NFL Picks Week 2: New Orleans Saints Get Back on Track vs. Chicago Bears
Published by Jack Jones on September 16, 2011
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears surprised a lot of people last week when they not only beat, but blew out the Atlanta Falcons last week by 18 points. The NFL odds show that a repeat performance isn’t likely as the Bears are 7-point underdogs when they head to New Orleans to take on the Saints this Sunday.
The Bears aerial attack got off to a good start. Jay Cutler went 28-for-38 for 312 yards and two touchdowns against the Falcons. Cutler should have a big game in New Orleans. In his last four starts inside a dome Cutler has 10 touchdowns and no picks while completing 67 percent of his passes.
Matt Forte leads the Bears rushing attack, but he’s a dual threat out of the backfield. Forte had 68 yards on the ground against the Falcons, but it was his 90 receiving yards that really did the most damage.
Chicago seems to force more turnovers than anyone in the league and then they take advantage of those turnovers. That was apparent last week when Brian Urlacher returned a fumble for a touchdown and picked off a pass. Julius Peppers joined in the fun as well with two sacks and a fumble recovery.
The Saints played the NFL‘s opening night game last Thursday, but lost a heart breaker to the defending champion Green Bay Packers 42-34.
It wasn’t Drew Brees‘ fault New Orleans couldn’t get the job done as he was spectacular. Brees threw for 419 yards and three scores.
His favorite target was Darren Sproles, who caught seven passes for 75 yards and returned a punt for a touchdown.
Brees will be without the services of wideout Marques Colston this week, but he did such a good job of spreading the ball around last week I don’t see Colston’s injury being too much of an impact. Five Saints receivers had four or more catches in the game against the Packers.
The New Orleans defense looked susceptible to the passing game last week, but then again Aaron Rodgers is one of the best quarterbacks in the league. With Cutler’s success playing indoors it will be interesting to see if he can put up big numbers as well.
Prediction: Saints 27, Chicago 17—The Saints have been spectacular at home the past two seasons, going 13-5 and a big reason for that is Brees has completed 70 percent of his passes for 5,263 yards, 43 touchdowns and just 16 interceptions in those games. With the extra couple of days to prepare, I see them picking up the win in their home opener.
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