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

It's Unacceptable

Unacceptable, unacceptable, unacceptable, words expressed by Brandon Marshall and the perfect word to describe this Chicago Bears team. This is a .500 team and that’s it. We have a mediocre defense if that and an inconsistent offense. We have coaches who don’t know how to call plays and a football team that is not capable of competing with other NFL teams. The Bears have all the weapons in the world and continue to do absolutely nothing with them. When you put all of this together it equals no playoffs and another disappointing season for the Chicago Bears.

What continues to frustrate me personally is seeing the turnovers. Most coming from our “franchise” quarterback Jay Cutler. To be completely honest, there is no excuse for him to be doing what he continues to do week in and week out. Why Is it that every time Jay Cutler drops back I have this uneasy feeling in my gut, not knowing whether this guy is going to throw a pick, fit the ball into a tight window, underthrow a ball, I just don’t know. He is a poor man’s Brett Favre and that’s it. You can have all the ability in the world, one of the strongest arms in the NFL but if you can’t make good decisions it means nothing. That is what Jay Cutler continues to do every year. There is no “new” Jay Cutler there is gunslinger Cutler who will most likely throw that interception that changes the game. I’ve been a Cutler fan ever since he got to Chicago and now I just think when is the next mediocre QB going to come to Chicago?

I really hope I can look back at this and just say how stupid I was to write all of this. Jay Cutler make me eat my words, please do. In my dorm I have Bears posters all over, a Jay Cutler pennant, pictures of Marshall, Jeffrey, Forte, Briggs and last of Cutler. I believed in this guy but now I don’t know what to believe in. The Bears need to show the city of Chicago they have heart and they can salvage this season and make Bears fans believe again.  

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/19/chicago-bears-locker-room_n_6011764.html

Just Give Cutler Some Time

Good things happen with time. That will be the story going into week 7 for the Chicago Bears when they host the Miami Dolphins.

Will the Chicago Bears offensive line be able to give Jay Cutler enough time to be able to make the correct throws? That’s the big question going into the game on Sunday. The defensive line for Miami, led by Cameron Wake and Oliver Vernon is a relentless one. They have applied consistent pressure on all the teams they have faced, and this includes QB: Aaron Rodger, Tom Brady, and Alex Smith.

Now it’s time for the Bears offense to go against a defense that ranks 8^th in passing yards and 13^th in opponents rushing yards allowed per game. It all starts with time that the O-line will give Cutler. Jermon Bushrod looks to be that he will play on Sunday and this will be the first time since week one that the Bears O-line will have all its starters. I think with all the starters in for Chicago and feeding off of the stellar performance from last week, the Bears offense will finally reach its full potential.

This can only happen if Jay Cutler makes the right decisions. That’s been the biggest difference in the wins and losses this season, the turnovers. When there is pressure in Cutler's face, he needs to take the sack, throw the ball away or get outside of the pocket. Last week when Aaron Rodgers escaped the pocket this is where he exploited the Miami defense. So when Cutler has the opportunity to run the ball and extend plays, he must do so if the Bears want to win this game.

IT’S ABOUT TIME! The Bears Defense looked energetic against the high powered Atlanta offense. Chicago came out hitting and flying all over the field against the Falcons. The big story were the backup linebackers who did an amazing job filling in for the starters. The Bears need to do exactly what they did last week in keeping Miami to 3^rd and long situations so the Bears can then blitz and make Tannehill make a quick decision. The Bears defense ranks 17^th in passing and 10^th in rushing yards allowed. The defense seems to be making improvements each week and shows that there is depth at each position.

I like the Bears in this one, as I usually do. The Bears like to start off fast and will do it this Sunday and get their first win at Soldier Field. Bears win 31-13.

http://nflmocks.com/2014/09/24/2014-nfl-draft-report-kyle-fuller-headlines-nfc-north/

Who Are The Bears?

It’s week 6 and the Bears are 2-3, 0-2 at home and 2-1 on the road. This Sunday they will play the 2-3 Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons are 2-0 at home this season and will look to use their home field advantage to give the Bears their third consecutive loss. The Bears will need to rebound and play technically sound on all three sides of the ball if they want to get a grip back on the season and get on a roll.  

Chicago’s strength lies, in their offense? Defense? Special teams? That’s the question where is the strength of the Chicago Bears? The offense through five games has underperformed compared to last season. The points, total yards, rushing yards, and passing yards are all below where they were last year. To go along with the offensive decline the Bears have also turned the ball over 10 times! Eight out of those 10 turnovers are from quarterback Jay Cutler, who has thrown 6 interceptions and fumbled twice. The Bears have also only scored 3 points in the second half of their previous two games. This offense needs to find a way to generate points coming out of halftime and limit the turnovers if they want to compete in this league.

