Bucs RB Blount Ruled Out of Bears Game in London

Republicans talk tough on immigration, and a record number of illegal immigrants were deported under President Obama.

Her courage opened the way for meaningful progress against sex discrimination in the workplace.

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Sleepy Bears Arrive in London for Bucs Game

He'll have two days to get over that jet lag before the Chicago Bears run onto the field at Wembley on Sunday to play a Tampa Bay Buccaneers team that has spent the whole week in London to get used to the time difference.

According to Cutler and the rest of the Bears, that won't be a problem.

"I feel all right. I think the guys are little bit tired," the quarterback said. "I'm sure everyone is going to get a good night's rest and we'll be ready to roll."

This is the fifth year in a row the NFL stages a regular-season game at Wembley, and the second time the Bucs have come over. In 2009, Tampa Bay also arrived on the Friday before the game and then looked sluggish when it was routed by the New England Patriots — one of the reasons Bucs coach Raheem Morris changed the team's setup this time.

Bears coach Lovie Smith, however, said he was confident his team would not be at a disadvantage.

"I felt like it was important for us to have a regular work week in Chicago," Smith said. "There's 48 hours before we play, so we have plenty of time. We'll be rested and ready to go. The best football team will win the game."

The shorter time spent in London also means there's less time taking in the local sights and culture, although that's not what the team came over for anyway, Smith said.

"It's a business trip. We sight-see when we're vacationing in the summer," he said. "We will have a little bit of time tomorrow, but that's not our purpose."

There was still time for some fun and games before their first practice Friday.

The Bears are practicing at The Oval, one of England's most famous cricket grounds located in south London. That meant some of the players got some help with their batting and bowling techniques from local cricketers — with mixed success.

Cutler looked quite handy with the bat, hitting what would have counted as a couple of boundaries (similar to runs) off deliveries (or pitches) from Brian Urlacher.

However, the wayward bowling of linebacker Lance Briggs had some of the assembled photographers ducking for cover, bringing to mind one of the locals' popular sayings: "It's just not cricket."

Briggs, however, seemed less affected by the jet lag than many of the Bears. He was still full of energy after his cricket display, joking with teammates and capturing his new surroundings on his video camera — including filming the TV reporters filming him when giving interviews.

"I feel great. I was a little bit tired when I got off the plane," Briggs said. "But I had a cup of joe, and I'm ready to go."

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The reason why Devin Hester fell to Bears in 2006 draft – LenDale White

Former Bears Director of College Scouting Greg Gabriel revealed on the National Football Post how the Bears almost didn’t get a chance to select Devin Hester in the second round of the ’06 NFL Draft.

Thank you, LenDale White and Floyd Reese – the Titans general manager who chose White over Hester at pick No. 45.

Hester, drafted by Bears GM Jerry Angelo twelve picks later, was one (Danieal Manning) of the players Gabriel had his eyes on heading into the draft – “we had to get Devin Hester.”

Remember, it also took the Bills to make this happen.

Buffalo traded their second (No. 42 – Manning) and third-round (No. 73 – Dusty Dvoracek) picks for the Bears’ 26th overall pick (John McCargo) in the first round.

When Gabriel called Hester to inform him the Bears were drafting him he said, “For real? Tennessee called and told me they were going to draft me and then decided against it.”

So close.

Revisiting ’06 draft: As I look back and reminisce watching the draft live, I absolutely wanted Ohio State wide receiver Santonio Holmes at pick No. 26.  Instead, Holmes went the pick before to the defending Super Bowl champion Steelers, who traded up seven slots with the Giants to snag him.

Also, I was truly enamored with fourth-round pick (No. 120) linebacker Jamar Williams from Arizona State.  I honestly believed he was going to be our Roosevelt Colvin or Warrick Holdman to compliment Urlacher and Briggs.  All I heard about him was his instincts and ability to make plays, having a nose for the football.

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Data Points: Forte the Bears’ the foundation

Published: October 18th, 2011 | Tags: Data Points, Chicago Bears, International Series, Matt Forte, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

As Bears RB Matt Forte continues to plead his case to get a fat new contract, the numbers he’s putting up certainly don’t hurt. Through six games, his 908 total yards from scrimmage represent 43 percent of Chicago’s total offense.

In honor of the Bears traveling across the pond this week to play the Buccaneers in London, let’s call this a “shephard’s pie chart.”

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Huskies, Bears battle for No. 3 in the North?

Stanford and Oregon were a combined 24-2 last year and both are presently ranked in the nation's top-10. They are the top of the Pac-12 North. The number of people who don't think one or the other will win the division is 17, and six of them are Norwegian, folks who as you well know are notoriously contrarian when it comes to college football analysis.

Looking up at the Ducks and Cardinal are four other the North teams, but the two top candidates for the three-hole will be in Seattle on Saturday scrapping it out for the right to become a "maybe" contender that could make the Norwegians look like giants of prognostication: California and Washington, neither of whom enjoy hearing about how great Stanford ("Blech," say the Bears) and Oregon ("Pfffftt," say the Huskies) are.

These two combined for 12-13 record last fall, with the Huskies managing to win seven games only because they pried No. 5 away from Cal on what suddenly -- wham! -- became the final play of the Bears season.

