The Giants.com crew is presented with four statements and must decide whether they are Fact or Fiction.
Kayvon Thibodeaux and Azeez Ojulari will combine for at least 2.0 sacks on Sunday.
John Schmeelk: Fact – I'm going to cheat pull from my Bears scouting report from earlier in the week:
Fields has been sacked 10 times, despite only dropping back to pass 67 times. The Bears have allowed sacks on 22% of their pass attempts, which leads the league by a wide margin. They have an 8% higher rate than the 31st ranked team. This is not completely the fault of the offensive line. According to Pro Football Focus, Justin Fields has the league's longest average time to throw (3.32 seconds). The Bears' 52% pressure rate allowed is the highest in the league, according to PFF.
Throw in the fact that the Bears offensive line is young and inexperienced with 2022 fifth-round pick Braxton Jones at left tackle and 2021 fifth-round pick Larry Borom at right tackle, the Giants' edge rushers should have the opportunity to get to the quarterback.
Dan Salomone: Fact – While both were on a pitch count in their season debuts, Ojulari drew two holding penalties, so that was a signal to defensive coordinator Wink Martindale that "he's doing things right." Meanwhile, Thibodeaux talked this week about getting up to speed and understanding how offenses scheme against him and the entire defense. Both could make some noise against Justin Fields, who has been sacked 46 times in 15 career games, including five last week.
Lance Medow: Fiction – The Bears have attempted only 45 passes through three games. That's an average of just 15 per contest. They lean heavily on the ground attack and have the second-most runs (104) in the NFL behind the Browns (114). That means there's not many chances to sack the quarterback. On top of that, the Giants have only three sacks in three games including none against the Cowboys. The quarterback needs to drop back many times in terms of volume to have legitimate shots to bring him down. This matchup doesn't present those opportunities.
Matt Citak: Fiction – As Wink Martindale told the media on Thursday, the Giants' talented pass rushing duo has "nowhere to go but up." However, two sacks may be asking too much in only their second game back. Ojulari forced two holding penalties on the Cowboys, while Thibodeaux did register a pressure in his NFL debut. It wouldn't be surprising to see one sack in Week 4 between the two outside linebackers. It's also fair to expect Martindale to get creative with his blitzes after the team failed to garner a sack on Monday. The defense will have at least 2.0 sacks Sunday, but they could come from some unlikely sources.
The Giants and Bears will both run more than they pass in Week 4.
John Schmeelk: Fact – I don't think either team gets behind far enough where they have to pass the football, so both will stick with the running game. Justin Fields has only 45 pass attempts this season, and the Bears lead the league with a 65.4% rush rate. They want to run it, then run it again, and then run it some more. The Giants would also like the game to be in the hands of their most explosive player, Saquon Barkley. This should be a short affair as both teams want to pound the rock like it's the era the Giants' legacy jerseys come from.
Dan Salomone: Fiction – While the Bears run the ball a league-high 65.4 percent of the time and the Giants are seventh at 46.2, it's still 2022 in the NFL. "Either" but not "both" is the likelier outcome.
Lance Medow: Fact – As I mentioned in my response to the first statement, the Bears' identity on offense is the run game. Not only do they look to pound the ball but they're having success doing that by averaging 187 yards per game, second best mark in the NFL. The Giants aren't too far behind as they rank fourth with 169 rushing yards per contest. They're also seventh in the NFL in total run plays with 90. The stats for both teams are overwhelming in favor of the ground attack in comparison to the pass.
Matt Citak: Fact – On the Bears' side of things, this one is pretty obvious. Chicago enters this matchup having attempted just 45 total passes through three games, one of the lowest passing attempts we've seen at this point of the season in 40 years. It is the Giants' side that is a little trickier to predict. In the season opener, the Giants registered more rushing attempts than passing attempts. In Week 2, the two numbers differed by only one, while they passed more than they ran against the Cowboys. The Bears defense has struggled mightily against the run this season, ranking 30th in rushing yards allowed, and Brian Daboll and Mike Kafka will certainly look to exploit that.
Once again, the New York Giants are bringing back their classic blue uniforms from the '80s and '90s this Sunday as part of two Legacy Games presented by Quest.
