Since last week's open debate worked out so well, I've got another question for everyone to ponder:
WHO IS THE MVP OF THE BEARS AT THIS POINT IN THE SEASON?
THE STREAK
Before we get to this week’s game notes and numbers lets take a look at some of the Streak stats:
IT’S THEIR LONGEST WIN STREAK SINCE 1986.
It ties them with the Panthers for second-best record in the NFC (a game behind the Seahawks)
In the 7 game streak the Bears have:
Defensively
- allowed 4 TDs
- only one of which was a passing TD
- Meaning the D has scored as many TDs as they have allowed passing TDs
- The D has had 25 sacks and 12 takeaways
Offensively
- scored 20 pts or less in each of its last 6 wins
- that’s the longest streak of wins without more than 20 pts in the NFL since 1933
- that streak also belonged to the Bears who took it through 9 games in (1932-1933) with such luminaries as Red Grange and Bronko Nagurski
Lest you think I am becoming confident in the Bears, I would just like to point out that this Sunday we face the Packers who have not been defeated in Soldier Field in over 10 years. (since 1993) So I approach this week’s match-up with my usual level of apprehension.
Now on to GAME NOTES AND NUMBERS:
OFFENSE:
Kyle Orton: 14 – 28 for 134 yrds, 1 TD, 1 int, and 3 carries for 19 yrds (including a nice scamper for 10 yrds and a first down) all adding up to a 60.7 passer rating.
More important than his rating though is his longevity and ability to manage the game. He is the third rookie QB to win 8 games. (The first two being Dieter Brock for the Rams when they were in LA and Roethlisberger last year.) Since 1999 (during which there have been 10 attempts) he and Leftwich are the only rookie QBs to beat the Bucs.
Hell I don’t think they have had a QB start 8 consecutive games since Miller in 2001. (though I cant find the numbers at the moment) Angelo took over in 2001 and since then there have been 17 starting QBs.
NFL-wide there have been 33 QB changes in the first 11 weeks of the season.
That said there is room for improvement.
- The Bears gained only 239 yards, 15 first downs and 1 TD this week.
- That is against a D that though very good, had allowed 96 pts and 412 rushing yrds alone in their previous 3 games.
- They managed to only burn 2 minutes off the clock in their final drive and gave the Bucs the chance to drive for the field goal attempt that could’ve tied the game.
Thomas Jones: 25 carries for 72 yrds, and 3 catches for 50 yrds including a beautiful 41 yrd run on a screen pass that was the Bears’ longest play of the day and set up a field goal.
Adrian Peterson: 5 carries for 27 yrds (including touches in the second quarter that each yielded a first down) He is good. Damn good.
John Gilmore: 1 catch, 1 yrd, 1 TD. Great stat. It was his first TD of his career, his first catch of the season and his second reception in the last three seasons.
DEFENSE:
Last week the focus was the D Line now its just 1 D lineman…Alex Brown.
In the span of JUST 5 plays Brown had 1 PD, 1 sack, and 1 forced intentional grounding that otherwise would’ve been a sack.
He finished his monster day with 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble (on his first sack on the Bucs 1-yrd line that set up the Bears’ only TD and was the key play of the game) 4 PD (one of which was while he was dropped back on coverage) and the forced intentional-grounding.
It was the second game in a row where he recorded 2 sacks. He now has 5 on the season after going sackless until the Oct 30 game against the Lions. Prior to that he had gone 10 games without a sack. Which led doubters to wonder if he got that contract extension this off season purely on his monster game against the Giants last year. (For the record the doubters were very wrong.)
A lot of Brown’s initial success came because the Bucs were keying on blocking Ogunleye. Once Brown forced them to rethink that strategy the door was open for Ogunleye who in addition to forcing Simms to turn into a Brown sack, got 2 himself including the game clincher. That’s the second week in a row the Bears ended the game with a sack coup-de-grace.
Ogunleye has had 5 sacks in the last 2 games for a total of 9 on the year.
That’s 12 sacks in the last 2 games ALL BY THE D-LINE.
Tommie Harris: 1 fumble recovery and 1 tackle for a loss.
Tank Johnson: 1 PD (third of the season)
Of the Bucs 59 offensive plays, 11 were stopped by the D-line with either a sack or a PD.
The Bears now blitz a mere 20-25%. Ron Rivera said the feeling Sunday was that the front four would not need much help.
The front four may not need it but the secondary might. Of the 10 TDs the Bears have allowed, 6 have come from pass plays for double-digit yards. Granted 5 of those came in the first 4 games and since then Vash, Peanut and Zoom have been either solid or spectacular but…
That said Tillman looked might be reverting slightly. He had 9 tackles but only because they were throwing at him cause he was reverting to his early season form and Galloway burned him for 39 yrds on their field goal scoring drive.
On the whole, for the second week the Bears secondary allowed a lot of yrds to the go-to receiver but kept them out of the end zone. Galloway had 7 receptions for 138 yrds which was over half the Bucs’ offense and 0 TDs. The Bucs had 107 rushing yrds (84 from Cadillac Williams on 20 carries)
In the fourth quarter the D allowed their first TD in 3 games. They held firm for 36 possessions over the last 11 quarters.
Len Pasquarelli from ESPN put together some interesting numbers. I was torn where to place this but since it looks at the whole season thus far and not just the streak, and it really illustrates the job the D is doing.
Chicago now has 17 offensive touchdowns in 11 games and, remarkably, the average length of those scoring drives is a mere 50.4 yards. Five of the touchdown drives have been for 25 yards or less and four are for 10 yards or fewer, three of 3 yards or less…Nine of Chicago's offensive touchdowns have come after the defense authored a takeaway or turned the ball over on downs.Chicago is 4-1 this season in games decided by seven points or less and 2-1 in contests where the margin was three points or fewer. The seven-game winning streak includes only two double-digit victories, with an average margin of 8.4 points.
. But it's hard to ignore that the '05 Bears have surrendered only 120 points in 11 games and are on pace to establish a new league record for points allowed in a 16-game season -- or that the unit has permitted a mere 10 touchdowns.
They are on pace to allow a franchise-record-low 175 points.
Fewest points allowed through 10 games in NFL history:
'91 Saints 100 pts
'99 Jaguars 102 pts
'00 Ravens 105 pts
'90 Dolphins 109 pts
'90 Giants 110 pts
'05 Bears 120 pts
SPECIAL TEAMS:
The real special teams story is Matt Bryant’s miss. He had only missed twice in 17 attempts coming in to the chip shot to tie the game.
So far this season NFL kickers were 154-for-160 (.963) on field goals of 20-29 yards, with one of the misses blocked
Robbie Gould: 2 field goals from 25 and 36 yrds. He is now 11 for 15 on the year.
Bobby Wade: 1 return for 11 yrds and a fumble (recovered) Maybe it’s the name curse that seems to afflict Joey Harrington. Maybe if they started calling him Bob Wade he wouldn’t screw up so consistently. As it is though he has 4 fumbles and 2 muffed punts, 4 of the 6 coming in the last 3 games and destroying the Pro Bowl promise he showed early in the year.
