Cole Kmet to have a tough task vs Saints after career-high game
The Chicago Bears are likely hoping to forget the majority of what happened during their 30-13 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 8 on Sunday Night Football. However, there's one thing that went right for the Bears that the team is hoping will carry over into Week 9. Bears tight end Cole Kmet […]
The Chicago Bears are likely hoping to forget the majority of what happened during their 30-13 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 8 on Sunday Night Football.
However, there's one thing that went right for the Bears that the team is hoping will carry over into Week 9.
Bears tight end Cole Kmet had a career-high 10 receptions for 79 yards (third-most yards in a single game in his career) in Week 8 against the Chargers. More importantly, Kmet caught all 10 of his targets, proving to be a reliable option for rookie quarterback Tyson Bagent. Can that type of performance continue on Sunday?
Bagent will once again be getting the nod as the Bears starting quarterback against the New Orleans Saints in Week 9. In his first career start against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 7, Kmet wasn't targeted a single time. However, Bagent learned to rely on, and trust, his big bodied option last week.
If Kmet wants to build off the big game in a major way, he could be in for a tough task against the Saints defense. The Saints defense ranks second in the NFL in completion percentage allowed to opposing tight ends (30.0 percent) and second in the NFL in receiving yards allowed per game to tight ends (33.3).
A big reason why the Saints have been so dominant against opposing tight ends in 2023 has been the play of their linebackers in coverage. Former All-Pro linebacker Demario Davis has especially been the one shutting down opposing tight ends.
According to Pro Football Focus, Davis has a 81.6 coverage grade in 2023, the third-highest coverage grade on the entire Saints defense. Davis is the fourth-highest overall graded linebacker in the entire league in 2023, per PFF.
Davis is allowing 1.8 receptions and 8.4 receiving yards per game in 2023. Davis' only touchdown allowed in coverage in 2023 came against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers when quarterback Baker Mayfield threw a touchdown to wide receiver Deven Thompkins during a scramble drill.
The Kmet vs. Davis matchup will be a major one to pay attention to on Sunday. Bagent will need to be able to rely on his safety blanket against the Saints feisty pass defense. Kmet signed a 4 year, $50 million extension back in July, Week 9 is his opportunity to prove he was worth the money.
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