I'm looking forward to 4:03 pm. Sunday December 28th. The final week of the NFL regular season. 4:03 pm. That's when the Chicago Bears will start preparing for a home playoff game the following week as champions of the NFC North.
Chicago Bears @ Houston Texans
1. The Bears tend to leave their corners on one side for the duration but it's imperative on Sunday for Charles Tillman to white-on-rice Andre Johnson, especially without a healthy Mike Brown on the field. I expect the Texans to take several shots over the top so Craig Steltz and Kevin Payne need to keep the game in front of them. Give up yards. Hold off touchdowns.
2. The Johns (Tait & St. Clair) is not going to have an easy time with the speed and just flat-out skill of Mario Williams so I see a lot of Desmond Clark and Matt Forte chip blocks. This should mean a decent day for the Des Dispenser catching the ball and open up the screen game for the Double Deuce.
3. The Texans don't stop the run very well (25th in the league) but I have a feeling they'll try and take Matt Forte out of the game early with extra men in the box. I say this almost every week but the best way for the Bears to have a balanced offense is to THROW ON EARLY DOWNS with precise, short routes. Orton seems to struggle most when he's sitting in the pocket. Two-step drop and release.
4. If Monday night confirmed anything offensively, it confirmed that Greg Olsen needs to have the ball in his hands five times a game. Every game.
5. The team has to play with the required passion. In front of the home crowd, against our longest rival, with their season on the line...flat as a left-open bottle of club soda. How that was possible with eleven days off is beyond me. There won't be a home crowd to juice them up Sunday. Flat stays flat on the road.
Chicago Bears 24
Houston Texans 13
New York Giants @ Minnesota Vikings
1. I don't think David Carr sees the field. If Carr plays, Giants lose.
2. Even if the Giants rest some of their offensive starters, Spags will have the defense jazzed for a big effort. If they put pressure on Tarvaris Jackson - and they do put pressure on every quarterback - TJ should make the correct number of mistakes. Think about it. He's due.
3. Adrian Peterson is the best runner in football but he's not the best running back. You can't be considered the game's best when you fumble as often as he does. Let's hope for one big one Sunday, deep in Vikings territory.
4. I keep reading that Tom Coughlin won't want to "put Eli Manning in the path of Jared Allen." You know what? The Giants have the best offensive line in the sport. They can block Jared Allen. And they will.
New York Giants 30
Minnesota Vikings 7
#2 Max said . . .FIRST!
December 26, 2008
#3 Big T said . . .Giants game will be closer than 30-7. They will win, but its not gonna be a blow out.
Bears win 24-20
December 26, 2008
#4 stuck in mn said . . .One reason for the Giants playing to win that I haven't seen discussed is that I doubt that they want to have to face Adrian Peterson in the playoffs. Even if they would see him at home I'm sure thier coaching staff would just like to get him out of the picture now and not have to face him when there is more on the line.
Anyways, first things first, let's beat the Texans!!
December 26, 2008
#5 Injured Reserve said . . .I saw Carr is going to start...let's hope for some type of miracle.
December 26, 2008
#6 BearDown1982 said . . .Mike Brown is on it. Cameron Worrell is back.
http://www.chicagobears.com/news/NewsStory.asp?story_id=5484
December 26, 2008
#7 jdawg said . . .Brown is on the IR and out for the rest of the season. Played 15 games for us this year though, and although he didn't have some of those game changing plays of years past, in my admittedly biased opinion he had a very solid year and played a big role in shoring up a stout run D.
That said, I think our offense is going to have to put up some points to win this game. If they look the way they have looked the past two weeks, I don't see the Bears pulling this one out. I agree with Jeff that we need to throw a bit more on first down. I would also like to see us go with the no huddle maybe even a couple times in this game. Kyle seems much more comfortable and in rythym everytime we throw in that wrinkle.