He was replaced by Rashied Davis who returned 2 punts and 3 kickoffs without a fumble. Wade should be worried. Carl Ford was waived after he botched 3 chances to down Maynard punts within the 10 yrd line last week, and with us activating some new receivers (Bernard Berrian, Eddie Berlin and Curse) he could be on the bubble.
BEARS MENTIONING
For the first time in NFL history, there are 11 teams with at least seven victories through 10 games. There are 7 NFC teams with winning records. There were 4 this time last year, and only 4 NFC teams finished with winning records.
3-7 of NFL.com’s analysts mentioned the bears in the discussion of the second best team in the NFL. (All of them decided they weren’t the second best team but its cool to hear them mentioned as contenders)
Minnesota is now 6-0 over the last three seasons in games not started by Daunte Culpepper.
Adewale Ogunleye for Marty Booker and a third round pick. Yes, Jerry Angelo, that was a hell of a trade.
Everyone is writing about Alex Brown today and rightfully so, but the play of his that excited me the most was when he was dropped back in coverage and swatted the ball away. At that point, you just had to laugh at what was the most dominant performance by a Bears defensive lineman since Richard Dent.
I think Ron Turner is a hell of an offensive coordinator and I think he's scared to hell to let K.O. chuck the ball downfield.
But what a cool screen pass he called to Thomas Jones. I've never seen a screen pass like that before.
Remember the Rex Grossman debate? I know you can't bench a quarterback during a seven game winning streak but this isn't and shouldn't be a superstition thing. Kyle isn't hitting open receivers with the football. Most of the time, he isn't coming close.
Even still...what a great ten yard, first-down scamper by the kid.
If I'm an opposing quarterback, there's no way I don't test Peanut and Chris Harris down the field at least 8 times a game. Harris is always late getting over and Peanut is just getting beat.
Passes thrown Nathan Vasher's way: I think 2.
Mike Brown gets a mulligan but he missed three tackles on one drive. C'mon Mikey.
Can we rename this site www.dabradmaynardblog.com?
Wrap it up like this: It's a serious win for any football team to beat a 7 win team in their house. It's a game that is putting the division in our hands. Now, this team needs to get their business done and beat the Packers on Sunday. And more than that, I want a 20 point lead at ther half so we can get #8 some reps in the second half.
Packer week. Bear down.
I think if we actually have people reading this site, let's start something of a conversation down there in the "Comments" section.
Here's the question:
AT WHAT POINT, IF ANY, DOES LOVIE SMITH TURN TO REX GROSSMAN AS THE STARTING QUARTERBACK?
The Week 12 picks come early this week as I won't be at a computer until Sunday (or sober until Monday). No spread for Monday night's Colts/Steelers game yet so I'll pick that one on Monday.
DETROIT +3 OVER ATLANTA
Here are my reasons:
1. The Lions always seem to play their best football on Thanksgiving.
2. The Falcons find themselves in a must win football game after losing two straight with a quarterback desperate to prove to America that he can throw. He will throw and wildly.
3. There's always a big star on Thanksgiving Day and it's going to be Roy Williams.
DENVER PK OVER DALLAS
Here are my reasons:
1. No football team should have play three games in eleven days. It's absurd and unfair to the Cowboys.
2. Bill Parcells looked exhausted after their win over the Lions last week. At times during the press conference, he looked downight depressed and I think his brother's death is weighing on him.
3. The Broncos are a terrific football team.
KANSAS CITY -3 OVER NEW ENGLAND
I'm pretty sure that the Chiefs are just better than the Patriots right now. Both teams will score and score often but I'm going to put my eggs in the basket with a running game.
CINCINNATI -9 OVER BALTIMORE
The Ravens have beaten Brooks Bollinger, Tommy Maddox and the Browns in Baltimore. They aren't any good and the Bengals will be flying all over the field Sunday.
CAROLINA -4 OVER BUFFALO
I don't like picking against Buffalo at home but Carolina has to make up for a horrid performance against the Bears last week. Also, the Bills defense has been the single most disappointing unit in the NFL this season. They're allowing 60 more yards, 50 more on the ground and almost 5 more points a game.
CHICAGO + OVER TAMPA BAY
I think Chris Simms is in a lot of trouble Sunday.
SAN DIEGO -3 OVER WASHINGTON
The loser of this game is going to have a meaningless December. And Washington, my friends, is going to lose this game.
CLEVELAND +4 OVER MINNESOTA
I don't think the Vikings are quite making the resurgence others do. The offense has been non-existent and Ruben Droughns has been nasty the last few weeks.
TENNESSEE -8 OVER SAN FRANCSICO
For no other reason that I really like Jeff Fisher. He's one of my favorite coaches in football and I think he's going to coach them up for this game.
HOUSTON +3.5 OVER ST. LOUIS
Second win for the Houston Texans.
JACKSONVILLE -3.5 OVER ARIZONA
I almost wrote that thing I write where I say I don't trust Jacksonville to win when they need to.
NEW YORK GIANTS +4.5 SEATTLE
Just use that here, instead.
OAKLAND -7 OVER MIAMI
If you lose 22-0 to the Browns, I can't pick you for three weeks. You're in time-out.
NEW ORLEANS -1.5 OVER NEW YORK JETS
This is on Sunday Night Football. ESPN. Note to self: don't watch this game.
and a final note on Chicago Bears @ Tampa Bay Bucs
Very good teams beat other very good teams in their own building. Great teams beat very good teams on the road. This is another test.
DEFENSE:
For the second straight week the talk starts with NATHAN VASHER.
He had 2 int in the first quarter, bringing his total for the year to 6 (1 more than his team leading total last year) and putting him in a tie for the lead in the NFL with Bengals’ cornerback Deltha O’Neal. He has 11 interceptions in his first 26 NFL games.
The first picked off a pass intended for Ricky Proehl and he returned it 46 yrds to the Panthers’ 8 yrd line and setting up Ortons’s 3 yrd TD pass to Moose. Vasher’s second pick came off an almost identical play. This one was returned 22 yrds to the Panther’s 18-yrd line.
The Bears with the most interceptions in a season:
1. Mark Carrier 1990 10
2. Roosevelt Taylor 1963 9
3. Clyde Turner 1942 8
3. Johnny Lujack 1948 8
3. Richie Petitbon 1963 8
3. Vestee Jackson 1988 8
He imitated a hula dance to celebrate his second interception. At the rate he’s going he will be seeing the real thing at the end of the season.
But the real conversation is about the BEARS’ DEFENSIVE LINE
Adewale Ogunleye: 3 sacks (career high) That gives him 7 on the year, which leads the team with 1 more than Urlacher.
Alex Brown: 2 sacks (season high), 1 PD (almost an int), 2 forced fumbles. And he would’ve had a third sack but there was a holding called.
