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Week 14 NFL Preview: Chicago Bears @ Denver Broncos

11th December 2011 by under Game Preview     

The Chicago Bears (7-5) and the Denver Broncos (7-5) will take the field at Sports Authority Field at Mile High at 4:05 p.m. ET today.

The Bears lead the all-time series 7-6.

Chicago defeated the Broncos 37-34 in overtime the last time these two teams met in 2007.

Devin Hester was able to returned two punts for scores in that game.

Can he repeat his 07′ performance today?

It would be great for the Bears that’s for sure.

The Bears need their defense to play up to part.

The defense needs to focus on stopping running back Willis McGahee. If they can do that, then Tebow will be forced to throw or scramble on basically every play.

The Bears defense should be able to contain Tebow, they stopped Michael Vick and they contained rookie sensation Cam Newton earlier this season.

The offense will need to put points when they can. Making that key mistake could ruin everything for the Bears once again.

This is a must win game and with two games under his belt Bears quarterback Caleb Hanie will be looking for some consistency.

Key Questions:

Can they contain Tim Tebow?

Can they put up points on offense?

Can Marion Barber and Kahlil Bell do good enough in Matt Forte’s absence?

Can Julius Peppers and the rest of the Bears defense force Tebow to make some big mistakes?

Players Who Must Step Up:

1) Kahlil Bell- In nine games he’s carried the ball 15 times for 57 yards. He had a big 26-yard-run last week against Kansas City. He will likely split time today with power back Marion Barber. Look for Bell to get some looks on screen passes today, he is a very similar back to Matt Forte.

Prediction: 10 carries, 45 yards, one touchdown.

2) Roy Williams- He will get his targets because he is a mismatch on offense. He needs to make those big catches though. Dropping a catch like he did last week was way too costly. He should step up if he wants a shot with a team next season.

Prediction: Three catches, 34 yards.

3) Henry Melton- He has six sacks on the season and three coming from the last four weeks. He should be fired up in front of the rest of the Bears defense. Look for him to be a force with Peppers and Idonije on the line.

Prediction: Four tackles, one sack.

Final Score:

Bears 20, Broncos 17

It’s going to be a close game, but this Bears defense will be fired up and they want this win. The offense needs to run the ball well and put some points on the scoreboard. Hanie can’t be too indecisive, if he is the Bears could be in big trouble.

Weather Forecast:

Expect the weather in Denver to be in the low 40′s, with SW winds at 5-10 mph.

Jake Perper is the owner and head writer for Bearsbacker.com. He is also the Chicago Bears writer for NFLTouchdown.com. Follow him on Twitter, @Bearsbacker and on Facebook for up to the minute news about the Bears.

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Week 13 Game Preview: Kansas City Chiefs @ Chicago Bears

4th December 2011 by under Game Preview     

The Kansas City Chiefs (4-7) and Chicago Bears (7-4) will square at Soldier Field for the 11th time ever.

The Bears lead the all-time series 6-4.

The Bears were able to defeat the Chiefs 20-10 the last time these two teams played at Soldier Field in 2007.

Devin Hester was able to return a 73 yard punt for a score back in that 2007 game. Look for him to try to make a splash today after failing to get anything going in Oakland.

Players Who Must Step Up:

1) Earl Bennett- He was taken out of the gameplan after the Raiders did a great job of covering him last week. He will be looking to bounce back after receiving the big contract that he deserves. Bennett needs to help Hanie out today.

Prediction: Five catches, 45 yards.

2) Israel Idonije- He has been steady at times this season, but someone needs to help take the pressure off of Julius Peppers. Idonije will be looking to bring down the young and inexperienced Tyler Palko.

Prediction: Four tackles, 1.0 sack.

3) Lance Briggs- He reached 100 tackles on the season last week in Oakland, when he made eight tackles. Look for him to be pumped up today as the Bears need this game. Briggs should have a solid game.

Prediction: 10 tackles, one interception.

Final Score

Bears 27, Chiefs 13.

Weather.com Weather Forecast:

53 degrees and partly cloudy by the time off kickoff. Should be a beautiful day at the lakefront for some Bears football.

Jake Perper is the owner and head writer for Bearsbacker.com. He is also the Chicago Bears writer for NFLTouchdown.com. Follow him on Twitter, @Bearsbacker and on Facebook for up to the minute news about the Bears.

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Week 12 Game Preview: Chicago Bears @ Oakland Raiders

27th November 2011 by under Game Preview     

The Chicago Bears (7-3) and the Oakland Raiders (6-4) will meet for the 13th time ever today in Oakland.

The all-time series between the two teams is tied 6-6.

The Bears were able to beat the Raiders the last time these teams met in 2007, 17-6.

The last time these two teams met in Oakland was in 1999, when the Raiders won 24-17.

The Bears are on a five game winning streak, while the Raiders are on a two game winning streak.

The Raiders have won both games on the road. They haven’t been that great on their home turf going 2-3 so far this season at home.