And for God sakes...Devin, you haven't returned anything all year. This would REALLY be a great time for you to return a punt for a touchdown. Pretty please?
Giants game will be interesting. If they can get an early lead, that may cause Minny to start hitting the panic button. Let's hope for a Giants lead at the half and a Tarvaris meltdown in the 2nd half. I don't expect this to be a blowout by any means though...should be close one.
All in all, I'm looking forward to at least one more fun weekend of football. For all of you Mike Brown fans out there, below is a link to a great article about Brownie. He has long been my favorite Bear and it will be difficult to see him go as I expcect we won't resign him this offseason. I bet he makes a great coach one day...
http://www.suntimes.com/sports/football/bears/1349718,CST-SPT-bear26.article
December 26, 2008
#8 big rob said . . .I am of the minority that thinks Brownie will be back. Listen to Lovie and the players, not the beat writers.
December 26, 2008
#9 Rancid said . . .Mike Brown -
Thanks for as close to a full season as we have gotten from you in the past few years. Thank you for playing hard and hitting hard all year long!!
Now you turn into Coach Mike Brown..... Coach up KP and C. Steltz....
Impart all the wisdom you can with these fellas while you are still a Bear....
With a little luck and some passionate play you may just be here long enough to get that ring that eluded you two years ago.
Be that guy Mike... The fire you have always been... Give us all you have left, even if it has to be from the sidelines!!
Thanks Mike!!
December 26, 2008
#10 NY Bears Fan said . . .I hope Mike's back next year. He's worth it. He'd probably be pissed to know we're talking about him and not Sundays game. This Sunday we make the playoffs on a 4 game winning streak. After that, anything is possible. Bear Down.
December 27, 2008
#11 NittyGritty34 said . . .I am torn between staying home and watching the game Sunday and going to the Buffalo New England game. Normally it would be a no brainer to stay home but my brother-in-law has tickets 1st row 20 yard line. I agreed two weeks ago when I did not think the Bears would be in this situation.
December 27, 2008
#12 Mike Brown has a Posse said . . .I was so bummed to here about Brown. Every fucking year. I love this guy and am so disappointed in how his career has gone. Could've been one of the greats if he could've stayed healthy. Damn I'm pissed.
December 27, 2008
#13 enderwiggin said . . .Really bummed about Mike Brown.
I know one thing:
I ain't retiring the jersey any time soon.Bear Down!
December 27, 2008
#14 BeardownInMoco said . . .NY BearsFan~ Don't be torn man. First row, 20 yrd line has to be hard to pass up. I think most bear fans wouldn't mind if you missed a TV game for a first row opportunity. Oh, but you have to wear a Bears Jersey.
December 27, 2008
#15 jeff said . . .I smell trouble with Brown out and Andre Johnson lining up against peanut. Lets hope Steltz is a superstar waiting for his turn, because Tillman will be missing Brown's help in coverage against the best, and most underrated, receiver in the league.
December 27, 2008
#16 Albert In Tucson said . . .i know one bears fan who wouldn't miss sunday's game against the texans to call plays for dick jauron.
me.
December 27, 2008
#17 jeff said . . .Feel free not to l;et the facts get in the way but it IS good to have dreams, Jeff.And, alas, I tbelieve you are dreaming with your predictions. Houston comes in very angry after having blown a shot at a winning season by losing to the ridiculous franchise formerly known as the Raiders and now known as "Davis' Folly". Teams that have tried to take away Andre Johnson have been burned mightily by the more than capable Kevin Walter on the other side and I'm afraid I see TE Owen Daniel spiking the football in our endzone as well. Meanwhile, just how are The Giants going wax the Vikings to the tune of 30-7 when the bulk of their key players will be sitting by halftime? The Giants are a banged up bunch and , like it or not, cannot afford NOT to sit some of their walking wounded.