[+] Enlarge AP Photo/Marcio Jose SanchezChris Polk's 1-yard touchdown with no time left lifted Washington past Cal last season.That dramatic finish -- a fourth-down, 1-yard TD plunge from Huskies running back Chris Polk as time expired on a 16-13 victory -- was the cornerstone of what is supposed to be a transformative season for Washington.

It was not greeted so warmly in Berkeley, where the Bears found themselves saddled with their first losing record in nine years under coach Jeff Tedford. Bears fans, suffice it to say, grumbled a bit, and the Bears themselves weren't exactly clicking their heels over the program's slide, either.

Tedford, however, is only willing to obliquely note that Cal might come to Seattle with an added chip on its collective shoulder.

"It was motivation through the whole offseason and the summer time, but this is a different team and they're a different team," Tedford said before adding. "It was odd how that game ended. It was somewhere we've never been before."

As if last year's game isn't enough of a poke in the eye, Cal adherents also might recall that the last time the Bears were inside Husky Stadium, they got bombed 42-1o, perhaps Jake Locker's career-best game.

These teams will come at each other with similarities: New starting QBs who have mostly exceeded expectations. And differences: Cal's defense ranks among the conference leaders; Washington's among the conference laggards.

As for Cal's Zach Maynard, this will be his SECOND -- not first, SECOND -- major road test. He mostly passed his first during an overtime win at Colorado, but Husky Stadium is notoriously tough on visiting foes, though it doesn't appear the house will be full.

"I think Zach is on track to become a very good player," Tedford said. "He has a lot of ability. He probably can use his legs better than any quarterback we've had here, so that is an added dimension to our offense."

While Maynard has been solid, sophomore Keith Price has been stellar for the Huskies. He leads the conference with 11 TD passes and ranks fourth in passing efficiency, ahead of some notables such as Arizona's Nick Foles and USC's Matt Barkley.

"He's playing phenomenal football for us right now," coach Steve Sarkisian said. "He's been lights out."

But Price will be playing against a tough Cal defense that has 11 sacks and ranks second in the conference in pass-efficiency defense.

Maynard will face a defense that ranks last in the conference in scoring (36.7 ppg) and 11th in total defense (452.0). Still, a review of the Huskies depth chart -- defensive tackle Alameda Ta'amu, defensive end Hau'oli Jamora, middle linebacker Cort Dennison, cornerback Desmond Trufant -- suggests this crew should be playing better.

Which is why much of the muttering in Seattle this week has been about well-compensated coordinator Nick Holt.

"I trust Nick Holt," Sarkisian said. "I believe in Nick Holt. I believe in our defensive staff. They are tremendous coaches. I've seen them coach for years. And we will get better."

How? Simple. Freaking stop dithering and go hit somebody.

"We're playing with some hesitation," Sarkisian said. "We're not letting loose and letting go. We're a little bit afraid to make a mistake."

The winner Saturday immediately announces itself as a top-half of the division team. And that is a necessary first step toward challenging Oregon and Stanford, who have finished one-two in the conference the previous two seasons.

The Norwegians have high hopes.

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Packers at Bears Friday Injury Report

BEARS

Out: WR Earl Bennett (chest), T Gabe Carimi (knee)

Questionable: RB Marion Barber (calf), S Chris Harris (hamstring), G Lance Louis (ankle), WR Roy Williams (groin), S Major Wright (head, neck)

PACKERS

Out: DE Mike Neal (knee), LB Frank Zombo (shoulder)

Probable: T Chad Clifton (knee), TE Jermichael Finley (ankle), RB Alex Green (achilles), CB Davon House (ankle), LB Clay Matthews (quadriceps), DE Ryan Pickett (foot), LB Vic So’oto (back), CB Tramon Williams (shoulder), CB Charles Woodson (foot)

Quote to note: Bears safety Chris Harris on his availability for Sunday’s showdown at Soldier against Packers:

“I’m very optimistic. I’m looking forward to Sunday,” Harris said. “Like I said, it’s still day to day. A decision hasn’t been made yet, so I’ll probably be a game-time decision. We’ll see.

“This is a big game for us, a division game — one of our season goals is to beat Green Bay. We have that opportunity in front of us, so this will be huge.”

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Bears going orange for Sunday’s showdown against Packers

The Bears have decided they will wear their alternate orange jerseys Sunday against the Packers.

Also, the announcing crew for the NFC North clash between the Bears and Packers for 3:15 CT at Soldier has been set.

It’s going to be FOX’s top trio of Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, and Pam Oliver.

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Collins replaces injured Cutler for Bears

Published: January 23rd, 2011 | Tags: Jay Cutler, Caleb Hanie, Chicago Bears, Jay Cutler, NFC Championship Game, Todd Collins

UPDATE: Collins’ stint at QB didn’t last long because he was ineffective. Caleb Hanie, the No. 3 QB, took over with 57 seconds remaining in the third quarter, meaning Cutler and Collins can’t return.

Any hope of a Bears comeback against the Packers now rests on the right arm of Todd Collins.

Collins replaced starting QB Jay Cutler on Chicago’s second possession of the second half Sunday. The Bears later announced that Cutler was questionable to return because of a knee injury.

According to various reports from the game, Cutler was late coming out of the locker room at halftime and at one point rode a stationary bike on the sideline. He was on the field for the Bears’ first possession of the half, but he missed on his only pass attempt.

