Bears' Need to Make Adjustments in These Three Areas to Beat the Cardinals in Week 9

2. Have Offensive Success on Third Down

The Bears have had trouble converting third downs all season. Currently, they rank 27th in the NFL with a 32% third-down conversion rate. The Bears' failure on third down stems from the fact that more than often, they put themselves into 3rd&10 or longer because of penalties. Being that far behind the sticks makes it hard to convert, especially when the offense has struggled all year.

Even when the Bears are in third and short, however, they struggle to get the first down. Through eight games, the Bears are 17/42 on 3rd&5 or shorter.

This week could be the first step in that process, as the Cardinals are the worst in the NFL on third down, allowing a first down 52% of the time. Last week against the Dolphins, Arizona allowed 11 first downs on 15 attempts. Miami converted third and long as well as third and short against the Cardinals.

Sadly, this isn't the first time the Bears have faced a bad third-down defense this season. That doesn't mean this can't be the week Shane Waldron and Caleb Williams need to find a way to convert third downs.

3. Get Caleb in Rhythm Early

Last week, Williams struggled during the first three quarters, going 4/13 for 38 yards. In the fourth quarter, though, Williams showed up, completing 6/11 passes for 93 yards.

Williams' struggles early in the game are being attributed to his excitement and nerves from playing in his first NFL game in his home state. Although Williams has gone on record saying he doesn't get nervous, that definitely hasn't seemed like the case a few times this season.

This week against the Cardinals, Williams won't be as amped up as he was against the Commanders. That doesn't mean that Waldron shouldn't focus on getting Williams simple and easy reads to start the game.

Giving Williams easy completions will help get him into a rhythm early. This should help the offense avoid falling flat as it did for three-quarters last week.

If Williams and the offense can look more like the team they did in the three games prior to last week, they should easily beat the Cardinals.

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