Wish I could say "Good call, Jeff", but those predictions sound too much like "Our scheme is good".December 27, 2008
#18 Bill From SATX said . . .albert, the giants are remarkably not banged up. jacobs and ross are hurt. that's about it. their o-line was sick last week, not hurt. and i don't think the giants are going to sit their players at halftime. i think they're going to play this ballgame out.
as for the texans being angry...silly. players don't care if they finish 8-8 or 9-7. fans do. but players don't. i don't think it's dreaming to beat the texans when we have the world to play for and they have nothing to play for.
December 27, 2008
#19 NittyGritty34 said . . .It hurts to be without Brown, but we still need to win. We did it 2 years ago without him. The D just needs to shut Houston down like they did to the #1 offense (NO). I expect some no huddle for Kyle to get into a groove and for Forte to run through their D. I think the Vikings are overrated and will lose. I am ready for the Playoffs!
December 27, 2008
#20 DTB said . . .If Mike Brown plays elsewhere next year, that team will be my second favorite team. I say that knowing full well Brown would never play for the Packers, Queens, and pussy cats.
December 27, 2008
#21 Brian in Sec 430 Row 25 said . . .Undoubtedly our Bears need to take care of buisness, first and foremost. For the past week I've stood in opposition to any Vikings/Giants talk, ie. what Coughlin is gonna do. I denied any conversation regarding that game, focusing on the in's and out's of Houston. Now I think I'll take up the time to size up the game of SECONDARY importance on Sunday.
The Giants game is not about how many NY starters are taking the field tomorrow. It's all about how many Vikings show up. They are against the wall, and in all reality there have been 4 contests that could have decided the division in the favor of Min, we all know that has yet to happen. So ultimately, is it the Giants gameplan going in that is going to decide the game? I think it is more along the lines of the Vikings state of mind. Once the first ball hits the turf and NY capitalizes, the game is over.
Our Bears have been playing loose, almost too loose at times. Conversely I feel that the Vikes will press. With the exception of Hutchinson, Sharper and Berrian, the Vikings are a group that has never fought for their playoff lives. Thay haven't won a division since the North was formed. And if you listen to any expert out there, the North is consitantly the worst division in football. What does that say about the Vikes?
In the meantime I will mull like Godot, circle the tree and realize that nothing is going to happen. Until Sunday, 11 am.
December 27, 2008
#22 RandomName said . . .The key to both of our important games this Sunday is a fast start. If the Giants go down 14-0 they have zero motivation to comeback...the coaching staff will just say "ok guys, put in the subs and let's stay healthy for the playoffs" On the other hand, if the Bears could jump out to an early lead, word will most certiantly get back to Minnesota and they might just feel the added pressure, tighten up and lose. We should have a good feeling by halftime which direction our playoff hopes are headed.
Bear Down!!!
December 27, 2008
#23 Shady said . . .Ok ... I'm scared so close to judgement day.
December 27, 2008
#24 Angry Bears Fan said . . .I'm afraid of what the defense is going to look like without Mike Brown.
Bless his soul he stayed healthy this long, one of the greatest Chicago Bears EVER.
Just take care of business.
Start fast, end strong.
Give fans some hope for 2009.
December 28, 2008
#25 Virgil Carter said . . .Orton hears a boo;
He wears a big shoe;
Gimpy right foot is limp;
Doesn't explain the weak pop arm that is limp;
Fear in his eyes as the media lies;
Did Rex not pay respect to the scribes that wanted his neck?
Bears fans suffer, suffer through;
This weak armed, fear stricken, patchy bearded fool;
Orton hears a boo;
Orton will hear a few;
Orton believes Rex is better;
Orton looks over his shoulder.December 28, 2008
#26 Virgil Carter said . . .F__K Lovie Smith, he is a tool, as are the O and D coaches.... get rid of them as well as half the Bears team...Jerry Angilo..please leave town..
December 28, 2008
Please, going forward lets all call Orton by the name of GEICO...We can only hope he will be selling insurance next season!
December 28, 2008
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