It stands to reason that Cutler was injured during the first half and tried to play with the injury but just isn’t able to go. If Cutler is injured seriously enough to be on the sideline during an NFC Championship Game, it appears doubtful we’ll see him again.

Cutler was 6-of-13 passing for 80 yards with an interception.

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Bears’ Harris active for NFC title game vs. Packers

Published: January 23rd, 2011 | Tags: Chicago Bears, Chris Harris, Desmond Clark, Devin Aromashodu, Green Bay Packers, NFC Championship Game

Bears safety Chris Harris vowed all week that he would play in Sunday’s NFC Championship Game despite a hip injury. That appears to be true since he’s active against the Packers after being limited in practice Friday and listed as questionable.

Harris, who’s tied for the team lead with five interceptions, hurt his hip during last week’s divisional playoff victory over the Seahawks.

The Bears also activated TE Desmond Clark, possibly to help protect QB Jay Cutler, and deactivated WR Devin Aromashodu. Clark tweeted Saturday that he would play, according to the Chicago Sun-Times, and it will be just his third game since Oct. 3.

Aromashodu played in the previous 13 games but had just five receptions.

Full inactives list:

Packers
Graham Harrell (No. 3 QB)
DB Pat Lee
RB Dimitri Nance
DB Josh Gordy
LB Frank Zombo
C Evan Dietrich-Smith
G Nick McDonald
DE Jarius Wynn

Bears
Caleb Hanie (No. 3 QB)
WR Devin Aromashodu
DB Joshua Moore
DB Craig Steltz
RB Khalil Bell
OT Herman Johnson
G Edwin Williams
DT Marcus Harrison

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Who do you got: Bears or Packers?

The Bears and Packers have the longest and perhaps most storied rivalry in the NFL. The two teams have squared off 181 times, but Sunday will mark their first playoff meeting since 1941.

The teams not only share a proud lineage, they both also won Super Bowls with Jim McMahon (though the punky QB was merely a backup for Brett Favre in Super Bowl XXXI).

With all due respect to the Steelers and Jets, you have to believe this is the game that America is looking forward to Sunday. Which begs the question — who do you got?

Let’s break this down scientifically:

Tough-guy linebacker

The Bears’ Dick Butkus and Packers’ Ray Nitschke personified the word “linebacker.” Butkus had eight Pro Bowl appearances, Ntschke was a member of those famed Packers teams that won five NFL titles and the first two Super Bowls. This one is too close to call, so we will settle this by acting career. Butkus played a strict yet fair principal on Hang Time, but Nitschke was in the original The Longest Yard.
Advantage: Nitschke, because I think he broke his (expletive) neck. (Packers 1-0)

Famous adaptations

Any man over the age of 40 fondly recalls James Caan‘s performance as terminally ill Bears RB Brian Piccolo in Brian’s Song. Not to mention, a young future Lando Calrissian (Billy Dee Williams) as Gale Sayers. And while I am sure that Tom Brady loved the performance of Lombardi on Broadway, I’m sure he didn’t cry at the end.
Advantage: Brian’s Song (Tied 1-1)

Stadium

The Packers have the famed frozen Tundra of Lambeau Field. The stadium could be considered football’s Mecca, and is likely on many football “bucket lists.” The Bears have a dirt field painted green, and any charm of the original Soldier Field as been stripped because of the renovation. In fact, it looks like one of those alien space ships from Independence Day landed on the old Soldier Field. Poor show, Bears.
Advantage: Lambeau Field (Packers 2-1)

Nickname

The Steelers have won the most Super Bowl titles, but did you know the Packers have more NFL championships? Yes, much to Dave Dameshek‘s chagrin, the NFL did exist prior to the Super Bowl era. So it’s fitting that Green Bay is known as Title Town. The Bears are known as the Monsters of the Midway. A nicknamed lifted from the University of Chicago, the same way Vanilla Ice lifted the beat of Queen’s Under Pressure for Ice, Ice Baby. Poor form, Bears.
Advantage: Title Town (Packers 3-1)

Coaching

The Packers have had Curly Lambeau and Vince Lombardi. The Bears had Papa Bear George Halas and Iron Mike Ditka. Tough call, but while both teams are playing for the Halas Trophy on Sunday, the Lombardi Trophy is the ultimate goal.
Advantage: Packers (Packers 4-1)

Greatest player

Bears RB Walter Payton retired with the NFL rushing record. Packers WR Don Hutson retired with every conceivable receiving record. Payton, though, is still in the conversation for the greatest running back ever. Most people seemingly have forgotten that Hutson even played and ignorantly proclaim Jerry Rice as the greatest receiver of all-time. Still, it is hard to go against Sweetness here.
Advantage: Bears (Packers 4-2)

Beer

Miller vs. Old Style. Miller trots out different styles of its product (MGD, Miller High Life, Crystal Miller Lite) like the University of Oregon does uniforms. Meanwhile, Old Style just continues to stick with the original.You have to respect that.
Advantage: Bears (Packers 4-3)

Embarrassing celebrity fan

Which career of a second fiddle inexplicably lasted the longest – former Bears backup QB Vince Evans (who might still be playing) or Jim Belushi? That’s a tough one. But how did Larry the Cable guy become known as a rabid Packers fan? Is that enough to git-r-done? Nah.
Advantage: Bears because Vince Vaughn just won’t seem to go away, either. (Tied, 4-4)

What’s in the bun?