The defense has had its moments with causing turnovers but then you think about the Green Bay game and just wonder, were there even 11 on defense playing against the Packers? The Bears aren’t consistent with their pass rush and with no pass rush means Atlanta Falcon’s QB Matt Ryan will pick apart the Bear's secondary. Jared Allen has 0 sacks through the first five games and Lamarr Houston would rather talk smack on twitter than make an impact on the football field. The defense needs to do a better job of putting the opposing offense in third and long situations so they can then bring the blitz and force quarterbacks to get rid of the ball quickly.

The special teams this year always find a way to disappoint me. Last game giving up a punt return by hitting the returner to early and nobody picking up the ball sums up the Bears season. You make a dumb play and you will pay for it. A punt return for a touchdown and a missed field goal, the Bears can’t seem to do anything right. That guy Devin Hester, well he is on the Falcons, and I can bet this is the one game he has been looking forward to all season. "Devin Hester you are ridiculous" is something you don't want to hear this upcoming Sunday.  

Okay I’ve been pretty negative about my team but hey it’s early in the season and they can fix their problems. Jay Cutler listen to me, your biggest fan, don’t force the ball, if you don’t have anything throw the ball away and live another down. The Bears need to stop shooting themselves in the foot and play like the offense they are capable of being. Defense, keep forcing turnovers but play more consistent from the line to the safeties. Pressure is key to disrupting an offense, so D line make Matt Ryan uncomfortable, linebackers hit tight ends coming off the line and corners disrupt routes. Special teams, you guys have one job this week and it is no easy task, tackle Devin Hester. The gunners need to get off blocks as fast as possible and contain the best return man ever. If Chicago can do these things I think they will get the win and become 3-3 on the season. 

http://beargoggleson.com/2014/04/23/chicago-bears-2014-schedule-released/

Panthers vs Bears

Tomorrow the Chicago Bears will play the Carolina Panthers in Bank of America Stadium. Both teams go into Sunday at 2-2 and our looking to bounce back after being blowout last week. The Bears are undefeated on the road this season and will be looking to add another victory against the Panthers.

The Bears will win if: The Chicago Bears defense steps up to the challenge this week and actually forces the Carolina offense to punt. Last week there wasn’t a single punt in Sunday’s loss, which is only the second time in NFL history that this has happened. It's highly unlikely this will happen this Sunday because Cam Newton is no Aaron Rodgers and the Bear's defense can’t play as bad as it did a week ago. If the Bears can generate some pass rush and force Cam Newton to stay in the pocket, I have confidence that the defense will be okay. Some defense statistics to know about before Sunday’s game, The Bears rank 20^th in the league in both their opponents rushing and passing game so far. The Panthers offense ranks 13^th in the pass and 29^th in the run.

To the offense side of the ball, Jay Cutler just needs to do one thing, DON’T TURN THE BALL OVER! In the games the Bears are zero in the turnover margin they are 2-0, when they decide to get sloppy with the ball they are 0-2. I’m not saying the offense has to be perfect but win the turnover margin and you put yourself in a good position to win the game. To go along with not turning the ball over, the Bears need to continue off of last week and pound the rock against a 27^th ranked rushing defense. The offense will do its job, especially since Brandon Marshall has practiced all week and is feeling better than he ever has. A healthy Marshall is a tall task to defend for any opposing defense.

The Bears will lose if: Cam Newton can escape the pocket and extend plays with his legs and arm. Cam Newton is the 4^th mobile quarterback the Bears will face this season. The defense did a good job at containing Colin Kaepernick and Geno Smith but were exploited by EJ Manuel when he ran outside the pocket. If Newton has time to throw I don’t know how well the Bears secondary will fare against a rookie wide receiver in Kelvin Benjamin who has had a hot start to the season. Former bear Greg Olsen is another offensive weapon to look out for, he has 21 receptions and 2 touchdowns this season. The linebackers must do a good job at not letting him get a free release so it disrupts the timing of the passing routes.

The Bears offense on the other hand need to be aware of the man in the middle Luke Kuechly. He does everything for this football team, leading his team in tackles with 46. He can fill gaps, stops the run or he will drop back in coverage and disrupt an offense. The defensive's energy feeds off of him, so if Kuechly can get going early the defense will be fired up and ready to play. 

http://www.gamblerspalace.com/articles/football/nfl/nfl-gambling-bears-invade-carolina-to-start-preseason-23388

Time To Forget And Move On

The Bears went toe to toe with the NFC North Champs for a half before everything went downhill. Jay Cutler and Aaron Rodgers had both of their offenses rolling in the first half and neither looked like they would be stopped. Right before the end of the half the Bears had an opportunity to score but a key play in the game changed the momentum. Tight end Martellus Bennett caught a ball over the middle and extended his hands close to the goal line but was ruled just short of the end zone. Right before half time this would have given the Bears huge confidence going into the second half but instead it felt like a punch to the gut.

