Week 14 Preview: Patriots Invade Soldier Field
Published by Brian Marchetti on December 9, 2010
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears
Despite the Lion’s best effort, the Bears walked away from Detroit victorious and extended their win streak to five games. Their next opponent, the Patriots, demolished a confident Jets team by 42 points in front of a nationwide audience Monday evening.
On paper, the Bears seem to have a slight edge. Brian Urlacher leads a dominant defense that bends but rarely breaks and has a habit of coming hard.
On the other side of the ball, Jay Cutler has stepped up and the receivers seem to be gaining confidence in Martz’s system.
The offensive line continues to struggle but has opened up running lanes as of late for Matt Forte and Chester Taylor. The running game lacks consistency but has managed to open up some sizable holes in recent weeks. The line, however, still allows too many sacks and goes through stretches of poor performance.
The New England Patriots march into Soldier Field with a subpar defense, especially in the secondary. Prior to their game against the Jets, the Patriots allowed teams to convert more than half of their third downs. In nearly every defensive category, the Patriots sit at the bottom of the rankings.
In spite of their inability to put together a solid defense, the Patriots sit atop the AFC East with a 10-2 record. Tom Brady commands perhaps the most dangerous offense in the league. Even after losing Randy Moss, the Patriots continue to post impressive numbers and rack up the wins without star power making receptions down the field.
Traditional grid iron knowledge holds that a good defense normally proves itself victorious over an equally formidable offense. This axiom fails to incorporate certain intangibles to consider in this intriguing matchup.
Patriots coach Bill Belichick has proven a brilliant football mind and tends to get more talent out of players than just about any mentor. The proof gleams brightly from the multiple Super Bowl rings on his fingers. Like a master chess player, Belichick will strategize to Cutler’s weaknesses. Even though New England’s defense has proven weak, they ride near the top of the league in interceptions.
Tom Brady, like all great quarterbacks, has made the team around him better. Unknowns like Woodhead and Gronkowski have reached highlight reels due to Brady’s ability to spread the ball around the field.
While it remains easy to dismiss the Bears, considering the overwhelming parity in the NFL this year, it is not unreasonable for this game to serve as a preview for a Super Bowl rematch 25 years in the making.
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