Chicago @ Miami preview
Hard Rock Stadium
Last Meeting ( Aug 13, 2015 ) Miami 10, Chicago 27
The Chicago Bears find themselves atop the NFC North on the strength of their first three-game winning streak in five years, this after mustering a total of 14 victories to finish in the division's basement in each of the last three seasons. Fresh off a bye, the Bears look to dominate their second straight Sunshine State foe on Sunday when they visit the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium.
Mitchell Trubisky and Tarik Cohen enjoyed sterling performances in Chicago's 48-10 romp of Tampa Bay on Sept. 30, with the former throwing for a career-high six touchdowns and 354 yards while the latter had personal bests in receiving yards (121) and scrimmage yards (174). "When you have a good game, it naturally gives you confidence," Bears coach Matt Nagy said. "What you have to make sure you prevent is making sure that you (don't) get complacent with that and think it's just going to happen every week because it's not." Miami knows that all too well, as it has followed a three-game winning streak to start the season with back-to-back losses -- including a 27-17 setback to Cincinnati on Sunday. The Dolphins, who were outscored 24-0 in the fourth quarter and allowed two defensive touchdowns to the Bengals, carry an injury-riddled offensive line into their tilt against 2016 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Khalil Mack and the Bears.
TV: 1 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Bears -3.5. O/U: 41.5
ABOUT THE BEARS (3-1): While Cohen had a career day in Chicago's last outing, Nagy noted that Jordan Howard will also get his fair share of carries. "Jordan understands what we're trying to do as a team," Nagy said. "And he also understands -- and we've talked -- that he has a major part of this offense. He has a big-time role. But if it's an advantage to us to go a different direction for that game or for that play or that series, we're going to do that." Mack has recorded at least a sack and forced fumble in each game this season while fellow linebacker Danny Trevathan has two sacks, a forced fumble and fumble recovery as well as an interception in his last three contests.
ABOUT THE DOLPHINS (3-2): Miami received some good news on the injury front as defensive end Cameron Wake appears on track to return to action after missing last Sunday's game with a knee injury. Left tackle Laremy Tunsil was able to participate in some individual drills while still in concussion protocol for an offensive line that has shuffled center Daniel Kilgore (triceps) and top free-agent guard (Josh Sitton) to injured reserve. Running back Kenyan Drake rebounded from a pair of three-yard rushing performances to amass 115 from scrimmage (46 rushing, 69 receiving) and a touchdown against the Bengals, although he'll face the Bears' top-ranked rush defense on Sunday.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Miami leads the NFL with 10 interceptions, with CB Xavien Howard sharing the league lead with three.
2. Chicago, which has eight picks, owns an NFL second-best plus-6 turnover ratio.
3. Dolphins WR Kenny Stills leads the team with 241 receiving yards and three touchdowns, although he has just five catches for 57 yards in his last two games.
PREDICTION: Bears 23, Dolphins 20