The second half for Cutler was one he would like to have back, throwing two interceptions that both lead to points for the Green Bay offense. Sometimes balls get deflected and take a bad bounce in the air but the second interception can’t happen. Marshall and Cutler need to be on the same page so a costly turnover doesn’t happen again. It could be that Cutler and Marshall haven’t practiced and this throws of timing and the routes that should be run. A positive on Sunday was that the run game finally got going. Matt Forte was torching the Packers defense when he ran for 122 yards on 23 carries. Another positive would be the play of tight end Martellus Bennett who caught 9 balls for 134 yards. He has been the one consistent player this year and hopefully he can sustain it. Those were the only positives that came from this game everything else really needs to be forgotten.

My view of the game on Sunday.

The defense has A LOT of work to do. Watching the defense from the stands was like watching a scared high school team play the best team in the state. Players were scrambling at the last minute to cover a receiver, lining up late on the line of scrimmage, and just getting burned on routes. Green Bay’s offensive line had no trouble with the pass rush. Not one defensive lineman came close to Rodgers the whole game and if they did by some lucky chance get close, they couldn’t finish the play. A holding call saved the Bears when Rodgers escaped the rush, made a few people miss and threw across his body in the left corner of the end zone and was caught by the Green Bay receiver. The Bears need to get some kind of pass rush going or its going to be a long season for Chicago,

The Bears will travel to Bank of America Stadium where they will play the Carolina Panthers, who are also 2-2. The Panthers will be looking to get back on track after being destroyed the past two weeks. The Bears better be ready to face a defense led by Luke Kuechly and a quarterback who can make plays with his feet in Cam Newton.

http://www.rantsports.com/nfl/2012/10/28/chicago-bears-my-post-game-analysis-6/

Jay Cutler's Time To Shine Against The Pack

Alright we all know who we have coming to Soldier Field this week, The Packers. Recently it hasn’t looked too good for Cutler and the Bears when they play their rivals from up north. Cutler has only won once against the Packers in a Bear’s uniform but I’m here to tell you that this is about to change.

These aren’t the same Bears and this isn’t the same quarterback from years past. Jay Cutler is in his second year under Marc Trestman’s system. From watching the three games this season you can tell Cutler is comfortable in the offense. He is tied with Peyton Manning for second with 8 touchdowns and only one behind the league leader, Andrew Luck. It’s time for Cutler to get the monkey off his back and show that he can beat the Green Bay Packers. The Bears over the past three weeks have faced the number 6(Buffalo), 7(San Francisco), and 1(Jets) ranked run defense. Trying to run on these defenses is tough but this week running the ball gets a lot easier when the Bears play against a 30^th ranked rush defense. Finally, the Bears will get the run game going and won’t have to rely so heavily on the pass.

Cutler in the past has not had much success against the Packers throwing 17 interceptions but unlike Rodgers this year, Cutler has weapons. Aarons Rodgers doesn’t have much weapons on the outside other than Jordy Nelson. Cutler has Marshall, Jeffrey, and Bennett all individuals who go out every Sunday and make plays. The difference in the game is going to be how each team runs the ball and keeps each other’s offense off the field. When Matt Forte gets his carries and starts racking up yards, the packers will be forced to drop a safety into the box. This leaves the corners very vulnerable for any one of the 6ft plus receivers to go make a play in man coverage. If the Bears can make Rodgers turn the ball over, it’s going to be very tough for the Packers to have to fight their way back when Cutler and the offense is on the field. 

The Bears will get the W and I predict the score to be 27-20.

Last thing to add, I will be at the game this weekend and I am 6-3 at Bear’s games!

 http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2013/09/16/trestman-game-winning-td-drive-couldnt-have-been-better/

What To Look For On Monday Night

The Bears are back this week in the national spotlight when they face the New York Jets on Monday Night. Chicago last week rallied back in the 4^th quarter to upset the 49ers and will be riding on this confidence to get another win tomorrow.

Some things to watch for tomorrow night will be how the Bears 27^th ranked run defense fares against the New York Jets number one ranked run offense. Last week the Jets racked up a total of 146 yards on the ground against the Packers and rushed 37 times in the game, averaging 3.9 yards per carry. The Jets are a ground and pound team, so the Bears defense better be ready to do most of the work in the trenches.

