Chicago Bears: 4 Broncos playmakers who must be stopped
By Ryan Heckman
Kicker Brandon McManus
This may sound absolutely ludicrous to you, and maybe just plain odd if you’re a Bears fan, but Brandon McManus is someone the Bears do not want to mess around with.
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Let me explain.
This game is at home for the Broncos. Altitude is always an issue for the visiting team, especially if it’s in September. For whatever reason, the Broncos seem to play incredibly competitive, good football at home during the month of September.
The Bears are favored by just three — yes, a field goal.
Chicago hasn’t exactly been the gold standard for kicking over the last couple of years, but we’re all hoping Eddy Pineiro is indeed the guy. The Broncos, meanwhile, have had a fairly decent history with McManus kicking.
Last season, McManus was a stud at Mile High. He finished the year knocking through 15 of 17 field goals at home, with a long of 52 yards.
Should the Bears struggle offensively again, and allow the game to be close in the waining minutes, they cannot let McManus get a shot to impact this game. The defense has to be good enough — period.