NY Giants vs. Chicago Bears: Week Two key matchups

NY Giants offensive line vs. Chicago Bears pass rush

If the NY Giants want to win this game, the Bears pass rush and front seven must be neutralized. This battle starts and ends on the edges of the trenches.

Andrew Thomas showed a lot of promise and steadiness at left tackle for his NFL debut on Monday night. He handled himself with steady play and did a fine job of keeping Daniel Jones clean and safe from his blindside. His Week One challenge of facing TJ Watt and Bud Dupree is a great challenge to start anyone’s career.

It won’t get any easier for Thomas this week, as he faces another distinguished duo of pass rushers. Khalil Mack and Robert Quinn, both Pro Bowlers, and former All-Pro players, are two of the most accomplished pass rushers of the past decade. Together, they will look to go hunting in the NY Giants’ backfield much like the Steelers did last week.

Thomas must come out with the same mindset and performance he had last week as he played a good, steady, and quiet game while the rest of the line took a beating and mightily struggled.

These struggles often came from the right slide of the line, mainly from Cameron Fleming. He seemed overwhelmed trying to handle holding down the right tackle position. Fleming is a seven-year vet, he doesn’t have the inexperience excuse that Thomas has. Not only has Fleming played for two of the best lines in football in New England and Dallas, but he’s also started and played in multiple Super Bowls.

The G-Men need that same consistency and veteran prowess that he’s shown throughout his career. Fleming is who he is at this point in his career, we’ve seen the best and worst of his play. His upside is limited, so the  Giants can only hope they get the solid play the team knows he is capable of.

We saw how much the line impacted the NY Giants offense in Week 1. It was impossible to run the ball with nowhere to go. It is imperative the five guys up front step up and have a better game. The run game and Jones’ protection relies heavily on Thomas and Fleming.

To be fair, Nick Gates’ initial experience at center as he looks to master a new position did not go very well, either.

The NY Giants very much limited Mack last year as even though he had a sack he was very quiet otherwise. Big Blue needs to contain Mack and Quinn to keep the offense churning and to stay on the field.