Giants-Bears tale of the tape
The New York Giants head to Chicago to face the Bears on Sunday, January 2 at 1:00 p.m. ET in Soldier Field. This game will be the 54th regular season meeting between the two franchises, with the Bears leading the series, 32-19-2. The last time these teams met was in Week 2 of last season when Chicago earned a 17-13 home victory. The Giants are searching for their third win in five tries against the Bears, with their last win coming in 2018 when they captured a 30-27 overtime victory at home.
Sunday's game will mark the fourth consecutive year in which these two teams face off against each other, and the fifth time in six years.
Here are notes and stats for players on both teams ahead of the Week 17 matchup.
*QB Mike Glennon completed 17 of 27 atts. (63 pct.) & had TD vs. INT last week. Completed 24 of 37 atts. (64.9 pct.) & had 2 TDs vs. 2 INTs in his last start vs. Chi. (12/27/20 w/ Jax.).Â
*QB Justin Fields (rookie) has 80+ rating 2 of his past 3 starts at home. Has TD pass & 30+ rush yards in 4 of his past 5 starts. Ranks 4th among QBs with 420 rush yards in 2021. QB Nick Foles completed 24 of 35 atts. (68.6 pct.) for 250 yards & TD vs. 0 INTs for 98.5 rating in 1st start of season last week. Has 8 TDs vs. 2 INTs for 102.7 rating in 3 career games vs. NYG.Â
*RB Saquon Barkley has 234 scrimmage yards (78 per game) in 3 career games vs. Chi. Has 50+ scrimmage yards in 3 of his past 4 on road & 50+ scrimmage yards in 5 of his past 6 overall. Is 1 of 7 RBs to average 100+ scrimmage yards per game (101.6) since 2018. RB Devontae Booker has 50+ scrimmage yards in 4 of his past 6 on road. Has 789 scrimmage yards (533 rush, 256 rec.) & needs 89 scrimmage yards for new career high (877 in 2016).Â
*RB David Montgomery had 7 catches & 106 scrimmage yards (61 rec., 45 rush) with 5th rush TD of season in Week 16. Aims for his 5th in row with 5+ catches & 80+ scrimmage yards. Needs 10 scrimmage yards for 3rd-straight 1,000-yard season. Had 127 scrimmage yards (82 rush, 45 rec.) & TD catch in last meeting. Rookie RB Khalil Herbert had 2nd-career rush TD in Week 16.Â
*TE Evan Engram had 3rd rec. TD of season in Week 16. Had 6 catches for 65 yards in last meeting. Is 1 of 3 TEs (Travis Kelce & George Kittle) with 40+ receptions in each of past 5 seasons. Rookie WR Kadarius Toney has 4+ catches in 3 of his past 4.Â
*WR Darnell Mooney had 5 catches & 57 rec. yards last week. Had rec. TD in last meeting. Has 5+ receptions in 5 of his past 6 & aims for his 9th in row at home with 5+ catches. TE Jimmy Graham had 85th-career rec. TD last week, 4th-most by TE all-time.Â
*LB Lorenzo Carter had sack, FF & PD in Week 16 & aims for his 3rd in row with sack, FF & PD. Aims for his 3rd in row at Chi. with sack. LB Azeez Ojulari ranks 3rd among rookies with 8 sacks. DB Logan Ryan had 2 PD last week. Had FF in last meeting. Ranks 4th among DBs with 105 tackles. S Julian Love had INT in last meeting & aims for his 3rd in row vs. Chi. with INT. Has career-high 7 PD in 2021. CB James Bradberry had 4 PD & INT in last meeting. Aims for his 4th in row with PD. Is only player with 10+ PD in each of past 6 seasons.Â
*LB Robert Quinn ranks 2nd in NFL with 17 sacks. Aims for his 8th in row with sack & 11th in row with TFL. Had sack & FF in last meeting. LB Roquan Smith led team with 9 tackles & 2 TFL last week. Aims for his 3rd in row vs. NYG with TFL. Ranks 4th in NFL with career-high 149 tackles. DT Akiem Hicks has 3 sacks in his past 3 at home & aims for his 4th in row at home with TFL. Had sack & 2 TFL in last meeting.
View rare photos of the all-time history between the New York Giants and Chicago Bears.
Notebook: Kenny Golladay looks to finish strong; Nate Solder activated
Although the fifth-year wide receiver signed a lucrative contract as a free agent in the spring, it was not a year to savor. The Giants have won just four of their first 15 games. Golladay missed most of training camp with a hamstring injury and three games and most of a fourth after hurting his knee in Dallas on Oct. 10. Most glaringly, he will close the calendar year without a single touchdown two seasons after leading the NFL with 11 and playing in the Pro Bowl.
On a Zoom call with reporters yesterday, Golladay said he's never had a season in his life without a touchdown. He scored two last season, despite playing in just five games for the Detroit Lions.
"Of course, it's been kind of frustrating just with the ups and downs, not being able to be available for the entire season," Golladay said. "It's frustrating, but I'm just going to continue to come to work each and every week."
Golladay leads the Giants with 477 receiving yards, despite ranking sixth with 31 catches. He has a team-best 70 targets and his 15.4-yard average is the highest among the eight Giants with at least 22 receptions. But he doesn't want to end the season with a zero in the touchdown column. Golladay is healthy and believes he can finish the season strong.
"My body does feel pretty good right now," he said. "Frustrated? Yeah, of course. I think anybody would get a little frustrated, but it's a lot that goes on with trying to get receptions and everything. Everybody plays a role in it.
"I can't go and change anything. It has been a lot of ups and downs. Like I said, the only thing I can do is just keep coming in to work."
Above the Numbers: Key players for Giants vs. Bears
Check out the video below to watch two-time Super Bowl champion David Diehl and Giants.com's Paul Dottino take look at some key players for Sunday's matchup between the Giants and Bears at Soldier Field.
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