QB Daniel Jones (8)
QB Daniel Jones (8)
WR Kenny Golladay (19)
RB Saquon Barkley (26)
RB Saquon Barkley (26)
RB Saquon Barkley (26)
QB Daniel Jones (8)
S Xavier McKinney (29)
RB Saquon Barkley (26)
S Xavier McKinney (29)
RB Saquon Barkley (26)
WR Kenny Golladay (19)
S Xavier McKinney (29)
S Xavier McKinney (29)
S Xavier McKinney (29)
QB Daniel Jones (8)
QB Daniel Jones (8)
QB Daniel Jones (8)
QB Daniel Jones (8)
QB Daniel Jones (8)
QB Daniel Jones (8)
QB Daniel Jones (8)
QB Daniel Jones (8)
QB Daniel Jones (8)
Saquon Barkley (26), Daniel Jones (8)
Darius Slayton (86)
Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
Jaylon Smith (54)
Nick Williams (93)
Dexter Lawrence (97), D.J. Davidson (98)
Tanner Hudson (88)
Dexter Lawrence (97), Tae Crowder (48)
Jihad Ward (55)
Jaylon Smith (54), Tae Crowder (48), Dane Belton (24)
Dexter Lawrence (97)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Saquon Barkley (26), Daniel Jones (8)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Tae Crowder (48)
Tae Crowder (48)
Daniel Jones (8), Ben Bredeson (68)
Mark Glowinski (64), Jon Feliciano (76), Daniel Jones (8)
Jamie Gillan (6), Graham Gano (9)
Ben Bredeson (68), Mark Glowinski (64), Jon Feliciano (76)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Daniel Jones (8)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Micah McFadden (41), Azeez Ojulari (51)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Xavier McKinney (29)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Julian Love (20)
Dexter Lawrence (97), Azeez Ojulari (51)
Tae Crowder (48), Kayvon Thibodeaux (5), Micah McFadden (41)
Daniel Jones (8)
Tyrod Taylor (2), Saquon Barkley (26)
Xavier McKinney (29), Fabian Moreau (37)
Daniel Jones (8), Daniel Bellinger (82)
Daniel Jones (8)
Daniel Jones (8), Daniel Bellinger (82)
Daniel Jones (8)
Daniel Jones (8)
QB Daniel Jones (8)
DL Leonard Williams (99)
RB Saquon Barkley (26)
RB Saquon Barkley (26)
DL Leonard Williams (99)
RB Saquon Barkley (26)
T Andrew Thomas (78)
T Andrew Thomas (78)
T Andrew Thomas (78)
DL Leonard Williams (99)
T Andrew Thomas (78)
T Andrew Thomas (78), LB Azeez Ojulari (51)
QB Daniel Jones (8)
QB Daniel Jones (8)
QB Daniel Jones (8)
QB Daniel Jones (8)
Whichever team's quarterback has more rushing yards will win the game.
John Schmeelk: Fiction – The cumulative rushing yards isn't what will determine the winner or loser, but instead the situations the quarterbacks get those yards. Does one manage an explosive run that sets up or scores a touchdown? How many crucial third downs are converted by a quarterback scramble? Its situational running that could make the difference.
Dan Salomone: Fact – This will be the X-factor for Sunday. It's trending to be a run-heavy game, and both quarterbacks have the ability to deliver blows with their legs.
Lance Medow: Fiction – While I do think the quarterbacks' mobility will have a notable impact on the game, to say their rushing totals alone will decide the contest is taking things a bit far. Hypothetically speaking, what if Daniel Jones is the Giants' leading rusher but the Bears contain Saquon Barkley and company? Or what if Justin Fields tops the charts for Chicago but Khalil Herbert is quiet? The entire rushing group will dictate the outcome of the game, not just the signal callers.
Matt Citak: Fiction – Both quarterbacks are more than capable of putting up strong numbers in the run game. Jones currently ranks third among QBs with 125 rushing yards, while Fields is not far behind with his 95 (fifth among QBs). But the winner of this game will not come down to which of the two young quarterbacks gain more yards on the ground. However, it's realistic to think that the winner could be determined by which team finishes with more rushing yards overall, as the Giants and Bears are two of the most successful rushing offenses in the league.
Saquon Barkley has been the most impressive part of the Giants' 2-1 start.
John Schmeelk: Fiction – This does not take anything away from Saquon Barkley. He is moving as well as I have ever seen him move, and he is clearly the most dynamic player on the Giants' offense. But Andrew Thomas is the answer for me. He has taken another step forward from being just a good tackle, to playing like one of the best offensive tackles in the NFL. He is healthier than he has been as a Giant, and that might be a reason for the continued improvement in his performance. Thomas is someone you can leave out there on an island, which allows the team to help elsewhere on the line. I look forward to the Andrew Thomas-Robert Quinn matchup this week.
Dan Salomone: Fiction – Saquon Barkley has been sensational, but the most impressive part of the 2-1 start is more basic. It's simply the fact that they are 2-1 at all. The Giants were 3-14 in the month of September over the previous five seasons and dug themselves into holes that proved to be too deep. In the first season of the new era, while there have been sluggish starts in the individual games, the Giants found ways to win and set themselves up for the rest of the year.
