Score Fast and Early!

The Chicago Bears (5-6) still have life for a playoff berth…kind of. This Thursday when everyone will be stuffing their faces with delicious Thanksgiving food, the Bears and Lions will be looking to stay in the playoff race. Only way I see the Bears making the playoffs is if they win out and get a lot of help from other teams. It all starts this Thursday. The Bears need to start off fast, win the turnover battle, and get pressure on Stafford if they want to win this game.

It’s been a while since the Bears have put up points on the scoreboard in the 1^st quarter. They haven’t scored in the 1^st quarter since they played Carolina on October 5^th. So honestly you won’t be missing much if you didn’t watch the 1^st quarter of a Bears game. The Bears have been outscored 48-14 in the 1^st quarter since that Carolina game.

Start off fast and don’t look back, that’s what the Bears offense needs to do to win this game. I have been waiting all season for the Bears to have a complete game on offense and each week it seems there is a penalty, a poorly thrown ball, a bad route, bad play call that kills a drive and then forces the Bears to punt. It’s time for Trestman and the offense to have a complete game. When you score early in a ball game that gives you confidence and that’s what the Bears need against a good opponent like Detroit, score early in their house and don’t stop. Chicago can do this if they can somehow establish the run game. That’s going to be tough against the number one ranked rushing defense. If the Bears can get at least four yards on first down, that puts them in a great position to pick up the rest of the yardage through the air. Jay Cutler might have to throw the ball 35-40 times to win this ball game but as long as the line gives him time I believe Cutler can put the ball only where his receivers can get it.

Maybe if you read my blog this phrase might sound familiar, “JAY CUTLER DON’T TURN THE BALL OVER!” I don’t think that Cutler reads my blogs because he keeps doing what I tell him not to do. Chicago is still finding a way to win despite Cutler turning over the ball, but against a good team like Detroit, turnovers will lose you the game. If we see a Cutler fumble or interception, Detroit has the weapons to capitalize and make the Bears pay for their mistakes. When pressure is in Cutlers face he needs to just take a sack or somehow escape the pocket and throw the ball away. I’ll take a punt any day over a turnover. Hopefully the Bears can get the punt off because special teams have been struggling all year. Nonetheless if the Bears can win the turnover battle they have a shot at upsetting Detroit this Thursday. 

Last thing Chicago must do to beat Detroit this Thursday is keep playing defense at a consistent level. The Bears defense has forced five turnovers in the past two weeks and a lot of credit should be given to the play of the defensive line. This group is playing until they hear the whistle and are getting consistent pressure on opposing QB’s. That’s what I need to see this week, don’t let Stafford set his feet and keep him moving. Stafford is definitely capable of making plays outside of the pocket but if the defense can keep him guessing and moving around this only increases the chances of adding to the turnovers the Bears defense have been causing. The Bears secondary did a great job of containing rookie wide out Mike Evans last Sunday and will have to do the same against the best in the game, Calvin Johnson. It’s no easy task for the defense but I believe the defense has confidence and will show it on Thursday.

If Chicago wants to stay in the hunt, they need to come ready to play on Thanksgiving. Let’s hope the Bears gobble up the Lions and come out with a victory! Bears 31- Lions 24.

http://www.nflrush.com/story/photos-week-4-bears-vs-lions

The Bears Last Chance

The Chicago Bears (3-5) will go into Green Bay (5-3) on Sunday Night to try and salvage a season that has been a disappointing one to say the least. This will be the 190^th time these two historic franchises have played with the Bears leading the all-time series 93-90-6. Both teams are coming off their bye and in the previous week being blown out by the Patriots and Saints. If the Bears want to make something out of this season this is their last game to do it and there is no better way to show that they can play then by showcasing their skills on Sunday Night against the Packers.

I asked ESPN reporter Field Yates on Facebook "What do the Chicago Bears need to do to turn their season around? What is the biggest problem the Bears need to address?"

He replied: “There aren’t a bunch of wholesale changes they need to make.  They have the personnel on offense. As long as Cutler mitigates turnovers, they’ll get back on track. Jeffrey and Marshall are big time bounce back candidates."

Alright the only way the Bears go into Green Bay and get the win is if they don’t turn the ball over and shoot themselves in the foot. We all know what Jay Cutler has done against the Packers, a 1-9 record with 19 interceptions and 13 touchdowns. If he truly is our franchise QB this is his final game to show it. Jay Cutler, don’t turn the ball over, be the leader of this team, and lead your team into Green Bay to beat the Packers. You don’t beat a good team with just one player, it’s a team game that will require all three phases of the game to win.

The Bears need to run all over the last ranked rushing defense in the league. Matt Forte torched the Packers in their first meeting when he ran for 122 yards. Regardless of what happens early in the game the Bears must commit to the running game and stick to it. If the Bears can find success in the running game, which I see them doing, this will force the Packers to bring 8 in the box thus opening up the passing game. Martellus Bennett was another player who had success in the first meeting against the Packers when he caught 9 passes for 134 yards. Both Bennett and Forte need to produce around the same numbers to compete with the Packers high powered offense. The Bears receivers need to step up this Sunday night and run their routes precise and fast. Cutler has a habit of trying to fit the football when he has pressure on him, so the receivers need to get in and out of their routes on time so Cutler doesn’t feel forced to throw the football.

Defensively and Special Teams the Bears need to stick to their assignments and not make mistakes. Last time defensively Chicago didn’t do anything right to slow down the Packers' offense. Chicago played man and the Green Bay receivers ran all over the Bears corners so I expect the Bears to have a heavy dose of zone on Sunday. The Bears didn’t blitz Rodgers in their first outing and didn't even touch him. Mel Tucker better bring the blitz because if you don’t get pressure with the front four you are just asking for Rodgers to have a big day.

Special teams needs to avoid holding on kick returns, The Bears get that called on them in almost every game they play, like I said don’t shoot yourself in the foot. On punts the gunners need to get off their blocks and contain Micah Hyde.

This is our last chance. Chicago needs this win tomorrow night. It’s been a tough season and as the Bears' fan that I am I can’t stand to see them getting blown out again, especially by the Packers. Go out there and play with heart and with everything you got. Do it for your city, for the Bears, and more importantly for yourselves.

Bears win 31-28

http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/zQhnAW96VDc/Green+Bay+Packers+v+Chicago+Bears/Jp1huPRydCd/Clay+Matthews