Two months ago it looked like the only intriguing storylines in the Week 11 matchup between the Chicago Bears and Denver Broncos would be focused on the revenge factor -- Jay Cutler facing the team that selected him in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft, and John Fox coaching against the team he led to four straight playoff appearances plus a trip to the Super Bowl.
Broncos vs. Bears 2015 live stream: Start time, TV schedule and how to watch online
The Broncos are trying to avoid their first three-game slide since 2011.
Three weeks into the season, the Bears were 0-3 and playing like the bottom-feeder that many predicted before the season. The Broncos were 3-0 and, despite concerns about a sluggish offense, featured a dominating defense that appeared good enough to make them a leading AFC contender. Fast forward to mid-November and the circumstances couldn’t be more different.
Chicago has rebounded to win four of its last six games, and the two losses came on scores in the final seconds of regulation (Week 8 against the Minnesota Vikings) and in overtime (Week 6 at the Detroit Lions). Left for dead after that winless start, the Bears have somehow climbed back into playoff contention. They are one of six 4-5 teams chasing the Green Bay Packers and Atlanta Falcons (both 6-3) in a wide-open NFC wild card race.
However, with a dreadful 1-5 conference record, they still face a steep uphill battle to make the postseason. Football Outsiders pegs them with just an 8.8 percent chance of reaching the playoffs. The good news is that they've got a favorable remaining slate (fourth-easiest per Football Outsiders' rankings) and several winnable games against NFC foes in the next month and a half.
An improved Chicago defense has been a key part of the team’s resurgence, but it’s the transformation of the offense into an efficient juggernaut that has fueled the Bears’ unlikely run over the past month-plus. Since Week 4, only six teams have averaged more points than Chicago (25.5) and only seven teams have averaged more total yards (381.8). In those six games, a rejuvenated Jay Cutler has thrown 11 touchdowns and just three interceptions, and his passer rating of 98.7 during that stretch ranks sixth in the league.
While the Bears have been surging, the Broncos' season has taken a sharp downturn over the last two weeks. They've dropped back-to-back games following their 7-0 start and their short-term outlook is cloudy. With Peyton Manning nursing several injuries, fourth-year backup Brock Osweiler is set to make his first NFL start. While the Broncos' playoff odds remain strong at 91.6 percent, according to Football Outsiders, they've fallen way behind in the race for homefield advantage.
Osweiler took over for Manning last weekend after the legendary quarterback was benched in the third quarter, and finished the game 14-of-24 passing with one touchdown and one interception. That was nearly as many attempts as he had in his first 14 career appearances combined (30). Osweiler has literally never seen meaningful action as a pro -- none of his 54 throws in the NFL have come in a game where the final margin was within seven points.
It doesn’t matter who plays quarterback, though. The Broncos’ offense won’t be effective until they can establish some balance and run the ball with more consistency. Denver ranks 29th in rushing yards per game and 27th in yards per carry this season, and have rushed for fewer than 70 yards in six of nine games. If the Broncos can’t get anything going on the ground, they could easily be staring at their first three-game losing streak since 2011.
How to Watch
When: 1 p.m. ET
Where: Soldier Field, Chicago
TV: CBS
Commentators: Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts, Evan Washburn
Online: NFL Game Pass
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