The Bears are 2-2 on the road, but have won their last two road games.

This could be a good time for the Bears to get things going on the road. Four of their last six games of the season are away from Soldier Field.

The Raiders will be without wide receivers Jacoby Ford and Denarius Moore. Darrius Heyward-Bey is a game-time decision.

RB Darren McFadden, DE Jarvis Moss have both been ruled out of the game.

DT Richard Seymour, DE Lamarr Houston, S Michael Huff and RB Taiwan Jones are all questionable after being limited participants in practice on Friday.

For the Bears, nickelback D.J. Moore is doubtful with an ankle injury. WR/KR Devin Hester is probable with his shin and ankle injuries, but will likely again be used only on special teams.

The Raiders allow an average of 157 yards on the ground at the Oakland Coliseum this season, and are minus-eight in turnover ratio at home.

The Raiders defense ranks 24th in the NFL allowing an average of 371.7 ypg. The Raiders as a team have been penalized a league high 103 times this season.

The Bears 25th ranked defense has forced 11 interceptions over the past four games, including three multiple INT games.

They now have 15 takeaways in the last four games, which is the most in the NFL since Week 7.

The Bears will be focusing on stopping the run because the Raiders will be limited with their receiving core.

A big key for the Raiders is Richard Seymour (5.0 sacks), if he can play their defense will be that much better. The Bears would like to see him on the sideline instead of on the field.

Key Questions:

Can the Bears run the ball effectively with Matt Forte and Marion Barber?

Can Caleb Hanie replace Jay Cutler (thumb) and lead the Bears to a win on the road in his first NFL start?

Can the Raiders pass rush get pressure on Caleb Hanie consistently?

How can the Raiders contain Devin Hester on returns?

Players Who Must Step Up:

1) Amobi Okoye- He recorded only one tackle last week. The pass rush wasn’t very effective until the fourth quarter against the Chargers. Okoye needs to step up because Julius Peppers has been doing it all. Okoye has three sacks through 10 games, he needs to get to the quarterback today.

Prediction: Three tackles, 1.0 sack.

2) Chris Conte- He’s racked up 10 tackles over the last three games, but has only one interception on the season. Major Wright has reeled in three picks the past three games, so maybe Conte gets his chance to shine today. Look for Conte to be active.

Prediction: Five tackles, one interception.

3) Johnny Knox- The leading Bears receiver was with the second team this off-season and Caleb Hanie was throwing him passes. The two have a chemistry that was noticeable in the NFC Championship this past January. Knox had his biggest game of the year last week with three catches for 97 yards and one touchdown. He could be in line for a solid game today.

Prediction: Four catches, 63 yards.

Game Prediction:

Bears 20, Raiders 17.

Expect a party cloudy day in the mid-60′s in Oakland today.

Jake Perper is the owner and head writer for Bearsbacker.com. He is also the Chicago Bears writer for NFLTouchdown.com. Follow him on Twitter, @Bearsbacker and on Facebook for up to the minute news about the Bears.

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Week 11 Game Preview: San Diego Chargers @ Chicago Bears

20th November 2011 by under Game Preview     

The San Diego Chargers (4-5) and the Chicago Bears (6-3) will meet for 11th time ever later today at Solider Field. The series between the two teams is tied at five.

The Bears have never lost a game to the Chargers at Soldier Field. The Chargers beat the Bears in their last meeting in 2007 at Qualcomm Field, 14-3.

Expect temperatures in the mid-40′s and winds at around 16 mph.

The Bears have won four straight games and have averaged 32 points during that stretch.

They took down the Lions last Sunday at Soldier Field 37-13 and forcing six turnovers in the victory.

The Bears are a perfect 3-0 this season when its defense scores a touchdown. They have reeled in four interceptions in of their last three games.

Unfortunately they will be without starting nickelback D.J. Moore, who suffered an ankle injury in practice, so Corey Graham will start in his place.

San Diego comes to town on a four game losing streak heading in the total opposite direction then the Bears right now.

The Chargers have Ryan Mathews back and healthy, but the Bears have been doing a solid job stopping the run as of late. They’ve allowed a pedestrian 70.5 yards per game on the ground.

Earl Bennett again had a big game receiving last week, making him the focal point of the offense seems to be paying off.

He will be keyed in on today by the Chargers defense, which features former Bears linemen Antonio Garay and Tommie Harris.

It will be interesting to see what kind of welcoming Harris will get today at Soldier Field.

Despite being 4-5 this season, the Chargers are ranked pretty high statistically in the NFL. They rank 7th on offense (396.7 ypg) and 9th on defense (331.3 ypg).

The Chargers tend to get hot in November. They have won eight of their last 10 November games.

But the Chargers have been pretty bad on the road this season, posting a 1-3 record.

Key Questions:

Can Phillip Rivers play turnover-free football against the vicious Bears defense?

