3 things Bears are watching as they prep for Chiefs

SHARE 3 things Bears are watching as they prep for Chiefs

Matt Slauson hasn’t played at Arrowhead Stadium since the Big 12 title game in 2006.

The Nebraska alum can only imagine what it will be like filled with locals Sunday.

“I’ve heard that it’s a very loud place – not quite as loud as Seattle — but close,” the Bears’ guard/center said.

The homes of the Chiefs and Seahawks have traded Guinness World Records for stadium decibel levels for years. Crowd noise won’t be the only thing the Bears are concerned with this week.

Here are three things they’re watching as they prepare for the 1-3 Chiefs:

• A porous O-line. The Chiefs have allowed 19 sacks, the most in the NFL. The Seahawks have 18, and no one else in the NFL has more than 14.

Only the Dolphins and Lions have allowed more sacks, hits and hurries, per Pro Football Focus.

Kansas City tried to remedy their line by playing Zach Fulton — who started all 16 games last year — in place of Laurent Duvernay-Tardif at right guard Sunday. Still, they allowed five sacks and nine quarterback hits.

• Red zone blues. The Chiefs moved the ball Sunday — Alex Smith threw for a career-high 386 yards and Jamaal Charles had 11 carries for 75 yards in a 36-21 loss in Cincinnati — but didn’t score a single touchdown.

Yes, the Chiefs kicked seven — count ’em, seven — field goals, one short of tying the NFL record.

• Justin Houston. He signed a six-year, $101 million deal in the offseason that made him the highest paid 3-4 outside linebacker in football by a whopping $45 million in total value.

He has three sacks and one forced fumble, but that hasn’t been enough to stabilize a Chiefs defense that is tied with the Bears for last in the league, allowing 31.3 points per game.

Follow me on Twitter @patrickfinley

Email: pfinley@suntimes.com

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