Chicago Bears: Caught in Storm from West Coast Chargers?
Published by Joshua Edwards on November 18, 2011
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears have won four games in a row. The Chargers have lost four straight.
Chicago played nearly perfect defense against Detroit. San Diego fumbled away a victory against Oakland.
The Bears’ defense has 13 interceptions. Rivers has thrown 15 interceptions this year.
The Bears are 4-1 at home while San Diego is 1-3 on the road, and the teams meet this weekend at Soldier Field.
Simply put: all signs point to a Chicago victory.
And for the two biggest reasons you could find—recent performance and major injuries—I’d say the Bears have a (nearly unbelievable) edge.
That’s why I’m nervous. Is this an easy win or the loss we didn’t see coming?
Look, no matter how you slice it, I pick the Bears to win this game.
Chicago has gradually improved for the last month. San Diego has invented new ways to lose over the time period.
On top of that, the Bears are fielding a relatively healthy team.
Yes, the season-ending injury to left guard Chris Williams hurts.
But Edwin Williams has long been seen as a starter by Chicago coaches. He’ll fill in well for the injured Williams.
And Gabe Carimi will return to right tackle this year. That will allow Lance Louis and Chris Spencer to fill out the starting lineup at left and right guard, depending on where the Bears want to use them.
Few teams in the NFL can claim that kind of offensive line depth. (We may be in an alternate universe.)
Peppers appears willing and able to play (great) through his knee injury. Hester is healthier than last week and no longer sick.
DJ Moore has a sprained ankle but will be replaced by Corey Graham or Zach Bowman, both of whom have experience as starters and know the defense well.
Meanwhile, San Diego will have a hard time fielding a team. Missing or limited in practice on Thursday were nine guys the Chargers counted on as starters or primary backups this year.
That list includes three offensive lineman: right guard Louis Vasquez, left tackle Marcus McNeill and reserve guard Tyronne Green. Not to mention wide receiver Malcom Floyd.
And four players on defense: cornerback Marcus Gilchrist, nose tackle Antonio Garay, outside linebacker Shaun Phillips and safety Darrell Stuckey.
The last player on and off the field, as always, is tight end Antonio Gates. His plantar fasciitis has relegated him to the sidelines during practice and a game time decision on Sundays.
Maybe for the rest of his career.
Who will block Julius Peppers? Who will stop the Bears from running up the middle? From throwing downfield?
No one is sure. These are valid questions.
Chicago believes it has nailed down the tiebreakers over major rivals and is destined for the playoffs. San Diego continues to underperform against weak division foes.
Ultimately, the Chargers are hoping to pull it together over the next few weeks while the Bears beat up their AFC West rivals, Oakland, Kansas City and Denver.
So these are two teams clearly headed in opposite directions.
And there’s no reason to think San Diego can come into Chicago and win on Sunday.
As a Bears fan, that leaves me terrified: the storm you don’t see hits hardest.
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