Lance Medow: Fact – Through three games thus far, Saquon Barkley has shown flashes of his rookie season with 194 scrimmage yards in the opener in Tennessee, a hard-fought 72 rushing yard performance against the Panthers and then a 36-yard rushing score against the Cowboys in which he made several defenders miss. Barkley seems extremely comfortable in the new scheme and his decisive running has proven to be a noticeable difference maker. He's also responsible for two of the team's five touchdowns.
Matt Citak: Fiction – Saquon Barkley has gotten his 2022 campaign off to a strong start, as the talented running back ranks second in the NFL in rushing yards and leads in total yards from scrimmage. However, the most impressive part of the team's 2-1 start has to be the play of Andrew Thomas. The third-year tackle has yet to surrender a sack through three games and has earned the highest overall PFF grade of any offensive lineman in the league with his 90.1. The next highest is more than five points away (Texans T Laremy Tunsil, 84.8). Serving as a captain for the first time in his young career, Thomas has also stepped up as a leader in the locker room.
Check out the evolution of the New York Giants' uniforms through the years.
The 1934 N.Y. Giants pose for a team photo. The Giants won the 1934 NFL Championship Game over the Chicago Bears in what's known as "The Sneakers Game" after their players switched from cleats to sneakers to help with their footing in their upset win. (AP Photo/Pro Football Hall of Fame)
1927 New York Giants team photo (Pro Football Hall of Fame via AP Images)
New York Giants' center Mel Hein is seen Oct. 11, 1945, in New York. (AP Photo/John Lindsay)
RB Ward Cuff is shown in this 1945 photo. (AP Photo)
Kyle Rote, halfback for the New York Giants Oct. 24, 1951 at the Polo Grounds in New York. (AP Photo)
Arnie Weinmeister, New York Giant tackle, during workout at the Polo Grounds in New York City in 1952. (AP Photo/Ray Howard)
This Dec. 11, 1956 file photo shows Andy Robustelli (81), an end for the New York Giants. (AP Photo/File)
Frank Gifford heads upfield during an NFL game on Nov. 3, 1957 (AP Photo/NFL Photos/Vernon Biever)
New York Giants halfback Frank Gifford, shown at a workout on Sept. 9, 1958 in New York. (AP Photo/Rooney)
Photo shows Dick Nolan, half back for the New York Giants on Sept. 17, 1960. (AP Photo/John Rooney)
Y.A. Tittle after leading Giants to stunning 38-21 win over the Philadelphia Eagles on Nov. 12, 1961. (AP Photo/John Lindsay)
In this Sept. 3, 1963, file photo, New York Giants running back Alex Webster poses at the team's NFL training camp in Fairfield, Conn. (AP Photo/Harry Harris, File)
New York Giants QB Fran Tarkenton, Nov. 5, 1967 (AP Photo.Robert Walsh, File)
Fran Tarkenton, quarterback, New York Giants, (10) flanked by left Joe Morrison, and Joe Koontz (47) right, in 1968. (AP Photo)
Linebacker Pat Hughes watches play in 1972. (AP Photo / Al Messerschmidt)
Carl "Spider" Lockhart poses for a photo during training camp in Fairfield, Ct., 1974. (AP Photo/NFL Photos)
RB Doug Kotar and Joe Dawkins clutch hands during an NFL game against the Green Bay Packers, Nov. 23, 1975. (AP Photo/Vernon Biever)
New York Giants linebacker Brad Van Pelt (10) during a 24 to 10 Giants win over the Los Angeles Rams on Sept. 26, 1976 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles.(AP Photo/NFL Photos)
Hall of Fame RB Larry Csonka watches from the sideline against the Los Angeles Rams at the Los Angeles Coliseum on September 26, 1976. (Peter Read Miller via AP)
QB Phil Simms throws a pass during the NFL football game against the New York Jets in East Rutherford, New Jersey on August 28, 1982. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)
New York Giants linebacker Harry Carson (53) looks on during the NFL football game against the St. Louis Cardinals on September 22, 1985 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Giants won the game 27-17. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)
New York Giants' quarterback Phil Simms is seen in action, 1984. (AP Photo)
Lawrence Taylor is congregated by Mark Collins and Carl Banks after his interception and touchdown run on a Joe Montana pass on Sunday, Jan. 4, 1986 in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Ray Stubblebine)
New York Giants running back Ottis Anderson (24) catches a pregame pass during the NFL game against the Philadelphia Eagles on October 12, 1986 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Giants won the game 35-3. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)
Mark Collins watches pre-game warm-ups before the 1986 NFC Championship NFL game against the Washington Redskins, Jan. 11, 1987. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)
Phil Simms vs. San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park Monday, November 27, 1989. (AP Photo/Al Golub)
Giants running back Ottis Anderson (24) on Monday, December 3, 1990. (AP Photo/Al Golub)
Jeff Hostetler celebrates after throwing a first quarter touchdown pass against the Chicago Bears at Giants Stadium, Jan. 13, 1991. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
Jessie Armstead (98) during a game from his 1993 season with the New York Giants. (David Durochik via AP)
New York Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor (56) pressures Minnesota Vikings quarterback Jim McMahon Jan. 9, 1994 in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
