Run better than they do
The Bears have won their last two games by running for 100 yards for the first time since the first two games. John Fox helped develop two darn good, low-round draft pick, downhill inside linebackers in Brandon Marshall and Danny Trevathan, who are the team's top two tacklers, and combined with their down linemen, have 20 tackles for loss. Denver is seventh against the run (94.6 yards per game), and that's the defense's "weakest" link. Their group is a step above the St. Louis Rams unit the Bears overcame last week, so it's on the offensive line to find ways to keep drives going against a group that leads the league in run defense on first down. But the task is even tougher through the air, with Alshon Jeffery limited (if he even plays at all), going against Pro Bowl corners Chris Harris and Aqib Talib and safety T.J. Ward. The Broncos establishing the run would not bode well, since that phase ranks 29th in the league and has 50 rushes of zero or negative yards.
Introduce yourself to the new QB
The Bears have just 15 sacks this season. The Broncos offensive line has allowed just 18 sacks, but three came on Brock Osweiler after he relieved Peyton Manning in Week 10. The Chiefs have a nice rush group, but while Manning's arm strength, footwork and mobility have faded, that's an asset Denver thinks it can use with his understudy. In his first extended action, though, the Chiefs confused him enough to create indecisiveness. If Fox and Adam Gase can do the same after working with him his first three seasons in Denver, it will make the impressive wideout tandem of Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders (who's fighting through some injuries), less dangerous.
[NBC SHOP: Gear up, Bears fans!]
Teams and turnovers
This does not figure to be a high-scoring game. The Bears defense has improved in winning four of six, and allowing just one offensive touchdown in five of the last seven. If that trend continues, and the Bears offense is challenged, as expected, by the mighty Denver D, turnovers and special teams mistakes would seem to loom large. The Bears actually won their first two games this season losing the turnover battle. That'd be playing with fire here. They've lost all three times they've given up a punt or kickoff return for a touchdown.
NFL
Get ready for Sunday's game at 11 a.m. on Comcast SportsNet when Dan Jiggetts, Lance Briggs, Jim Miller and Chris Boden set you up on Bears Pregame Live. As soon as the second quarter ends, log on to CSNChicago.com as Miller and Boden break down the first half and go over adjustments on Bears Halftime Live. Then as soon as the game goes final on CBS, flip back to CSN as the three ex-Bears and Boden bring you 90 minutes of reaction, analysis, live press conferences and locker room interviews on Bears Postgame Live.