Chicago Bears: 3 Bold predictions for Week 6 vs. Panthers
3. Special teams makes an impact
The Chicago Bears’ special teams unit came through in a big way last week. Kicker Cairo Santos hit two field goals, including the game-winner. Kick returner Cordarrelle Patterson made Tampa’s kicker pay the price for not kicking the ball past the end zone.
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He returned three kicks for 119 yards, an average of 39.67 yards per return. Those returns helped give the Bears good field position.
Patterson is close to returning one all the way. There was one return last week in which he caught the ball nine yards deep into the end zone and took it to the thirty. Had he evaded one man he’d taken the ball 109 yards for the touchdown.
Santos and Patterson will again play a big part in the game. Santos made 7 of his 9 field goal attempts (78 percent). The two big field goals he hit in the second half of last week’s game might increase his confidence and get him on a roll.
Bears fans all over the world were probably watching Santos reliving the nightmares they’ve had with big misses since Robbie Gould left Chicago. He hit both of them and relieved them.
Prediction: Patterson returns a kickoff 101 yards for a touchdown. Santos hits two field goals on two attempts.