Bratwurst or a Polish sausage? As a fat man, that is akin to choosing between your two children, though both are known to give heart attacks. There is really nothing to distinguish the two, so this one will again be settled by Hollywood. And Abe Froman, the sausage King of Chicago might be one of the greatest alias of all time.
Advantage: Bears (Bears 5-4)

Uniforms

Two classic styles here. The Packers, quite simply, have a top three uniform in the NFL. The Bears would be there if they wore their throwbacks from earlier this season.
Advantage: Packers (tied 5-5)

Again, we are knotted up. Looks like the fans are going to have to settle this in the comments section. Let us know who you got in this matchup. Well, after you first rip me for this being stupid. But after that, give us your thoughts.

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Packers vs Bears: Reviews & Grades

Senior writer jclombardi reviews & grades Packers win over Bears.

Summary: After a fast start building a 14-0 lead in the first half, the Packers offense imploded against a toughing Bears defense allowing the Bears to get back in the game. Yet, the defense created the big turnovers, scored the Packers’ final touchdown score producing the margin of victory on NT Raji’s 18-yard touchdown interception return, and CB Shields’ interception iced the victory in the final minute for a 21-14 win.

Game balls: NT Raji; CB Shields; WR Jennings; DE Jenkins; P Masthay.

Injury Report: OLB Walden (ankle sprain).

Report Card–Good, Bad, & Ugly: JC vs SE:

Pass Offense—C- vs C. After a hot first half performance to lead the Packers to a 14-0 lead, QB Rodgers struggled in the second half. He looked shaky and erratic failing to get the big plays. Overall, he had only 17 completions for 244 yards, 2 interceptions, and a poor 55.4 passer rating. The first interception occurred when the ball that bounced off WR Driver into LB Briggs’ arms. The other interception went into the arms of LB Urlacher on third-and-goal from the Bears six yard line, costing a probable scoring opportunity to put the game away. WR Jennings was super for 130 yards. WR Nelson made clutch catches for 67 yards. Yet, in the final 41 minutes, the offense got nothing on the scoreboard. Their final eight possessions produced a punt, interception, interception, punt, punt, punt, punt, and punt. On big third downs, Rodgers was 1-for-7 with a sack and an interception. For the most part, Rodgers’ protection held up well as the Bears defense got only one sack, three TFLs and three QB hits.

Rush Offense–B vs C. The Packers rushed for a good 120 yards averaging a decent 3.8 ypc. RB Starks had 22 carries for 74 and 1 touchdown averaging 3.4 ypc. QB Rodgers had 7 carries for 39 yards and 1 touchdown averaging 5.6 ypc. In a tale of two halves, in the first half, they averaged 5.8 yards with 104 yards. In the second half, they had only a pitiful 16 yards.

Pass Defense—B+ vs B. The defense thoroughly confused and harassed Cutler without having to use blitz pressure. Cutler was only 6-of-14 for 80 yards, 1 interception and a 31.8 passer rating while in the game. Then, the defense knocked out the Bears’ top two quarterbacks, Jay Cutler and Todd Collins. Third string QB Hanie led a fourth quarter comeback completing 13-of-20 for 153 yards and 65.2 passer rating. The Packers withstood a rally led by Chicago third-string quarterback Caleb Hanie. He led two fourth-quarter touchdown drives, but NT Raji’s interception touchdown return put the Packers up 21-7. Yet, QB Hanie led another scoring drive to make the score 21-14. In Chicago’s final series trying to tie the game, the comeback ended in the final minute when Shields came up with his second big interception. The Packers had 3 interceptions and 2 sacks. CB Shields had two interceptions, 4 tackles, 1 sack, and 1 forced fumble. DE Jenkins had a whale of a game. So did B.J. Raji. It just shows what pressure up the gut (inside rush) can do to a quarterback. Raji has done it all year and Jenkins is benefiting from that. He’s going against one-on-one blocking. Matthews draws a tackle, as well as help from a tight end or fullback; and, a lot of times, Raji gets the center and the guard. So the backside has one-on-one matchups. Also, in the first half, DE Jenkins stopped two drives alone. He ended the game with a half-sack, two quarterback hits, and two tackles for a loss. The defense, especially LB Bishop, did a great job to limit TE Olsen to only 3 catches for 30 yards. Solid LB Bishop led with 8 tackles and 1 tackle for a loss. Yet, RB Forte had a huge game with 10 receptions for 90 yards. While missing two big coverage assignments in the fourth quarter leading scores, safety Collins had 7 tackles.

Rush Defense—B vs B-. The Bears rushed for only 83 yards. RB Forte got only 70 yards averaging 4.1 yards, but he had several significant runs. Slow LB Hawk seems to be good for one or two missed tackles and one big catch in a game. DE Jenkins had an impressive takedown of Forte for a 2-yard loss on a third-down play with the Bears backed up near their end zone in the second quarter. Bishop was stout at the point of attack, notching a team-high eight tackles (seven solo) and setting up the ill-fated last pass by Hanie by snuffing out an end-around run by Bennett to the left on third-and-3 from the Packers’ 27 for a 2-yard loss.

