Both past meetings were not super high scoring games. If the weather factors and it likely will, the increased Running should burn clock and limit each teams possessions to around 3-4 per Half. Which means points will be at a premium. Take any FG between
25-45 yards attempts. Anything longer will be impacted heavily by Wind and leave Chicago in good field position anyway.
I do like to go for it on 4th Down and short in several areas, but let’s not looked surprised and do NOT let them substitute.
#1 Inside the opponent <=10 yardline. If you pick up a 1st Down here, it’s then 1st n goal from the Chi8 or 1st n goal from the Chi6 etc. That’s an area I think we have 4 more tries at 7 points as long as we get near goal line.
Plus with a worst case we leave Chicago inside <3 yard line. Which 90% time is a Run
#2 The other area is once we cross midfield. While Whelan has a strong leg, he’s poor at placing the ball inside the 20, much less the <10 yard line. That Punt likely spots it at Chicago20 and often results in a NET 25 yard type transfer. Thats a FAIL! If we touch anywhere close to their Chi45 yard line area on 4th and <3 I’d call it 4-down but let’s have a few inventive plays already designed instead of a stale handoff -5 in the backfield. Go ahead and play for the Win and leak out with a designed QB Option to run and a pulled OL blocker and 1TE + 1 RB option to throw if the play blows up.