Rodney Hampton during a game from his 1995 season with the New York Giants. (David Durochik via AP)
Phillippi Sparkes holds his second interception of the night with teammates Tito Wooten (29) and Corey Widmer (90) during overtime against the Washington Redskins, Nov. 23, 1997. (AP/Doug Mills)
Keith Hamilton against the Oakland Raiders on September 13, 1998 in Oakland. (AP Photo/G. Newman Lowrance)
Amani Toomer celebrates after catching a 17 yard touchdown pass against the Cleveland Browns, Nov. 5, 2000 (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
Cedrick Jones (94) and Thabiti Davis (82) celebrate their 17-13 win over the Dallas Cowboys in Irving, Texas, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2000. With the win the Giants are NFC East champions. (AP Photo/Donna McWilliam)
Kerry Collins sets to pass against the St. Louis Rams during their football game in St. Louis Sunday, Sept. 15, 2002. (AP Photo/James A. Finley)
Eli Manning (10) throws a pass during the first quarter Sunday, Oct. 23, 2005 at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
Tiki Barber breaks through the Oakland Raiders' defense on his way to 95-yard rushing touchdown in the first half of NFL football on Saturday, Dec. 31, 2005 (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Michael Strahan celebrates after sacking Dallas Cowboys quarterback Drew Bledsoe during the third quarter Sunday, Dec. 4, 2005 at Giants Stadium (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
Lawrence Tynes celebrates after kicking the game-winning field goal in overtime during the NFC Championship football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Jan. 20, 2008, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
New York Giants QB Eli Manning (10) celebrates after his 13-yard touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress in the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl XLII football game against the New England Patriots at University of Phoenix Stadium on Sunday, Feb. 3, 2008 in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)
New York Giants defensive end Justin Tuck (91) looks on before an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers Sunday, Dec. 27, 2009, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
The Giants introduce their alternative uniforms with white pants vs. the Raiders November 10th, 2013
David Diehl (66) blocks during a week 10 football game against the Oakland Raiders on November 10, 2013 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (AP Photo/Evan Pinkus)
Sterling Shepard (87) during an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 24, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz.(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Saquon Barkley scores a 1st quarter touchdown during a week 16 game against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday December 23, 2018 in Indianapolis. (Evan Pinkus via AP)
Saquon Barkley hurdles Philadelphia Eagles' Malcolm Jenkins (27) during the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Oct. 11, 2018, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Leonard Williams and Dexter Lawrence react during the second quarter of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Monday, Nov. 4, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
Azeez Ojulari (51) Jason Pinnock (27)
Daniel Jones (8)
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) during a game against the Washington Commanders on Sunday December 4, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Jerry Pinkus/ New York Giants)
New York Giants place kicker Graham Gano (9) during a game against the Washington Commanders on Sunday December 4, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Jerry Pinkus/ New York Giants)
Azeez Ojulari (51)
Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) Azeez Ojulari (51)
Darius Slayton
New York Giants linebacker Azeez Ojulari (51) during a game against the Washington Commanders on Sunday December 4, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Jerry Pinkus/ New York Giants)
Jon Feliciano (76)
Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
Graham Gano (9)
Isaiah Hodgins (18)
Darius Slayton (86)
Isaiah Hodgins (18)
Daniel Jones
Daniel Jones, Saquon Barkley
Daniel Jones
Daniel Jones
Jihad Ward (55)
Dexter Lawrence (97)
Daniel Jones (8)
Daniel Jones (8), Saquon Barkley (26)
Darius Slayton (86), Daniel Jones (8)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Jihad Ward (55)
Daniel Jones (8)
Azeez Ojulari (51)
Jihad Ward (55)
Daniel Jones (8)
Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
Daniel Jones (8), Daniel Bellinger (82)
Daniel Jones (8)
Dexter Lawrence (97)
Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
Azeez Ojulari (51)
Isaiah Hodgins (18)
Isaiah Hodgins (18)
QB Daniel Jones (8)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
T Andrew Thomas (78)
T Andrew Thomas (78)
WR Jalin Hyatt (13), CB Deonte Banks (3)
WR Jalin Hyatt (13)
CB Deonte Banks (3)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5), CB Deonte Banks (3)
WR Jalin Hyatt (13)
CB Deonte Banks (3)
CB Deonte Banks (3), OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
CB Deonte Banks (3)
Limited tickets available for Giants vs. Bears on October 2
