and passing tendencies, as well as some additional data and observations. For example: Did you know that the Chicago Bears are ranked 8th in the NFL in rushing yards, per play?

Every team in the NFL has strengths and weaknesses, tendencies, and go-to guys. They have plays they like to call during tight situations or directions they like to run when in the middle of the football field.

Let’s take a look at the rest of those tendencies…

Rushing Offense

Rushing Notes:

• Above, is a new slider graph we are trying at PFS. First, you will see the Patriot run tendencies. If you click the ribbon (grey column) on the right you will see how opponents are doing against the Chiefs’ defense. Hope you like it.
• The Chicago Bears are a very right handed team.  They have demonstrated, over the past 12 weeks, that they will run the ball to the right side of the formation.
• Currently, the Bears are ranked 6th in the NFL in the number of attempts toward the right guard, 5th in the NFL toward the left tackle, and 4th in NFL in the number of attempts toward the right end.  That is a lot of high rankings toward that right side of the formation.
• Despite the Bears’ tendency to run right, they are getting good production, when running left.  Chicago is currently ranked 2nd in the NFL in production, when running toward the left guard area (5.6 yards, per attempt).
• The Chiefs have been attacked 149 times directly at the center of the formation, highest in the NFL.
• Kansas City is only giving up 1.79 yards, per attempt, when teams run toward the right guard (defensive left)…but are giving up over 5.0 yards, per attempt, when teams attack the right tackle or right end areas.  Since the Chiefs are prone to giving up yards in this area…expect the Bears to attack it.  Especially, since Chicago loves to run right.
• This week, the Chiefs don’t match up very well with the Bears.  At least with these statistics.  The areas the Bears like to run the ball are, in general, KC weaknesses.  And that tends to point to a down day for the Chiefs.

Passing Offense

Passing Notes:

• Without Chicago’s starting quarterback, the Bears will primarily rely on their run game.  Especially, since last week, against the Raiders, Chad Hanie threw 3 interceptions.  Look for the Bears to reduce the number of passes that Hanie throws (compared to last week) and to try and control the line of scrimmage, against the Chiefs.
• Taking a look at Chad Hanie’s tendencies from the 1st half of the Raiders game….it appears he liked to throw a lot of short passes and when he went deep (3 times in the first half) it was always to Matt Forte.  Look for Forte to do a lot more of the same…but reduce the number of attempts from 36 to maybe, 28.  If that happens, then the Bears feel comfortable and are probably in control of the game.
• The Chiefs continue to play man to man, over on the right side of the field.  So their 28th ranking, in the deep right zone of the field, might look good to the Bears, if they decide to go deep.  The Chiefs are currently giving up a 47% completion rate to that zone and have been attacked the 3rd most in the NFL.
• If you would like to check out the Chiefs latest tendencies…then check out the article Post Game Tendencies and Performances against the Steelers.