Matt Nagy records his first victory last week

Matt Nagy records his first victory last week
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New Chicago coach Matt Nagy recorded his first victory last week, helped by the kind of aggressive defensive the Bears anticipated with the addition of Khalil Mack.

First-year Arizona coach Steve Wilks is still waiting for his first victory... and for returns on either side of the ball.

The Cardinals (0-2) will look to recover from one of their worst showings since relocating to the desert 30 years ago when they play host to the Bears at newly renamed State Farm Stadium on Sunday.

The Bears (1-1) will hope to turn a short week into another long day for the Cardinals, similar to what the Los Angeles Rams did last week in posting a 34-0 shutout after playing the previous Monday. The Cardinals did not cross midfield until the final minute of the fourth quarter against the Rams.

Nagy got his first victory last Monday, a 24-17 decision over Seattle in which the Bears had six sacks and two turnovers, including a late pick-six by cornerback Prince Amukamara that clinched the game.

"We took it over the top," Mack said.

The Cardinals have yet to mesh offensively under new offensive coordinator Mike McCoy and new quarterback Sam Bradford. They are last in the league with 350 total yards and have scored only six points on a rushing touchdown. They had five first downs and 137 total yards against the Rams. Their stated plan this week is to simplify the playbook and give halfback David Johnson more looks.

"David is very effective when he is out in space," Wilks said. "We've got to utilize David from the standpoint of getting him out of the backfield, putting him in the slot, putting him out there to try and create that matchup that we need."

Johnson, a Pro Bowler in a breakout 2016 before missing all but one game with a wrist injury last year, has 22 carries for 85 yards and a touchdown and six receptions for 33 yards. Bradford has completed 37 of 61 passes for 243 yards, with no touchdowns and two interceptions.

Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald suffered a hamstring injury late in the Rams' game and did not practice Wednesday but returned for a limited session Thursday and will play, per Wilks. Arizona could also welcome back tight end Jermaine Gresham and defensive end Markus Golden, who both returned to a full practice Wednesday for the first time since suffering serious injuries in 2017.

Halfback Jordan Howard has 117 yards rushing and 58 yards receiving for the Bears, and quarterback Mitchell Trubisky has completed 48 of 69 passes for 371 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. He also has run for 56 yards and a touchdown.

The Bears celebrated their Monday victory with a post-game locker-room dance party complete with disco ball.

"These wins are so hard to get," Nagy said before almost immediately jumping into preparation for the Cardinals. "I want everybody to understand on that team it's OK to enjoy them. You're allowed to have fun and enjoy them."

The Cardinals took quarterback Josh Rosen with the 10th pick in the 2018 draft, but Wilks said now is not the time to change starters.

"If I thought it was just that one position, I would be more than willing to say, 'We need to make a change. We need a spark. We need something to happen.' But it is not just Sam," Wilks said.

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