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We’ll continue a series of opponent preview posts for the New Orleans Saints opponents in 2019. Next, we’ll look at a meeting of two playoffs teams from 2018, the Week 7 Sunday afternoon game against the Chicago Bears. Our friends over at Windy City Gridiron took some time to give us Saints fans the scoop about the reigning NFC North Champions.
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Week 7: as the Chicago Bears
Notable free agent additions:
Safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, WR/KR/RB Cordarrelle Patterson, CB Buster Skrine, RB Mike Davis
Clinton Dix is the only for-sure starter signed as a free agent, although Skrine was added for the all-important nickel spot.
Over/Under:
9 wins -- Over
Most exciting rookie:
David Montgomery is a perfect scheme fit for what the Bears want to do on offense. His ability to line up anywhere will open up the playbook.
Position battle to keep an eye on:
The Bears seem set at every starting spot, so finding some tight ends that will step up behind Trey Burton will be critical since Nagy likes to utilize two tight end sets. Adam Shaheen has had an injury plagued career so far, but he’s once again having a good offseason. If he’s healthy, he’s the top inline TE, but the Bears brought in four undrafted free agents to compete at the position, plus have returning Ben Braunecker and newly converted Bradley Sowell.
Biggest storyline heading into training camp:
FINDING A KICKER!
Under-the-radar storyline heading into training camp:
Beat writers were raving about rookie nickel Duke Shelley, and he might push Buster Skrine for playing time.
Notable injuries heading into training camp:
The Bears are relatively healthy and everyone that is currently rehabbing will be back at some point during camp.
Obscure player on the 90-man roster that will be a preseason star (and likely later cut):
The Canadian sensation Matt Betts (a UDFA OLB) has awesome tape and great measurables, so he’s likely to look incredible playing against 4th stringers in preseason, but I think he’ll have a tough time making the 53-man roster.
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The Saints have a game in Week 7, so prepare yourself for the “Drew Brees and the Saints can’t play outside in the cold” takes.
So what says you, you unbiased Saints fans? Can the Saints knock down the defending NFC North Champs, or will the weather do them in? Vote in the poll. Explain in the comments. And make sure you also check out DraftDividends.com, a website for a new book I’m writing currently titled Draft Picks and Dividends: A Fantasy Football Player’s Guide to Understanding the Stock Market.