Alfonso Boone, Michael Haynes and Tommie Harris: 1 each.
That's a total of 8 sacks yesterday, five coming in the final quarter, 3 in the Panthers’ last possession. Carolina had allowed just 12 in its first nine games, 4 of those in the last 5 games.
Additionally (by unofficial count) Delhomme was pressured another nine times, and hit on at least seven other occasions.
Half of the Panthers dozen offensive possessions included at least 1 sack.
I believe it’s tied for the most in one game since they had nine in a 6-3 victory over the Raiders on Dec. 27, 1987 (Richard Dent 3-1/2, Steve McMichael 3, Dan Hampton 1-1/2, Dave Duerson 1). The Bears also had 8 sacks on Sept 8, 1991 in a 21-20 win against Tampa Bay)
The Bears had just 18 sacks on the season two years ago
These standout performances led to:
Jake Delhomme: 22 of 38 attempts for 235 yards, 0 TDs, 2 int and was sacked eight times.
Vasher’s two picks give Delhomme 12 on the year. One more than Kyle Orton.
The Panthers averaged only 3.8 yrds per snap had 4 three-and-outs and had only 13 first downs.
Fourteen of those passes went to Steve Smith who had 169 yrds, 71% of Carolina’s offense (The rest of the Panthers mustered only 69 offensive yrds.) But to quote the Sun-Times, “never have 169 yards been more meaningless�.
The Bears allowed just 55 rushing yrds on 16 carries, 29 of those came off the Panthers’ 11 attempts in the first half.
They allowed just 26 yrds of offense (on 11 plays) in the third quarter.
The Bears limited an opponent to less than 10 points for the sixth time.
Previously the Panthers had scored 30 pts in 3 straight games and hadn’t been held under 20 pts all season.
The Bears have given up only 9 TDs in 10 games. The 1985 Chicago Bears allowed 22 TDs in 16 regular season games.
In 22 trips into their red zone the Bears’ D has allowed only 4 TDs (an 81.8% red zone defense efficiency), 11 field goals, 4 take aways, 2 failed 4th down conversions and an aborted fake field goal. The 4 TDs came from Cincinnati (Week 3) Detroit (Week 8), and New Orleans (2) in Week 9.
OFFENSE:
Kyle Orton: 15 of 26 passes for 136 yards with 1 touchdown, 1 interception and a 68.8 passer rating.
The Bears' offensive line did not allow a sack for the second straight game. (Carolina’s defense had registered 19 sacks in its previous four games)
Justin Gage: 7 catches for 81 yrds (including a brilliant sideline catch) and he drew a pass interference penalty. His 7 catches were a career high and led the team.
Moose: 6 catches, 49 yrds. But he was thrown to 13 times and had 3 drops including a very catchable ball in the end zone that would’ve put the Bears up 14-0 (they settled for a field goal)
Thomas Jones: 87 yrds on 25 carries. With sore ribs against a good run D
Adrian Peterson: 4 carries, 37 yrds (including a 19 yrd run)
They combined for 124 rushing yrds against the #2 ranked run D that was giving up an average of (around) 80 yrds per game.
SPECIAL TEAMS:
Robbie Gould: 2 for 2. That’s the third time in the last four games that he has made 2, which lifts him to 9-for-13 (69.2 percent) for the season.
Poor punt coverage led to 3 touchbacks for Carolina. There was the opportunity to down all three of those punts in the 5-yrd line. Maynard was so frustrated he threw his helmet twice.
BEARS MENTIONING:
The Bears have scored 71 points off turnovers this year and allowed 36.
For all the talk last week about how great the Panthers are and how Chicago was just benefiting from an easy schedule its worth noting that Carolina is 6-14 under coach John Fox in games against opponents with winning records.
The wind at Soldier Field came in at a light 7 mph, a full 40 mph weaker than at last week’s game.
“Nothing Could be Finah Than “D� vs Carolina� – Sun-Times headline. One of the greatest headlines of all time.
John Kasay, the Panthers’ field goal kicker who missed 1, made 1 has been with the team since their expansion season in 1992. I know this cause I read half of The Carolina Panthers: The First Season of the Most Successful Expansion Team in NFL History by Joe Menzer. Don’t ever read this book.
I used to have a dream where all of the armies of every country in the world were chasing me and I would hide underneath a piano. That wasn't real.
Is this?
I know the Bears are pretty close to being the most important thing in my life but the emotions I felt watching that football game yesterday were the closest I may ever get to fatherhood. I wasn't just excited and pumped...I was proud. I was proud to see these fifty-three men in the navy blue and orange that fills my veins play to their potential and win a game unlike any I've ever seen them win before.
Remember, these were the Carolina Panthers that everyone - as far back as Saturday - had hotel rooms booked for in Detroit come February. What happens when you beat the best team in the conference? What happens when you dominate them? Are you the best team in the conference? Can you believe these questions are even being asked?
I'll leave the numbers and stats to Dave for his column this week. But one thing: is there any team in the NFC that you think can beat the Bears in their house in January?
Me neither.
This game's big . . .
I just want it to be 1 so we can get it started.
Let's go.
Balance. Balance is the key. Not for the Bears to beat the Carolina Panthers this Sunday but for me to maintain emotional and psychological stability in the days and moments leading up to 1:00 pm.
I said early in the year that a road game against the Lions was the biggest regular season game the Bears have played in a long, long time. People keep mentioning the 2001 season but you couldn't name a big game that season if you tried. We just kept winning in 2001 and in some of the most unbelievable ways possible. We won that Lions game and gained the pole position in a weak NFC North. (Note on this: the NFC North has more wins than both the AFC East and NFC West so relax with all this MOST AWFUL DIVISION EVER talk.)
Let me address three pressing Chicago Bears issues:
1. "They haven't played anybody."
Does anybody understand what they're saying? This is a Chicago Bears team that has been an NFL doormat for three seasons. We're no longer that. To say we're supposed to beat anyone is a true jump in status, a climb out of the deep dark depths of the NFL cellar. The three losses: week one writeoff at Washington, Kyle Orton debacle versus Cincinnati, defensive collapse versus Cleveland.
2. "They are the best of four bad teams."
You can group them together if you like but it is foolish. The Bears are 3-0 in division and have won those games by a combined score of 88-22. If that's not good enough to separate them from the pack, I don't know what is.
3. "The altercation"
This was not a malicious act. This was two grown men fighting. They play football for a living. People need to stop being pussies. So a guy's jaw got broken. He hasn't said anything much about (because his jaw is wired shut, maybe.) Should they be suspended? No. Should they be fined? They don't care. Mainstream media, led by a lot of guys in their mid 50s who have an asinine purist view of professional sports, don't understand that we don't care about these things in the same way we don't care about steroids. I want my center and right tackle to fight. I want to know my center can break a face with one punch. You know what it makes me think? It makes me think he can sure as hell open a hole for Thomas Jones.
