Thursday Night Football: Chicago Bears Down on Tyler Thigpen’s Miami Dolphins
Published by David Daniels on November 18, 2010
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears
The Miami Dolphins quarterbacks Chad Pennington and Chad Henne are out Thursday night, following injuries against the Tennessee Titans Sunday. Ex-Kansas City Chief Tyler Thigpen is in for a prime-time battle with the Chicago Bears.
There isn’t much of a chance the Dolphins will be able to beat the Bears today.
A short week couldn’t have come at any worse of a time for the Dolphins. Thigpen will be given much less time to work with the first team offense and that comes against a fierce Chicago defense that doesn’t need any extra assistance.
With their third string quarterback under center, Miami will attempt to run the football early and often, with Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams, but it will be to no avail. Chicago has the second best run defense in the league, trailing only the Pittsburgh Steelers. They allow 82.3 yards rushing yards a game.
With Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs wreaking havoc up front, the Bears have the talent to shut down the Dolphins two-headed rushing attack.
Again, with the Dolphins third-string quarterback behind center, the Bears main focus will be to stop the run and they will force the Dolphins to be one dimensional. The Bears will make Tyler Thigpen win the game for the Dolphins, which he won’t be able to do.
If injuries didn’t hurt Miami’s chances enough already, their franchise left tackle Jake Long probably won’t be able to play tonight. Right tackle Vernon Carey, who also isn’t 100 percent, will be forced to move over to left tackle to defend Thigpen’s blindside against pass-rushing fiend Julius Peppers.
The one thing the Dolphins do have going for them is their strong pass defense.
Cameron Wake will pressure Jay Cutler all night against a poor Bears offensive line. Physical cornerbacks in Vontae Davis and Sean Smith will also cause problems for the small Bears receivers, Devin Hester and Johnny Knox.
That advantage won’t be enough to pull out the victory though.
The Bears play-making defense will just be too much for the Dolphins. Chicago only surrenders 16.2 points per game, good for second in the league.
That low point total is a result of high turnover number. They are tied for second in the NFL with 14 interceptions. They are tied for fourth in the league with 14 fumbles forced, with 10 fumble recoveries.
It could be a long night for Dolphins fans and the perfect way to begin the one week countdown till Thanksgiving for the Bears faithful.
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