Special teams—B vs B-. Generally, the special teams had a good game limiting returner Hester. He had only one kickoff return for 24 yards and three punt returns for 16 yards averaging only 5.3 yards with a long return of 11. The MVP had to be P Masthay who had a solid game with 8 punts averaging a solid 41.8 yards and 5 inside the 20. Not much else stood out positively for Green Bay’s units, however. Starks slipped to the frozen Soldier Field turf on the game-opening kickoff and averaged only 15 yards in two runbacks – Woodson picked up just 14 yards on a kickoff late in the game. Williams muffed two punts, both retained by the Packers, and averaged a meager 4.3 yards in three runbacks.

Coaching–B vs B. The Packers have won five straight elimination games and became the first No. 6 seed to win an NFC title and earn a trip to the Super Bowl. They became only the third team to reach the Super Bowl by winning three straight road games. The last two to do it, the 2007 Giants and 2005 Steelers, got the league championship. The victory sent the Packers to the Super Bowl in Dallas to meet the Pittsburgh. In the early going, the Packers exploited Chicago’s soft coverage, and they forged the big lead in the biggest game ever between the longtime rivals. Having the upper hand throughout the game allowed Green Bay to again have good offensive balance. Yet, a familiar criticism is signs of complacency cropped up with his conservative play calling late in the game when the Packers struggled to exhaust the clock and thus kept the Bears in the game. Coach McCarthy must get an improved consistent game plan in the Super Bowl. DC Capers unleashed another effective game plan that featured new wrinkles. Shields assumed the familiar role of Woodson and was sent on corner blitzes a handful of times. The zone-blitz drop of Raji into coverage turned into a stroke of genius with the resulting pick-six. STC Slocum corralled Hester without being bashful about kicking to him.

Overall Game—B+ vs. B+ (CBS Sportsline). Aaron Rodgers’ accuracy early was huge, but his passer rating of 55.4 was his worst of the season. The Packers used WR Greg Jennings to beat the Bears’ cover-2 and also had another effective rushing game with 81 yards on 25 carries from their running backs. In holding the Bears to a 45.2 passer rating and knocking QB Jay Cutler out of the game, the Packers’ defense made a statement they could be the league’s best.

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Plenty of reasons to like the Bears

I went out on my own on the “Playbook” picks this week and took the Bears over the Packers for several reasons.

First off, the Bears are very unique among all the playoff teams. Defensively, they really don’t change what they do for anybody. When they were blown out by the Patriots in Week 14, the Bears were criticized for playing their safeties 20 yards deep during a snowstorm, but it’s that same mentality that makes the Bears who they are. They don’t tinker the way other teams do, and feel like what they have is solid and sound. It’s the beauty of the Bears, and I agree with it.

The Bears don’t have a dime or a sub package at all, and they make all of one substitution on defense when they take linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa out in favor of defensive back D.J. Moore. Linebackers Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs never come off the field, while Chris Harris, Danieal Manning and Major Wright rotate at safety. Tim Jennings and Charles Tillman play on the outside, and if the offenses go to four receivers, the Bears are confident in moving Manning down to play corner.

The Bears can get pressure with their front four, and it was evident to me during the Week 17 matchup that the Packers fear them. They were trying like hell to win that game, but rarely went to four-receiver sets because they were worried about the protection holding up. The Bears don’t like to blitz, but they can. Sometimes they’ll even show blitz to draw blocks and force teams into max protection. I expect Julius Peppers to go out and show everyone in this game why he was the most coveted defensive player in free agency.

The big question this week has been how they’ll contain Aaron Rodgers. Well, they’ve done it before, holding the Packers to just 10 points three Sundays ago by rushing the front four. They also have tremendous speed at linebacker – guys who can run down any quarterback. The Bears can trust their front seven.

Another side to the equation is that the Bears, in my opinion, have the best special teams in the league. They have the best return man in Devin Hester, Peppers has blocked a field goal, and Brad Maynard and Robbie Gould are two of the most experienced kickers in the league.

And don’t forget the Bears play at Solider Field, which is like playing in a barn. Players have to think about cutting and keeping their feet under them, which naturally slows things down. The Eagles, the fastest team in the league, slipped all day long in Week 12. I’ve watched them put down the green seed two hours before kickoff a couple of times this season. It looks real on TV, but there’s no grass in the middle of the field. The footing is slick and when it’s cold, the corners become frozen.

There’s also the experience factor. Lovie Smith and Mike Martz have coached in Super Bowls, Mike Tice has been around a long time, and the core of this team has also played in a Super Bowl. This game isn’t too big for them, and that counts for something.

The Bears aren’t invincible by any means. They’re fully capable of losing this game at home, but I see them getting it done.

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Jets, Bears are fantasy gold … no seriously

Published: December 26th, 2010 | Tags: Matt Forte, Chicago Bears, Jason La Canfora, New York Jets, Santonio Holmes, Shonn Greene

Here is this weeks’ recipe for a fantasy shootout: Freezing temperatures. Conditions so dangerous that our Jason La Canfora could not film from the field. And mix in a couple of top-eight defenses.

That is fantasy gold, Jerry. Gold.

No really. Because the Jets and Bears have combined for 72 points. Most of those points going to waste because a lot of people benched their Jets and Bears players. Santonio Holmes has a touchdown, and he is started in less than 40 percent of leagues. Shonn Greene is having a good game, he is starting just over 40 percent of leagues.

And seriously, why does Matt Forte decided to become a matchup-proof running back after he has already ruined most fantasy seasons? He is not only on the list, it is named after Forte. And Forte was only started in 50 percent of leagues.

