This week, the Raiders will take on the Chicago Bears.  The Bears bring with them a 7-3 record and are converting 34% (23rd in NFL) of their 3rd downs and scoring 59% (5th in NFL) of the time, when in the red zone.

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 Bears are 1st in the NFL in punt return average?

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:

• PFS is trying out a new slider (chart above). You first see the Vikings offensive run tendencies…but if you click on the ribbon on the right you will see the Raiders run tendencies. If you click the ribbon (grey column) on the right you will see how opponents are doing against the Chargers’ defense. Hope you like it.
• The Bears really like running the ball to the right side of the formation.
• After 11 weeks, Chicago is ranked 4th in the NFL in the number of attempts around the right end, 5th around the right tackle, and 6th around the right guard.  That is a lot of running to the right side of the formation.
• Chicago is getting some real good yardage around the right end.  They are currently ranked 4th in the NFL in production around that area, with 6.9 yards, per attempt.
• The Bears have also run the ball 34 times (9th in NFL) at the left guard area.
• Since the Raiders are dead last in yardage surrendered around the right end (left side of defense)…expect the Bears to run where they like to run, right.  Oakland is giving up 8.3 yards, per attempts (32 in NFL), around the right end.
• Oakland is having a hard time stopping the run this year.  That is not a good match up for a Bears team that likes to run the ball.

Passing Offense

Passing Notes:

• The Bears have lost their quarterback to injury.  That means that some of these tendencies won’t be the same.  But as a team philosophy…we can get some information from the tendencies above.
• We know that the Bears like to run the ball.  They also, like many teams, throw the ball to right side of the field more than any other.  In the past, however, Chicago had only completed 20% of their passes to the deep right zone.  That is ranked 30th in the NFL.
• Look for the Bears to run the ball on the Raiders and throw in some short to medium routes to keep the Raiders off guard.  This week, the Bears defense must keep the game close.