Just in case you’ve forgotten, the Miami Dolphins play a football game this weekend.

True story. It even counts in the standings and everything. Fortunately, the opponent is another losing team in the Chicago Bears. Unfortunately, the Bears have an ascendant playmaker at quarterback and an outdoor stadium near Lake Michigan in November. But before getting to that, let’s talk about what you really came here for. Because as of Tuesday afternoon, star pass rusher Bradley Chubb is a Miami Dolphin.

That’s right. For the first time since the days of Ricky Williams and Junior Seau, the Miami Dolphins are officially what you would have to describe as “all-in” on a season. All-in on a window of contention. Miami’s braintrust believes this is a roster not just capable of reaching the playoffs, but making some real noise when they get there. That’s the only possible conclusion to draw when you trade away a first round pick for a midseason talent infusion.

So enthusiasm is high. Just in time for another trap game against the NFC North.

The Bears are a much more complete team than Detroit. The elements are expected to be a factor, wind in particular. On the plus side, Chicago did deal away two of their best defenders prior to the deadline. On the bizarre side, they did trade for receiver Chase Claypool- who just faced the Dolphins two weeks ago as a Steeler. Still, it doesn’t take too much imagination to see Miami looking past Chicago to a showdown with Cleveland the following week. Or just believing too heavily in their own press clippings at precisely the wrong time. After all, it’s not as if it hasn’t happened once or twice before these past twenty to thirty years.

Bottom-line, the Dolphins should win their next three games...but this Bears game is the

scariest of those three.

Justin Fields really seems to be figuring this NFL quarterback thing out, and his mobility is a gamechanger. Sure, the Dolphins have beaten both Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen this season, but they didn’t exactly shut down the quarterback running game in those contests either. Two above average running backs, and two solid receivers back him up. It’s on the road, in a tough road environment. All of the Dolphins defensive baggage comes with them, and it would be asking a lot of Bradley Chubb to come in with less than three days of practice and solve all those woes.

Then again, one well timed strip sack fumble and he’s worth every penny.

More importantly though, and most certainly worth every bit of the investment it took, would be the Dolphins offense. The Bears have allowed 20 or more points five times this season, and almost every time they played a competent offense. Even then, those defenses were better than the unit Miami will face this Sunday, thanks to those deadline subtractions. If it is indeed windy, that could impact a few deep passes, but is that really enough to cause Miami’s aerial assault major problems? Much of this offense works on short and intermediate passes turning into bigger plays thanks to yards after the catch- something that Tua Tagovailoa’s arm is plenty strong enough to handle. That, and an underrated running game that just got a boost from plug ‘n play addition Jeff Wilson Jr., should move the chains just fine.

Prediction? Miami wins, but the offenses could look evenly matched and equally humble in this one. In fact, a defensive score for the Dolphins wouldn’t shock me here as the decisive factor.

Dolphins 27, Bears 20.