This is sincerely bizzaro world.

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The Good and Bad in the Bears Win Over the Jets Sunday

James Belushi was everywhere Sunday

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to break down the good and the bad from Sunday’s 38-34 win over the Jets. Hell, even the ‘other Belushi’ could tell you what’s working and what’s not. And he should know, considering he enjoyed field-level viewing during the game.

The Good:

1) Offensive Line Part 1: Picture perfect pocket on Cutler’s three 3rd-quarter TD tosses.

There’s no glory in being an offensive lineman. The only time their name is called is when they screw up. But let’s give the Bears big uglies some props when they’re due: Omiyale, Williams, Kreutz, Garza and Webb only allowed only 2 sacks against an aggressive defense, and one of those came on a play when Jay Cutler had time to throw, but his receivers were covered.

When CBS’s cameras paused the replay of each of Cutler three touchdown passes, it didn’t take a football mastermind to notice the perfectly formed U-shaped fortress that protected Cutler.

2) Offensive Line Part 2: Plenty of running room for Forte.

Matt Forte averaged almost 6 yards per carry. More impressively, the Bears were only the 2nd opposing team in Rex Ryan’s 2-year tenure as Jets coach to have a 100-yard rusher. Maurice Jones-Drew was the other for Jax last year.

If the NFL had an award for assistant of the year, O-line coach Mike Tice should be the unanimous winner considering the in-season renovation project he’s led with a rag-tag bunch of big uglies.

3) Devin Hester.

There are no more superlatives left to describe #23.

First, his 38-yard punt return set up his own TD catch three plays later. Then a 40-yard kick return set up a Cutler-to-Knox TD.

Even when he doesn’t touch the ball, teams are so scared shitless of kicking to him that the Bears usually benefit from field position starting around their 40 yard line.

Runner Up: James Belushi’s contagious sideline enthusiasm.

When they weren’t replaying Cutler’s TD bombs, CBS cameras were focused on James Belushi and some other dude celebrating the Bears offensive explosion down on the sideline. Not surprisingly, Belushi and his sidekick ‘star’ in a cop show on the network’s primetime lineup.

While there were obvious alterior motives on the network’s part, it was cool to see a B-list celeb displaying genuine excitement about his hometown team.

The Bad:

1) Where’s the defense?

Where should we start on defense?

Oh yeah, like Lovie always says, it starts up front.

I thought going into the game the Jets offensive line was the second best the Bears have seen this year, next to the Patriots. And the way they corralled Julius Peppers and crew, they proved me right.

Mark Sanchez, like Tom Brady two weeks before him, benefited from great protection and threw the ball at will against the Bears.

The result was 269 passing yards, a 65% completion percentage and 50% conversion on third downs. Throw in 124 rushing yards (4.1 per carry) and you have all the ingredients for an offensive mauling.

With their soft coverage in the secondary, the Bears MUST get pressure from the front 4 consistently if they want to make a run in the playoffs.

2) Cover 2 exposed

There was one play in particular that exposed the occasional flaw in Lovie’s Cover 2.

On their third quarter touchdown that tied the score at 31, Mark Sanchez hit a wide-open Santonio Holmes. Holmes ran free because Bears safety Danieal Manning, who’s responsible for covering the deep half of his side of the field, left his area to cover TE Dustin Keller, who was running wide open on an underneath crossing route.

Tim Jennings – the corner assigned to cover Holmes – thought he had deep help from Manning, so he let the receiver run by him. But with Manning running up to help on the TE, Holmes had free sailing into the end zone.

In 2 of the last 3 games, the Bears Cover 2 defense has been exposed by patient offenses that were more than happy to take what the Bears coverage offered them. The Patriots scored 30 points (remember 6 of the Pats points came on a fumble return) and the conservative Jets put up a 27 (7 of the 34 points came on their INT return).

If this defense doesn’t get sacks and turnovers, teams can and will move the ball against the Bears. And Sanchez just proved that it doesn’t take an All-Pro QB to beat them.

3) Robbie Gould.

This will be the only time Mr. Automatic makes this naughty list.

The Bears usually dependable kicker shanked what is an automatic kick for him. He misjudged the wind and his 35-yarder sailed wide right. It was his first miss inside 40 yards in an amazing 64 attempts.

Perhaps Jerry Angelo should bring in a castoff kicker to compete with Robbie this week in practice.

Or maybe he just needs a Belushi pick-me-up…

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5 Most Memorable Games of the Last 25 Years Between the Bears and Vikings

With all the subplots focused on everything but the game itself, this Bears-Vikings Monday Night matchup could be remembered around these parts for a long time…especially if the Bears are able to clinch the North on the Vikings’ (backup) home field.

Here’s a look at the 5 most memorable Bears-Vikings games over the last 25 years.

5) 2006 – Good Rex leads late TD drive to catapult Super Season.

The Bears entered the 3rd game of the 2006 season undefeated. In what was a sign of things to come, Rex Grossman had an up-and-down game in the Metrodome. Through the first 3 quarters, Bad Rex struggled and tossed 2 INTs that led directly to Viking points.

But thanks to a Tommie Harris strip of current Bears running back Chester Taylor, Chicago took over in Minnesota territory with about 3 minutes left in the game. Five plays later, Rex found Rashied Davis for a 24-yard TD pass to give the Bears the lead and eventual win.