IF THE BEARS WIN SUNDAY it takes this season beyond the level of pleasant surprise and elevates the team to contender status. If this is the class of the conference and you beat them, put it together. If the Panthers leave with a 27-3 win - okay. Then we know who we are. If we're singing the Shuffle at 4:07 to celebrate a 13-10 win...
Then next week is real easy.
On the subject of taunting humps, if you haven't heard the nine minute rap song made by some players from The U a few years back, go here http://media.putfile.com/7th-Floor-Crew and take a listen. Don't be at work when you do it, however, for two reasons:
1. There are many references to "slinging dicks"
2. You'll laugh a lot and very, very loud.
Well I taunted the hump last week and went 5-9 and am now confronted with the hump. 67-60-2 on the season. On to the games (note: There is no selection for the Steelers and Ravens, as no line has been set.)
CHICAGO +3 OVER CAROLINA
A note on the Olin Kreutz/Fred Miller fight: I like it. I don't want my lineman to have children and spend evenings with their wives. I want them to be vicious men that I'd never want to fuck with. And I'm resting confidently knowing that if you fuck with my center, he'll break your face with a punch. As for the game, I think it's coming down to a field goal late so I'll sit with the points but we'll know a lot about the Chicago Bears by 4:00 pm Sunday.
TAMPA BAY +6 OVER ATLANTA
I just think this is too many points, no matter where the game is played. Chris Simms should be confident coming off a solid performance against Washington a week ago and if this team can sustain something of a running game early, they might be able to pull the upset. Remember Monte Kiffen has been more successful against Vick as a coordinator than other coach in football and I expect he'll have him figured out.
MIAMI +2.5 OVER CLEVELAND
Miami's defense is good enough to keep this very close and their running game should be fresh enough late to win this on the road. I'll take the Dolphins with the upset.
DALLAS -6 OVER DETROIT
I tend to never pick other teams from the NFC North but I just can't see Joey Harrington holding up against this Cowobys defense. Let's call this the battle of the Roy Williams twins, both coming off the defining games of their young, professional careers. I like Roy the safety's supporting cast just a lot more.
NEW YORK JETS +13 OVER DENVER
I got burned by taking both the large spreads last week and I'm slightly reversing course this week. Don't be fooled by the big score last, the Jets were in that game with Carolina heading into the 4th quarter. Herm and Donnie will bottle the run enough to keep it close enough.
INDIANAPOLIS -5.5 OVER CINCINNATI
I see fourth quarter, game tied at 27. Peyton has the ball and brings it all the way down the field for a game-winning touchdown. 34-27 Colts.
JACKSONVILLE -4 OVER TENNESSEE
I see a lot of analysts picking Tennessee to upset Jacksonville this week and I'm just not convinced the Titans have anywhere near the offensive firepower to put points up.
HOUSTON +6.5 OVER KANSAS CITY
Demoralizing loss for Kansas City last and a bit of offensive momemtum gained by the Texans against the Colts. this is going to be the best game David Carr plays all season.
NEW ORLEANS +9.5 OVER NEW ENGLAND
I've sat and thought about this game and I'm just not sure why the Pats are almost double-digit favorites at this stage. They lost two more players for the season and I think the Saints will be able to score and score often on Sunday. Then again, they are the Saints.
PHILADELPHIA +7.5 OVER NEW YORK GIANTS
I just don't like the point spread though there's no reason for the Giants to lose this game. This Eagles defense is still terrific and they're about as well-coached a unit as you're ever going to see. Eli struggles when under pressure and he'll be under a ton come Sunday. A loss in this one might just send the Giants spiraling.
BUFFALO +10.5 SAN DIEGO
I like the underdogs this week and this line is too big for a team that can't close out anyone. San Diego can have a three touchdown lead with 5 minutes to go and somehow they'll need a Nae Kaeding kick with seventeen seconds left to win.
ST. LOUIS -9.5 OVER ARIZONA
I have this theory about the Rams. They always beat these pointless teams like the Cardinals just to put the slightest bit of pressure on the Seattle Seahawks, in hopes that they'll Seahawk their season and lose when they shouldn't. On that note...
SAN FRANCISCO +12.5 OVER SEATTLE
I don't have a single discernible fact that leads me to the conclusion that San Fran is going to play hard and be in this game. I don't trust Seattle and I haven't for three seasons. I think they'll win but I wouldn't be shocked if the Niners are playing a meaningful 4th quarter.
OAKLAND +6 OVER WASHINGTON
Are you buying Washington? They've won 1 of their last 5 games. This has all the makings of a Kerry Collins diaster game but just when you think he'll fold like a poker table, he throws for 300 and 3 touchdowns. Plus, I lost a lot of respect for that Redskins defense last week. You can't let Chris Simms do that to you.
GREEN BAY -3.5 OVER MINNESOTA
It'd be nice for the Bears to see Minnesota and Detroit lose, thus even a loss would keep them two games up in first place. I am not picking against Favre on a Monday night but I'm watching the game with the television on mute.
Special Teams: The Nathan Vasher Report
Nathan Vasher: 108-yard touchdown on a field-goal return -- the longest play in league history
NFL Records:
108 -- Nathan Vasher, BEARS vs. San Francisco, Nov. 13, 2005, missed field goal return
107 -- Chris McAlister, Baltimore vs. Denver, Sept. 30, 2002, missed field goal return
106 -- Ed Reed, Baltimore vs. Cleveland, Nov. 7, 2004, interception return
106 -- Roy Green, St. Louis vs. Dallas, Oct. 21, 1979, kickoff return
106 -- Noland Smith, Kansas City vs. Denver, Dec. 17, 1967, kickoff return
106 -- Al Carmichael, Green Bay vs. BEARS, Oct. 7, 1956, kickoff return
Franchise Records:
Gale Sayers: 103-yard kickoff return in 1967
Richie Petitbon: 101-yard interception return in 1962
George Halas 98-yard fumble return in 1923.
He suffered leg cramping and needed an oxygen mask after his 108 yrd return
Mike Mulligan described Vasher’s run in terms such as “Denis Savard-style spin-o-rama,� and “Forrest Gump-style�
I think this is the week I finally buy this man’s jersey. It was suggested however I get his number but have “Ball Hawk� on the back instead of his name.
Safety Todd Johnson streak of 24 straight games ended due to a shoulder injury. With him out and Peterson otherwise occupied, Brandon McGowan was active for the first time He had a critical block at the beginning of Vasher's return that allowed Vash to run back across the field to the right side.
The 5-11, 200-pound McGowan, a rookie from Jersey City, N.J., made the team as an undrafted free agent from Maine and has played exclusively on special teams when active.
Again, Brandon McGowan is from Jersey City.
The Mike Green Watch: he had a forced fumble and three tackles.
The effect of the wind (which ranged up to 46 mph during the game) on Robbie Gould’s first field goal attempt was so ridiculous that Bears’ fans couldn’t even be disappointed because they were laughing to hard.
