Bears Blitz

Published by Bob Warja on September 22, 2010
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears

Admit it, Bears fans. Your heart wants to go ‘all in’ on the Bears this year, but your head forces you to hold your cards. That is, until they beat the Packers on Monday night. 

Yep, all will be right in the Bears world if they can slay the dragon that is the Green Bay Packers, especially on Monday Night Football where the Bears haven’t exactly set the world on fire. 

Sure, the win over Dallas in their monstrous new house last Sunday was impressive, but that opening victory against the Lions was won because of a stupid rule. 

So the Bears have something to prove to everyone except the most optimistic of Bears fans, and that proof will be standing on the visitors sideline come Monday night. 

The Good

The Bears defense was dominant against Detroit, at least until that final drive. Of course, that was Detroit. 

Now, against the Cowboys, the defense gave up over 400 yards, but a lot of that was while Dallas and Tony Romo were playing catch-up. Plus, they stopped the run, forcing the Cowboys offense to become one-dimensional. 

The defense made up for the yardage given up by taking the ball away. They forced three turnovers, two of them on interceptions by DJ Moore, and the gregarious Bears corner has become quite the celebrity in Chicago this week. 

Meanwhile, the offense was crisp and efficient, although they had their usual difficulties in the red zone. Still, Jay Cutler had perhaps his best game as a Bear and spread the ball around to receivers like Devin Hester, who made an outstanding one-handed catch in the end zone. 

And hey, the coaching staff actually made in-game adjustments! 

The Bad

The running game is averaging only 2.8 yards per carry. Only four teams have done worse than the Bears in that department. 

The offensive line clearly is still struggling as well, which may account for the poor rushing totals. Early in the Dallas game, I thought that Jay Cutler was going to leave the field on a stretcher. 

Before getting injured, Chris Williams was proving that he is not ready to block Cutler’s blind side. Once Frank Omiyale took over, the Cowboys rush slowed, although Cutler’s quicker throws helped too.  

The Questionable

Are the Bears better than we thought or were they lucky to beat the Lions and did they beat a Cowboys team that has looked shaky since the preseason and may have been overrated?  

Similarly, we don’t know if Sunday’s game was indicative of Omiyale being up to the task or if the adjustments made by the coaching staff had more to do with the success of the line as time went on. 

This will be critical against a Packers defense that features Clay Matthews, who is the NFL’s sack leader, with three apiece in his first two games. 

Meanwhile, the Packers have concerns of their own on their offensive line. Chad Clifton’s health is a concern as he goes up against Julius Peppers. If he can’t go, first round draft pick Bryan Bulaga will line up in his place. 

The Bears will be tested by Aaron Rodgers but since Ryan Grant has been hurt, the ground game has suffered so stopping the pass should be the priority. 

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None of this analysis will matter to Bears fans as long as they find a way to beat the hated Packers. 

If they do, they just might make believers out of us. Deal the cards!

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