The victory helped catapult Chicago to a 13-3 season that ended in Miami in the Super Bowl.

4) 2009 – Cutler OT TD pass ruins Vikes’ hopes for homefield advantage in playoffs.

The 12-2, Brett Favre-led Vikings strolled into Soldier Field vs. the 5-9 Bears for a frigid Monday Night matchup. Jay Cutler, who up to that point in the season was a one-man interception machine (25 picks coming into the game), sparked the Bears to a 16-0 halftime lead.

But the ageless, gray-haired wonder guided the Vikings back. A short TD pass to Sidney Rice in the corner of the end zone tied the score with only seconds remaining. In OT, Hunter Hillenmeyer forced an Adrian Peterson fumble in Vikings territory.

On the following play, Cutler hit a wide-open Devin Aromashodu down the sideline for the 39-yard game-winner. Cutler finished the night with 4 TD passes. The loss dropped Minnesota behind New Orleans in the chase for home field in the NFC playoffs. And we all know how that worked out for them down in Nawlins…

3) 2007 – Two 80-yard Hester TDs not enough to save Bears from last-second loss.

In a game that featured huge plays from the teams’ most explosive weapons, Devin Hester almost had the last laugh on rookie Pro Bowler, Adrian Peterson. Early on, Hester juked 4 Vikings defenders (without the aid of any Bears blockers) and darted down the sideline for an 89-yard return that helped the Bears rally against the Vikings.

But big rushes by Peterson kept the Bears down by as many as 14 points late in the 4th quarter. With 1:38 remaining, Brian Griese found his newbie WR Hester wide open down the sideline for an 81-yard TD pass to tie the score. A 53-yard kick return by Adrian Peterson – who rushed for a Soldier Field opponent record 224 yards – on the ensuing kickoff set the Vikings up in great field position.  They moved down to the Bears 37-yard line, where Ryan Longwell booted a career long 54-yard field goal to give the Vikings the win at the gun.

The electrifying big-play battle between Hester and Peterson was one for the ages…even if Viking fans remember it more fondly.

2) 1995 – Upstart Bears upset Vikes in playoff rematch.

The Vikings swept the Bears during the 1994 regular season, one via blowout and another in an OT win at the Metrodome. The underdog Bears, led by former Miami Hurricane QB Steve Walsh (who supplanted free agent pickup Erik Kramer as starter late in the season) helped navigate the Bears to a 35-18 win.

Coming out of the locker room with a 5-point halftime lead, Walsh threw a long TD to WR Jeff Graham. The Bears got a late defensive touchdown to seal the deal and hand the Warren Moon-led Vikings an abrupt first-round playoff exit.

It would be the crowning achievement of the Dave Wannstedt era.

1) 1985 – Hobbled McMahon leads Bears to comeback win.

The Bears entered this rare Thursday night matchup with a 2-0 record. With starting QB Jim McMahon nursing a sore back and neck, backup Steve Fuller started for the Bears. After spending 3 quarters harassing Mike Ditka to put him the game, the Punky QB finally got his chance with the Bears trailing 17-9.

On his first play, he launched a 70-yard TD bomb to Willie Gault. Then, on his second play from scrimmage, McMahon found Dennis McKinnon for a 25-yard TD toss that put the Bears ahead.

For good measure, McMahon threw another TD to McKinnon on his 8th play from scrimmage. Final score: Bears 33, Vikings 24. The Bears of course went on to finish a magical ’85 season 18-1 and Super Bowl XX Champs.

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Urlacher: Bears are ‘the best team, period’

There’s a good chance that somewhere deep in the bowels of Gillette Stadium, Brian Urlacher’s quotes from Thursday are hanging on a bulletin board, circled in red.

Bill Belichick has been known to do such things to motivate his Patriots.

Urlacher provided said material while discussing Sunday’s matchup at Solider Field, and how the circumstances resemble the game two weeks ago against Michael Vick and the Eagles.

“Remember, we have them at home … the same like Philly,” Urlacher told The Chicago Tribune, referring to the Bears’ 31-26 win. “When we played Philly, everybody was saying they were the best, right? It’s the same situation, and hopefully the same result.

“New England is the best team in the NFL, record-wise. But I feel like we’re the best team, period. That’s why I say record-wise. They have the best quarterback, numbers-wise. And everybody likes to go by numbers, right?”

Smack, smack, smack!

You can’t fault Urlacher’s confidence. He’s not the first player to go here, and no doubt swagger is an essential characteristic of winning NFL teams, something Urlacher brings to the Bears. If he wasn’t pissed off when the Bears lose and confident that they’ll win, something is wrong. Plus, he does give props to Tom Brady later in the piece.

But it’s still a good bet his quotes somehow made their way to the consciousness of the Patriots. Willing to bet on it.

Posted in: Around The Web  

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These Bears won’t go away quietly

The team that no one wants to believe in is the Bears. Well, when I say no one, that means everyone outside of Chicago, outside of Halas Hall and outside of the true believers.

This team just isn’t sexy. Despite the fact Jay Cutler is at quarterback, running a Mike Martz offense, the Bears just don’t capture imaginations. The Bears haven’t been and aren’t going to be ”The Greatest Show on Turf” with their group of receivers. It’s not who they are.