The passing game for the Jets isn’t something to be concerned about this week. The Jets rank 29^th in passing offense and the Bears passing defense ranks in the top 10 giving up about 199.5 yards per game. Geno Smith isn’t an accurate passer and his top wide out, Eric Decker is listed as questionable with a hamstring injury. So the Jets will try and establish the run game so they can set up the play action pass and hopefully get the Bears secondary to bite.

The Bears offense should have no problem passing on the Jets secondary and looks as if they should have a field day. Matt Forte on the other hand may have a similar game that he had against the 49ers only because the Jets have a solid front 7. The Bears will also be missing five of their starters on Monday night but as it should be the next man up will step up to fill the shoes of the starters .Jay Cutler is 6-1 on Monday Night since coming to the Chicago and will look to get his 7^th win. 

Jay Cutler and the offense need to come out hot and put pressure on the Jets’ offense to be ready for a shootout. While the Bears defense needs to contain the Jets running backs and make the Jets’ offense one dimensional. Once the Jets go down they will be forced to pass and this plays in favor for the Bears. I see Chicago winning 35-10.

 http://espn.go.com/nfl/photos/gallery/_/id/9608713/image/4/lance-briggs-nfl-rank-13-defense-30-21

DA BEARS ARE BACK

The Bears beat Indy in their home opener in 2008 and they continue to be home wreckers after they defeated the 49ers on Sunday Night Football. Last night the Monsters of The Midway came to play and they looked like their old selves with 4 takeaways, 1 fumble and 3 interceptions. That is the Bears defense we all remember, take the ball away and give the offense a short field to get the quick score.

The game didn’t start pretty, with a holding call on the opening kickoff the Bears started on their own 7 yard line then being forced to a 3andout, and having the punt blocked. The turnover turned into a quick 7 points for the 49ers. One thing I will say from watching the game yesterday is that special teams has some work to do. The whole unit yesterday looked slow, on the blocked punt two players couldn’t block one guy, which is unacceptable. The special team unit needs to work on getting off blocks especially the gunners, which could have had a chance getting a muffed punt if they were anywhere close to punt returner Bruce Ellington. Honestly watching that first half of the Bears game had me worried, The Bears couldn’t run the ball, the 49ers DB’s weren’t concerned about the speed of our receivers and on the road, facing a good opponent you don’t want to keep giving the 49ers an opportunity to score. The drive before the end of the half was a huge momentum shifter in the game. Jay Cutler took a huge hit to the chest that resulted in a roughing the passer penalty, then 3 plays later Cutler hooks up with his go to receiver Brandon Marshall for an amazing one handed touchdown. The Bears go into halftime down 17-7.

The 49ers come out at halftime and score a field goal, then the Bears waited for the 4^th quarter where they would put up 21 out of their 28 points. It was a combination of takeaways and Jay cutler putting the ball only where his receivers could get it. The Bears defensive line had constant pressure on Kaepernick and forced him to turn the ball over. The Bears scored touchdowns on each interception in the 4^th quarter and relied on the defense to hold the 49ers from getting in the end zone.  

A great team win for DA BEARS! They showed that they can compete with the top teams in the NFL and that their defense can make stops when they have to. No turnovers on offense, takeaways on defense and showing the fight to come back make this a great win for the organization. Last time the Bears won in San Francisco they ended up winning the Super bowl. Let's see what these Chicago Bears do next week when they take on The New York Jets on Monday Night Football. 

  http://westwoodonesports.com/

Don't Worry It's Just Week 1!

Jay Cutler over the past week has taken most of the blame for the loss against the Buffalo Bills. To all the people who have already given up on the Bears franchise quarterback all I have to say is take a deep breath, everything will be okay. Remember this is the guy who started off the season going 3 for 3 for 64 yards and ending that drive with a touchdown. Cutler had two interceptions one because of lack of communication between him (Cutler) and tight end Martellus Bennett and the other was just a bad decision. The game was tight and Cutler was trying to make a play, it was the wrong decision and he knows it.

Cutler gave his team a chance to win the game and ultimately it was a “team” loss and not all to blame on the Bears Quarterback. Like I said at least he gave his team a chance to win unlike the quarterback of “America’s Team.” Tom Brady also had a bad day against the Dolphins? Nick Foles had a pretty slow start as well and so did the QB from up north. Its week 1 and people shouldn't over exaggerate. Sunday Night against the 49ers in new Levi’s Stadium Isn't going to be easy but I know the Bears have watched the film, made corrections and will be ready to get their first win in San Francisco since 1985.
Also one last side note the last time the Bears played a team when the opponent was opening up their new stadium, the Bears won. That was against the Indianapolis Colts in 2008. 

http://www.chicagonow.com/chicago-bears-huddle/2012/10/jay-cutler-is-a-person-under-the-pads/