The (first) three Bears necessities to surprise Titans

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Okay, so with Freeman, Floyd, Miller and Cutler added to the temporary/permanent absentee list since last Sunday, maybe I should start calling this the...oh....I dunno...ten Bears Necessities? But since I don't wanna ramble too long, and would still like to keep the Goldilocks/Jungle Book title combo, we'll keep this at three.

1. Charlie & Bobby

Bobby Massie returns from the concussion he suffered two weeks ago just in time to face a defense that's racked up 30 sacks, one off the league lead entering the week. And the last two weeks have not been pretty protection-wise as the line's revolving door continues. Charles Leno, Jr. will have to ward off Brian Orakpo (nine sacks). Massie hopes to do the same against the unheralded, but good Derrick Morgan (eight sacks). Zach Miller's not around anymore, but Logan Paulsen and Ben Braunecker might as well be sixth and seventh offensive linemen - not only to protect Matt Barkley, but to help as much as possible when Dick LeBeau decides to stack the box like Steve Spagnuolo did in the second half last week. The M.O. for the league's seventh-ranked run defense won't only be to stuff Jordan Howard, but dare Barkley to beat them through the air to....umm...who again?

2. Try not to let 'em run so free, man

Of all the opponents against whom tackling machine Jerrell Freeman must begin serving his four-game suspension, Tennessee is near the bottom of the list. With him, the Bears allow an average of 99 rushing yards per game (12th in the NFL). Without him, they'll face the league's third-best ground attack (141 per game, including 1,000-yard rusher DeMarco Murray, and the third-best rushing quarterback in Marcus Mariota). The expected re-return of Eddie Goldman (ankle) should help, and perhaps Mitch Unrein's back from his bad back. Nick Kwiatkoski? Welcome to your second NFL start, kid! (Remember that first one against that other rushing juggernaut in Week 3?)

[SHOP: Gear up Bears fans!]

3. Who's got 82?

Safety? Linebacker? Delanie Walker has become one of the league's best-kept secrets, though that's hard to do after catching 94 passes for almost 1100 yards a year ago. After years of playing in the shadow of Vernon Davis in San Francisco, the 32-year-old has become Mariota's favorite target (even though he has "only" 46 catches through 11 games). But his five touchdown receptions tied him for first among tight ends entering the week. He's out of the "undersized" (just under 6'2, 248 lbs.) mold of Washington's Jordan Reed, but you've seen how he's torn up the Bears in two career meetings (a pair of nine-reception games at an average of 127 yards, and a touchdown in each).

CSN gets you ready for Bears-Titans at 11 Sunday morning when former Bears Alex Brown, Jim Miller, and Lance Briggs join Chris on "Bears Pregame Live."  When the second quarter ends, log on here on CSNChicago.com as Jim and Chris break down the opening 30 minutes and go over second half adjustments on "Bears Halftime Live."  Then as soon as the game goes final on CBS, switch back to CSN for 90 minutes of reaction, analysis, live press conferences and locker room interviews on "Bears Postgame Live." 

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