As for the rest of special teams: (by special meaning rides the short bus)
Bobby Wade fumbled three of four punt returns, (which led to two 49er field goals, and one missed field goal which led to Vasher’s record)
On one fumble the ball was recovered by the 49ers on the 2. But the Bears’ D pushed them back 9 yrds before forcing a 29 yrd field goal.
He was ultimately replaced with Rashied Davis.
Offense:
172 total yards on the ground, their third most this season.
Kyle Orton: 8 of 13 for 67 yrds and 1 int. He was not sacked.
He now has 238 passes and 130 completions surpassing the franchise rookie records held by Cade McNown. He has 1,253 yrds which places him third behind McNown and McMahon’s rookie totals (McMahon had 1,501)
Adrian Peterson: 120 yrds on 24 carries, 1 TD and a long of 34.
Ive always liked him but I had my questions about his ability to be an everydown back. I retract them and apologize. In a game where passing wasn’t an option, against a defense that’s great against the run in normal conditions he played amazingly.
Cedric Benson: 50 yrds on 12 carries and a long of 18. He was running well before leaving with 5 minutes left in the second after his leg was bent “grotesquely� according to most papers. It certainly looked cringe-inducing. He could walk in the locker room afterward, but he wore a full leg brace when he left.
One of the things the Bears liked most about Benson was his durability through 1,112 carries in college.
Bryan Johnson's five-yard carry on the first possession was the first run by a Bears fullback since Jason McKie got a carry in last year's opener.
Defense:
49er Quarterback Cody Pickett: 1-of-13 (a franchise low) for 28 yards and 1 interception for a 7.5 passer rating.
The Bears had held an opponent without a completion on three occasions before 1950.
They have only twice allowed less than 28 yrds passing. Atlanta got 16 yrds on 11/24/85 and Green Bay got 17 on 11/4/73.
The Bears’ allowed a season low 161 total offensive yards. That included only 70 yrds on 28 plays (2.5 per play) with no passing yrds in the first half.
The 49ers had 133 rushing yrds (but averaged just 2.9 a carry)
The 49ers were 2-for-16 on third downs,
The Bears have held four opponents without a touchdown this season. It was the fifth time they've held an opponent under 10 points
They have allowed only three touchdowns in their opponents' last 66 possessions.
And they have allowed the fewest points in the league this season (107). (Breaking their tie with the Colts who fell to second with 115 after allowing 17 pts to the Texans.)
Bears Mentioning:
Fred Miller’s streak of 110 consecutive starts ended because of a broken jaw. He will miss next week as well. Miller’s jaw was not broken due to a fall at home, nor because he was drunk (a popular theory) but was broken by Kreutz during a fight between the two.
“It's not the first time Kreutz has injured a teammate. Kreutz had an on-field scuffle with defensive tackle Sekou Wiggs during spring ball at the University of Washington in April 1996. The argument carried into the locker room, where Kreutz fractured Wiggs' jaw in two places -- below the lip and under the right ear -- with a punch.�
Kreutz is not to be fucked with.
Former Bear safety Tony Parrish’s streak of 120 consecutive starts, of which he was very proud, will come to an end as he left the game early with breaks in his right ankle and fibula.
Ending these streaks seems to be a Bears’ trademark as Fred Miller (102), Ruben Brown (80) and John Tait (48) all had streaks of not missing a game because of injury until they came to here.
There was only one more completed passes (9) than there were fumbles (8. 4 of which were lost).
The NFC North went 4-0 yesterday.
The teams the Bears have beaten this season are a combined 18-36
And finally, I cant remember where I found this but im sure it was the Trib or Sun-Times:
“The fifth pick of the draft in 1998, running back Curtis Enis, made the first start of his NFL career in Game 9. He was coming off a breakout game the week before but suffered a severe knee injury that ended his season.
The fourth pick of the draft in 2005, running back Cedric Benson, made the first start of his NFL career in Game 9. He was coming off a breakout game the week before but suffered a knee injury that ended his afternoon.�
I started playing Wiffle Ball when I was a very small kid and my brother Chris had a no-hitter going against me for almost seven years. I couldn't touch his looping curve or his dragger, a pitch that didn't leave the ground until it rose up into the strike zone. Chris went away to college and I started playing with my friends every day and I got better and better. I started thinking, "Man, I'm pretty good at this now."
But I wanted to play Chris. I wanted to see if HE could hit my curveball. I want to see if he could stand in there against my cut-slider, a pitch I'd spent months inventing. I wanted to see if he could still get me out at will.
Chris comes back from college on Sunday, folks, and the Chicago Bears had best be ready for him. The five-straight wins is about to be staring across the field at six-straight wins. The Bears are a good football team, a great defense, but on Sunday we'll know just how good...
On Sunday, we'll know who the 2005 Chicago Bears are and where they might be going.
HOW GOOD IS THE DEFENSE?
Perhaps the most important question to be answered centers around the defensive unit, currently ranked tops in the NFL in both yardage allowed and points allowed. The Panthers aren't a dynamic running team but they gain yards when they need them. They have an all-world wide receiver but a quarterback who is mistake prone.
The margin of error is non-existent. The defense needs to hold the Panthers under 20 points, no way around it. They also need to create turnovers because the offense will not have an easy time moving the ball against a very strong Panthers defense?
CAN THEY RUN THE BALL AGAINST ANYONE?
Sunday is the test. The Panthers are the best rush defense in the league, allowing only 81 yards a game on the ground. Like every game, it's going to be won in the trenches and the Bears o-line / Panthers d-line proves to be something of an epic battle.
CAN KYLE ORTON MAKE A PLAY?
We have Kyle make some big throws in crunch time but this is not going to be a game he'll simply have to manage. He's going to need to look down the field and put the ball in the endzone. With Rex Grossman due back on the practice field, I hereby declare this the defining game for Kyle Orton's season and a win will elevate him from promising stand-in to franchise hero.
more thoughts later in the week...
OFFENSE:
Kyle Orton: 12 for 26, 137 yrds, 1 TD, 2 interceptions, 1 lost fumble and a 43.3 passer rating.
The Saints’ game was Orton’s eighth straight start, a franchise record for rookie quarterbacks.
Our often maligned rookie QB has won 2 of his 4 road games. The anointed savior in New York, Eli Manning, won his first road game this week too, after losing his first 7.
Moose: 3 receptions for 85 yrds including the crucial 33 yrder in the waning seconds that set up the winning field goal.
Justin Gage: 4 catches for 28 yrds, 1 TD. (His first TD catch in something like 15 games.)
Thomas Jones: 40 yrds on 11 carries. (Left game in 2nd quarter)
This was his eighth start of the season, the most consecutive starts in any season of his career. The streak looks to stop there as he is expected to be out with possible cracked ribs this week.
Adrian Peterson: 58 yrds on 6 carries, 1 TD (his first in 30 games), and 2 tackles on special teams.
Cedric Benson: 79 yrds on 14 carries.