The Bears, though, have made adjustments from the wide-open offense from earlier this season. Cutler is getting rid of the ball quicker, Martz has adjusted the protections and is more judicious in spreading out the offense, and the run-pass ratio is more balanced. It has all helped.

And defensively, you can’t move the ball against the Bears. They shut down Michael Vick and the Eagles when no one thought it was possible. A healthy Brian Urlacher this season is a huge, huge difference.

The Bears are a sum of their parts. As a whole, this team is tough, gritty and while they don’t do a lot of exotic things, they’re very good at what they do.

What’s interesting is that their NFC North rival Packers, who the Bears play the final week of the season, had that exact same image under Vince Lombardi. They had a very thin playbook, but  out-executed teams, and were very tough, physical and nasty. It’s what the Bears are now.

The current Packers seem to be the team to beat the Bears. People look back at their Monday night game on Sept. 27, and count 18 penalties as the difference maker in the loss instead of giving Chicago the credit for the win. People keep wondering why teams lose to the Bears, as opposed to why the Bears are winning games.

Well, it might be time to get on board.

Lovie Smith has done a tremendous job as head coach and a defensive mind, and no doubt has saved his job. The team has adopted his persona in being low-key and not worrying about what anyone says. People might be doubting this team all the way through the playoffs.

The only downside for the Bears is their schedule down the stretch which is a monster: Patriots (10-2), Vikings (5-7), Jets (9-3) and Packers (8-4). They will be tested. It’s a tough call if the NFC North gets two teams in the playoffs and the Bears make it, but I don’t believe anyone should think that they’re an easy out or are going to go away quietly.

Follow me on Twitter @CFD22 and follow The NFL Network @nflnetwork.

Posted in: NFL Network  

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Playbook picks: Pats just too good for Bears

Published: December 8th, 2010 | Tags: Brian Billick, Mike Mayock, Playbook picks, Solomon Wilcots, Sterling Sharpe

It’s an annual rite of passage for NFL prognosticators. A surprise team exceeds expectations and forces the experts to rethink their original forecasts.

Two such teams this year are the Chicago Bears and St. Louis Rams. Each faces an elite opponent in Week 14, and at least for this week, consider the “Playbook” analysts nonbelievers.

Solomon Wilcots, Mike Mayock and Brian Billick all picked the Patriots to win at Chicago, and likewise went with the Saints to beat the visiting Rams.

For their part, Wilcots and Mayock aren’t dismissing all upstarts: They predict the Chiefs will knock off the Chargers. Billick, however, is sticking with the proven club in San Diego.

Without further ado, take a look at all of their Week 14 picks:

“Playbook” combines Xs-and-Os analysis of each NFL game with roundtable debates on the NFL’s hottest topics. For more information, check out NFL Network’s broadcast schedule.

Posted in: NFL Network  

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Bears Blank Battered Dolphins, 16-0

Forte Registered 97 Yards Rushing, 1 TD

“The way the defense is playing, we didn’t have to do much.”

-Matt Forte

The Bears took advantage of an injury-plagued Dolphin offense to record their first shutout since their Super Bowl season of 2006. The Bears 16-0 pounding of the Dolphins was a thing of beauty for folks in Chicago. The Bears…

Allowed only 187 total yards, including 39 rushing yards.Recorded 6 sacks, including 3 alone by Julius Peppers, and one each by Urlacher, Melton and Idonije.Held the Dolphins to only 1 of 11 on 3rd down conversions.  Converted 10 of 18 opportunities.Shut out the Dolphins at home for only the 2nd time in 40 years.Time of Possession advantage: 37:51 to 22:09

But the excitement over the victory must be tempered slightly knowing the Dolphins were playing with their 3rd string QB, Tyler Thigpen. Miami’s margin for error grew even smaller when their backup center and #1 wide receiver left the game with injuries in the first half.

But with today’s NFL rules slanted so heavily in favor of the league’s offenses, a shutout of any team is a significant accomplishment.

The defensive performance by Urlacher and Co. told only half the story. The Bears grind-it-out offense held a 38- to 22-minute advantage in time of possession. Matt Forte rushed for 97 yards on 25 carries. And Jay Cutler did his best Kyle Orton impression (circa 2005), going 16 of 25 for 156 yards and one INT.

Robbie Gould kicked 2 first half field goals, then added a 50-yarder in the 3rd period. Later that period, the Bears closed the book on the Dolphins with a 13-play, 7.5-minute, 60-yard drive that ended in a 2-yard Forte TD run.

Before he left the game with an injury, Dolphins WR Brandon Marshall, a former teammate of Jay Cutler in Denver, had some fun with his former QB in the heat of the battle.

After hauling in a first-half catch for a first down on the Chicago sideline, he tossed the ball to a smack-talking Cutler, who just happened to be in the area. The friendly toss resulted in a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against Marshall.

The 7-3 Bears can now enjoy a few days off. They’ll no doubt sit back and watch the Vikings and Packers battle it out in Minnesota on Sunday to determine whether they’ll have company atop the North Division.

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Briggs: Bears in charge of own destiny

Published: November 16th, 2010 | | Tags: Chicago Bears, Thursday Night Football, Lance Briggs, Albert Breer

NFL Network’s Albert Breer catches up with Chicago linebacker Lance Briggs to talk about the Bears’ standing in the NFC North and the playoff race, as well as the upcoming matchup against the Miami Dolphins on Thursday Night Football.

Posted in: NFL Network  

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