Benson and Peterson each had a career long 36-yard run.
Peterson's 6-yard run gave Bears their only TD in the final 53 minutes 24 seconds of the game..
The Bears are averaging 4.5 yrds a carry and already have over 1,000 yrds rushing. (Jones 753, Benson 187, Peterson 85)
In fact the Bears’ rushing yrds for 2005: 1,046: (130.8 per game)
The Bears’ total rushing yrds in 2004: 1,624 (101.5 per game).
The Bears’ time of possession was 26:18, smallest in a win this season. They have lost two of three times they failed to control ball at least 30 minutes. (falling to Redskins and Bengals, beating Vikings)
DEFENSE
The Good:
Hillenmeyer: 1 sack, 1 interception and 1 pass deflected.
Mike Green: 3 tackles and a fumble recovery.
Briggs: 10 tackles and 1 pass deflected.
C. Harris: 7 tackles, 1 sack, and 49 yrds on 1 fumble recovery.
Vasher: 5 tackles, 1 int, 1 PD, and 1 Forced fumble.
THE MAN HAWKS BALLS as evidenced by this week’s game sealing int.
Vasher (4) and Charles Tillman (3) lead the NFC in interceptions by teammates and are tied for second in the NFL behind the Bengals' Deltha O'Neal (6) and Tory James (4)
The 3 New Orleans drives that started in Chicago territory after turnovers yielded 0 points
The D have scored an NFL-high seven touchdowns on interception returns since the beginning of 2004
The Bears are tied with the Colts for allowing the fewest points (98) in the NFL.
Only two teams (the Bengals (24) and Browns (20)) have scored 20 or more against the Bears this season.
The Bears are the third ranked defense behind the Ravens and Bucs and are in the top 10 in every defensive category. The Bears haven't ended a season as a top five overall D since finishing fourth in 1993.
The Bad:
The Bears’ D entered the game allowing an average of 83 yards rushing. the Saints' resurgent ground game had 104 yards in the first half.
The Saints’ 14-play, 95-yard drive led to their first touchdown in more than eight quarters. They converted 3 third downs on that drive.
The Saints’ also had an 11-play, 80-yard drive in the second half.
Yet the Bears overall were incredibly resistant in the second half allowing 29 rushing yards (only 4 in the third quarter) on 14 attempts and 123 yrds total.
The Bears had allowed only one TD drive longer than 80 yards all season and now have given up three in last five quarters (including the 85 yrder in the fourth quarter at Detroit).
Special Teams:
The Sun- Times Asks, and I second, “Will Gabe Reid please get out of Bobby Wade's way on punt returns?�
Brad Maynard: 44.2 yards on six punts (net)
Robbie Gould: HAD NEVER ATTEMPTED A GAME WINNER not at Penn State, not even in high school.
Misc:
The win can be attributed to the fact that the coaches said sweats would be allowed instead of suits on the flight home if they won. God knows that would’ve motivated me.
LSU’s Tiger Stadium seats 93,000. Attendance was listed as 32,637 (half of the previous weeks 61,643 who turned out for Saban’s return) and on television it looked like the crowd at a high school game.
The Bears released Marc Edwards (which I think is a mistake) and activated Jason McKie. Edwards had 10 catches for 66 yrds and 2 TDs (tied for first on the team) after starting 5 games. And going into this week I believe every catch he had was for either a TD or a 1st down.
McKie has played in 21 in two seasons with the Bears. He appeared in a career-high 15 games in 2004, starting two, and caught 13 passes for 79 yards. He tied for the team lead with two touchdown receptions.
Vic Carucci’s power poll has the Bears moving into the number 10 spot in his top 12. He ranks based on, “Teams that look good enough to be among the 12 playoff qualifiers but not based on conference.� http://www.nfl.com/news/story/9031156
Quote of the week. From Cedric Benson, "I feel more like a tornado waiting to be released, like I'm on a chain and they won't let me go.� Obviously he didn’t major in meterology as I don’t frequently see tornados on chains.
If you've been bettin' with me, you must be butter: 'cuz I'm on a roll. 9-4-1 last week bringing me to 62-51-2 against the spread. Eleven games over five hundred and feeling the pick-on-Wednesday luck.
ATLANTA -9.5 OVER GREEN BAY
I think the last thing Brett Favre wants to do right now is play indoors, where he has to be (statistically) the worst human ever to play football. The Falcons defense is underrated and they're going to get after him.
KANSAS CITY +2.5 OVER BUFFALO
I like the momentum off last week's win for the Chiefs and I'm not sold on the Bills ability to exploit the weakness of KC's defense: their secondary. I think the Chiefs win outright.
NEW YORK JETS +9 OVER CAROLINA
The Jets defense is going to rebound from being Tomlinson'd last week and outside of inside the 5, the Panthers don't run the ball very well. This is going to be a low scoring game and I'm thinking the Jets are going to hang around all year and it's a testament to the guys on the field.
CHICAGO -13 OVER SAN FRANCISCO
Haha. You didn't actually think I was going to take the Niners.
DENVER - 3 OVER OAKLAND
I'm going to stick with The Snake until he urinates venom all over me.
ARIZONA + 4 OVER DETROIT
I'm not picking the Lions to actually win a game for the remainder of my natural life. I'm not. I picked the Vikes last week but I expected the Lions to maybe show up. This is the most unwatchable football game of the decade.
INDIANAPOLIS -18 OVER HOUSTON
I checked the Guinness World Records and can't find a higher spread ever.
BALTIMORE +7 OVER JACKSONVILLE
Jaguars alert! Jaguars alert! They need a win this week. Jaguars alert!
NEW ENGLAND -3 OVER MIAMI
This may get ugly for Miami quick.
MINNESOTA +9.5 OVER NEW YORK GIANTS
I don't think the Vikes win this game but I'm not with the Giants this much quite yet.
PITTSBURGH -8 OVER CLEVELAND
Snore.
ST. LOUIS +7 OVER SEATTLE
I like the Rams new head coach, Joe Vitt. He's a guy and a guy that likes to run the ball. This is going to be a very good football game, mark my words.
TAMPA BAY +1.5 OVER WASHINGTON
Take the home team.
PHILADELPHIA -3 OVER DALLAS
I think the Eagles are about to beat the Cowboys and Giants in consecutive weeks,
First some thoughts on the week gone by:
1. It started as everything advertised. A first quarter that featured brilliant quarterbacking, big hits and gutsy coaching. It didn't take long, however, for Peyton Manning '05 to launch into Peyton Manning '04 and decapitate an entirely overmatched Patriots secondary, with help from Marvin and Reggie who just played their hearts out. Take note people: this is the best team in football and it's not even close.
2. Somehow, even in a loss, I gain more respect for Bill Bellichick. I think he's the single greatest defensive mind in the history of football. So last night he coached one of the most humble games you're ever going to see coached. He didn't rest on his laurels. He went for 4th downs and tried onside kicks. He knew he couldn't stop Peyton and company last night, no one could. So he did what a great coach should do (take note, Andy Reid). He changed his style. He coached the game in front of him with the player he had on the field. You wanna know why this team has won three Super Bowls in 4 years? He's why.
3. Dick Vermeil is drowning in praise for his call Sunday to go for the win in regulation. His reason: "I'm too old to wait." No one talks about the Kansas City Chiefs but they're pretty good.
4. Eric Allen had some great T.O. comments on ESPN radio yesterday and I agree. There's no way T.O. tries this with the Buddy Ryan Eagles. Are the Eagles this soft? According to Allen, "Clyde Simmons might just have killed him." Seems appropriate.
5. I think there are two things that make great sportswriters: brilliant moments and horrible teams. For brilliant moments, it's Mike Lupica. For horrible teams, it's Mitch Albom.
6. Call it the reverse T.O. - when a player of unparalleled skill overcomes immaturity to be brilliant on the field. Jeremy Shockey has done it all year long and he's the best tight end in the conference. What a catch he had Sunday.
7. What does Joey Harrington do now? I really don't have an answer but I have a thought. Call Mike Shanahan and beg him to make you Jake Plummer's backup. Go there and listen to everything Shanahan tells you because if he can make The Snake a consistent performer, you might be able to be a productive passer in this league.
8. Reported Saints attendance in Baton Rouge: 32 thousand plus. Actual attendance: 11.
9. The NFC North takes the biggest beating in the press but the AFC East has the exact same amount of total wins: 12. The NFC North at least has a division leader with a winning record.
10. Steve Smith gets a lot of the deserved press, but Jake Delhomme is playing the best quarterback in the conference and that's why (along with the defense) thist is the best team in the conference.
11. I can't remember the last time the Bears played poorly and won a football game.
-12.
Now the midseason wrap-up:
If the season ended today, this is how the playoffs would look.
AFC Byes: Indianapolis, Cincinnati
Third Seed: Denver
Fourth Seed: New England
Wild-cards: Pittsburgh, Jacksonville/Kansas City (this is literally at the 5th tiebreaker)
NFC Byes: Seattle, New York Giants
Third Seed: Atlanta
Fourth Seed: Chicago
Wild-cards: Carolina, Dallas/Washington
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
I've heard all the conversations and not a single analyst has picked Shaun Alexander. What about 949 yards rushing and 14 touchdowns in 9 games isn't thrilling? Project that out. He'll be on the doorstep of 2,000 rushing yards and 30 touchdowns. The team is 6-2 with him and they'd be about 3-5 without him. I'd give you Tomlinson but he's been shut out in two major games. Alexander doesn't have off weeks.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
This has to be Steve Smith. He's got 900 yards on 55 catches and 9 touchdowns. He catches 40% of the Panthers passes which would be, according to ESPN, the highest percentage by a receiver since the merger. When a player has an all-time year, you have to consider them for awards like this.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Dwight Freeney really is the only choice right now. Look at how much better he makes the rest of that defensive line which has become formidable.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Lovie has been brilliant with the defense, Shanny with the offense, Dungy with the entire package but I'm leaning towards Tom Coughlin right now. He's doing a Torre - managing egos and projects like Shockey and Burress - and inspiring his defense to play over their heads.
HOW IS MY SUPERBOWL PICK LOOKING?
The Colts and the Panthers are the best teams in their conferences.
WHAT ABOUT THE REST OF MY PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS?
Poop.
THE BEST GAMES OF THE SECOND HALF:
Monday November 14 - Dallas at Philadelphia
The Cowboys can put the Eagles season away.
Sunday November 20 - Carolina at Chicago
If the Panthers and Bears take care of business this week, it should be 7-2 at 6-3 and a chance for the Bears to see how good they really are.
Sunday November 20 - Indianapolis at Cincinnati
The over. Take it.
Thanksgiving Day - Denver at Dallas
Finally a great game to watch on the holiday.
Sunday December 4 - Atlanta at Carolina
Most likely for the division and possibly for the a first round bye.
Sunday January 1 - Carolina at Atlanta
Here's what I love about this on the final week of the season. The loser of this game is going to have to go on the road the next week for a playoff game, possibly to Chicago. So wear each other out, please.
Sunday January 1 - Houston at San Francisco
Battle!
Bears.
-12.
Niners.
Ridiculous.
First, I need to get something off my chest. This goes out to Mike Greenberg, Sean Salisbury, Pete Prisco and every other analyst who I've hear say this: The Eagles have been the best team in the NFC for the last five years. And because of this, the Eagles front office should be supported for their decisions have proven to be successful.
No. This has not been the best team in the conference for the last five years. Five years ago, they lost to the Giants in the divisional round of the playoffs. They then lost to the Rams in the conference championship. They then lost to the Tampa Bay Bucs and the Carolina Panthers in consecutive conference championship games IN THEIR OWN HOUSE. They scored 10 points against the Bucs and 3 against the Panthers. So if you want to say that the Philadelphia Eagles have been the most consistently good team in the conference over the last five years, okay. But in the last five years they have been the best team only once. This isn't college football. We don't need to look at anything besides the scores.
Now let's talk about the salary cap. Who have the Birds decided not to pay? Terrell Owens is the best player. Brian Westbrook is a terrific football player. David Akers has only been the best kicker in football the last three years. Corey Simon was their only run stuffer. Listen to this: as of September 1st the Eagles were 12.6 million dollars under the salary. I didn't make a mistake, they are 12.6 MILLION DOLLARS under the salary cap.
If you don't think that's too bad, the next highest number is 7.8 million dollars. Who? The Houston Texans, also known as the worst team in professional football. You might say something like, "Well, they're great at managing the cap!" No one is better at managing the cap than the New England Patriots and Scott Pioli. The Pats are 1.4 million under the cap, which is about where most of the league stands (between 1-5 million).
Of course I'm writing today because Terrell Owens has essentially ruled himself out of the next two ballgames for the Philadelphia Eagles due to a nagging ankle injury. The Eagles reporters and fans are outraged. HOW CAN HE NOT PLAY IN THESE TWO PIVOTAL DIVISION GAMES?? So let me get this straight, kids. T.O. is supposed to risk his career to play in a Super Bowl, proving himself to be the best weapon on your team. He goes unrewarded. He made a lot of money last season because he reached 6 million dollars in bonuses. His base salary is below Todd Pinkston, Corey Bradford and about thirty other receivers that don't possess half his talent.
Now, I'm not one of those people who says "They make millions of millions of blah blah blah." They deserve every nickel. They are the premiere attaction of the greatest sport on earth. Clearly, T.O. does not expect to return to the Philadelphia Eagles next year and so I ask again: why should he risk serious injury? Why should he put his team first when it's clear his team, these Philadelphia Eagles, have reached a point of unearned arrogance that should drive their both players and fans to an exodus. Owens only has less receiving yards than Steve Smith and Santana Moss. They're somewhere in the vicinty of ten years younger than him.
He's great and he's the best football player on the Philadelphia Eagles. You don't pay him, you don't keep him. The Steelers paid Hines Ward for one reason: the recognized his importance to winning. Winning. Winning. They've been consistently good too but they want a ring. I think the Eagles would rather be stubborn than champions. And if they're sitting at home in January, they flat-out deserve it.
That's right, homos. 10-4 last week - my best week by far. 53-47-1 on the year now. Will the success continue or was I simply a flash in the pan? Ah, but for to wait. (Next week the midseason awards.)
Here's an amazing fact for Week 9. There are 14 games being played this weekend 10 of the underdogs are HOME TEAMS. What a fucking ridiculous league.
DA BEARS +3 OVER NEW ORLEANS
This is not a must win for the Chicago Bears. But it certainly is a game they need to win. I think the Bears come out early and dominate the line of scrimmage. I'd be worried about Horn and Stallworth beating them deep, but I currently have much more faith in the Bears front four than the Saints offensive line.
ATLANTA -2 OVER MIAMI
This is a game I think Miami hangs around in but Atlanta has to be drooling over the soon-to-come Chris Simms collapse of the Tampa Bay Bucs.
MINNESOTA +2 OVER DETROIT
I was going to hold off the picks until I know who will be starting at quarterback for the Lions. Then I realized that it doesn't matter for one second. II think Brad Johnson might surprise some people and throw a couple touchdown passes and the Vikings get one at home.
SAN DIEGO -6 OVER NEW YORK JETS
This is my lock of the week, without question. I think the Chargers win this game by many, many points. I don't like to predict blowouts because I'm always wrong, especially when I predicted the Bears would win every game in 2003 but 60 points. But I think the Jets defense will be strong in the first quarter, quarter and a half. But this one might end somewhere in 47-10 land.
HOUSTON +13 OVER JACKSONVILLE
I won with Houston last week and I'll ride it. I think this Jacksonville team loses too many winnable games to be true playoff team and my two weeks on their bandwagon were nice enough. Houston doesn't win but Kris Brown keeps them close.
CINCINNATI -3 OVER BALTIMORE
Everyone on earth is going to start saying things like, "Maybe Baltimore isn't that bad." They are. They're going to lose this game by double digits.
TENNESSEE +2 OVER CLEVELAND
I like Jeff Fisher a whole lot as a football coach but he's gone three years now with nothing on that roster. How can their salary cap be in such awful shape? Browns will most likely make a quarterback change before or during the game but I won't be anywhere near a television showing this game.
CAROLINA -2 OVER TAMPA BAY
I was never on the Tampa Bay bandwagon and I think this might be the week Carolina shows why they are the best team in the NFC.
OAKLAND +5 OVER KANSAS CITY
This is going to be a fight and whenever there's five points or more involved, I always take the underdog if I think they can win the game. Oakland has played good football this year and they are a couple defensive studs away from being a real contender. Lamont shouldn't have trouble running all over the Chiefs. Two words: the over.
ARIZONA +4 OVER SEATTLE
Why, you ask? Because I'm feeling the mojo, kids. The Seattle Seahawks are very much like the Jacksonville Jaguars. They never win when they should. I think they're going to lose on the road this week but I'm just sitting with the Cards and the points.
NEW YORK GIANTS -10 OVER SAN FRANCISCO
I don't know why, again. I don't actually believe in the Giants. But I was inspired by Tiki Barber's performance last week and if he repeats something of that level, he may just be my mid-season MVP. Maybe the Giants should kill off an owner every week.
PITTSBURGH -6 OVER GREEN BAY
It's just getting uglier in Green Bay. Even if Big Ben doesn't play, they'll still run the ball all over the Pack.
PHILADELPHIA +2 OVER WASHINGTON
Can we stop with the Washington Redskins?
...and now ladies and gents, the game of the NFL season.
INDIANAPOLIS -3 OVER NEW ENGLAND
I am not picking the Colts because I think they are some unstoppable bohemoth. They are not. I watched the Bills dominate the Pats last Sunday and just not put the points on the board. I'm expecting something of a classic, 38-31 type game and I think even if the Colts lose it won't be on Peyton. It'll be on the vastly overrated defense.
I've taken a day and a half to reflect on Sunday's performance and ponder the future of the Chicago Bears. I've never been one to hide the fact that the Bears, these Bears, my Bears are the most consistently important element in my emotional life outside of my writing. That's just a fact. The performance of 53 guys for three hours and change each Sunday, 53 guys I've never met, can change the way I feel about the sun, moon and women I'm dating. They can make me want to lose weight and start therapy. They can also make me want to hole up in the corner of Miladys and Bass after Bass complain about the government and the lack of adventurous theatre producers.
Today is a Tuesday and I feel like it's Christmas morning. I woke up on the couch I'm soon to reside on full-time and before I could yawn or wonder what shit in my mouth while I slept, I hit POWER and wished a good morning to Mike and Mike on ESPNnews. Why? Per chance to spy a lady - the lady being one of the million NFL analysts on ESPN discussing the first place Chicago Bears. I've never been one to seek approval - though it's always welcome - but to hear Jaws or TJ or even Salisbury say, "Yes I think the Bears are going to win the NFC North" is the parental equivalent of "Dad, I love you." It fills me with a chocolate goodness that doesn't come from anywhere else in my life. When someone tells me, "I really enjoyed your play" all I hear is "They're just saying that" or "I need to follow it with something better." It's never just "Thanks, that's great."
You see, the thing is, being a sports fan is the most unselfish thing and individual can be (possibly outside of parenthood). It has nothing to do with me. It's simply love. Unconditional love. The death of Wellington Mara made me think that Jerry Seinfeld's idea that we all just root for laundry is rather foolish. The teams mean something to people. I've had my hearbroken by 41-0 Tampa Bay games and Autry Denson fumbles in the playoffs. I've been disappointed by Cade, Curtis and Rashaan.
So why was I borderline in tears following a win in Week 8? I wasn't sure then but a little reflection can answer questions. Beer helps, of course. But the truth is this: the Bears have been the only consistent in my life to this point. My parents split, the Bears were there. I lost my dream job, the Bears were there. The city came down around me, Mike Brown picked off a couple passes in overtime. Some people have God and faith. Some people have a tight, compassionate family. I'm sorry. I have the Chicago Bears. That's why Sunday mattered to me.
I once heard a parent (not my own) tell me that when her child fails, she feels like it's her failure. Not because she created the beast but because he's apart of her. He means more to her than she means to herself. It's Tuesday and I'm in the middle of writing a new play, a new musical and a kid's show. All I want to be doing is sitting in the third seat from the left at Josie's at 4:05 Sunday watching the Bears and the Saints in Baton Rouge.
They're the love of my life. Because win or lose, they're always going to be there.
But I'd rather them win.
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2009: April March February January
2008: December November October September August July June May April March February January
2007: December November October September August July June May April March February January
2006: December November October September August July June May April March February January