Can the Bears once again provide a solid pass rush?

Can receivers Johnny Knox or Roy Williams make a solid contribution in the passing game?

Is Corey Graham a good replacement for an injured D.J. Moore?

Players Who Must Step Up:

1) Corey Graham- This one is too obvious. He is replacing one of the fastest players on the Bears defense and perhaps one of the up and coming leaders. Graham hasn’t started a game since the 2008 season, but he has been taking reps at nickelback the past couple of seasons. He should be ready to go in this one, expect a solid game from the special teams stud.

Prediction: Six tackles

2) Israel Idonije- The defensive end has three sacks through nine games this season. He hasn’t had a sack since Week Six against the Vikings. He needs to step up, so he can take some pressure off Peppers and Co. It will be interesting to see if the Bears use newly signed veteran Chauncey Davis at all, Idonije doesn’t want to lose his job to a newcomer.

Prediction: Three tackles, one sack.

3) Kellen Davis- He has only reeled in nine passes this season, but he has been a threat at times. Look for Cutler to check down to his tight ends at times, Davis being one of them. He could be looked for in the redzone today.

Prediction: Four catches, 43 yards, one touchdown.

Game Prediction:

Bears 23, Chargers 17.

Jake Perper is the owner and head writer for Bearsbacker.com. He is also the Chicago Bears writer for NFLTouchdown.com. Follow him on Twitter, @Bearsbacker and on Facebook for up to the minute news about the Bears.

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Week 10 Game Preview: Detroit Lions @ Chicago Bears

13th November 2011 by under Game Preview     

The Detroit Lions (6-2) and the Chicago Bears (5-3) will meet for the 164th time ever later today at Soldier Field. The Bears lead the all-time series 93-65-5.

Expect a windy day at the lakefront, winds could be gusting up 30 mph, while the temperatures stay in the mid-60′s.

The Bears have won three straight games and have averaged 31 points during that stretch.

Jay Cutler has been way more efficient in the pocket, Matt Forte continues to be dominant and the offensive line has allowed only three sacks during the three game winning streak.

This Bears team is a much different team now than they were when they fell to the Lions 24-13 in Week Five.

The running game for the Bears needs to get going early, the Lions pass rush is much more efficient than their run defense.

Without Jahvid Best running the ball for the Lions, they will use a combo of Maurice Morris and Keiland Williams.

The Bears defense gave up way too many big plays the last time these two teams squared off. The defense has been improving over the past few weeks and victories have come because of it.

The Bears usually go as far as their defense takes them.

Jay Cutler could be in trouble going up against the fifth best pass defense in the NFL today in the Lions.

Also, with the winds playing a factor don’t expect too many long throws to be made unless its by the Lions. Wide receiver Calvin Johnson would likely be the player the Lions would be looking for deep.

Johnson has been unbelievable for the Lions this year.

But the Bears as a team have been pretty impressive themselves. The Bears have held opponents scoreless in the opening quarter in three of the last four games.

That trend is helping them win games and they certainly would love to stop Stafford in the Lions early in this one.

Wide receiver/kick returner Devin Hester will likely be a game-time decision with his sprained ankle.

The ankle has kept him out of practice, but expect him to try to push hard to play because the Lions have some key injuries on their special teams unit.

The NFC North team that wins today will move into the first wild card spot and will sit in second place behind the Packers (8-0).

Key Questions:

Can the Bears stop the vicious pass rush of the Lions that consistently got pressure on Jay Cutler last time these two teams played?

Will Matt Forte again turnover the ball like he did on Monday night?

Can the Bears pass rush contain Matthew Stafford and that solid offense of the Lions?

Can the Bears contain WR Calvin Johnson and not allow him to make a big play?

Players Who Must Step Up:

1) Johnny Knox- He is the only Bears receiver to have a catch in every game this season. He’s averaging 18 yards per catch, but has only reeled in 20 catches. He has yet to find the endzone after catching five touchdowns his first two seasons in Chicago. He will get his opportunities with Devin Hester likely getting limited action on offense. Look for Knox to be explosive today.

Prediction: Five catches, 71 yards, one touchdown.

2) Tim Jennings- He has been pretty consistent this season. He is currently fourth on the team in tackles behind linebacker Lance Briggs, Brian Urlacher and cornerback Charles Tillman. D.J. Moore is the only cornerback with an interception this season, so Jennings could be motivated today. He has been close to an interception. He will likely be looking to shut down the second option for the Lions today.

Prediction: 6 tackles.

3) Amobi Okoye- He has been pretty impressive at times this season recording three sacks. He needs to bring the pass rush that this unit has been bringing the past few weeks. Look for Okoye to be a force today, while teammate Henry Melton likely will get double teamed most of the day.

Prediction: Four tackles, one sack.

Game Prediction:

Bears 27, Lions 17

Jake Perper is the owner and head writer for Bearsbacker.com. He is also the Chicago Bears writer for NFLTouchdown.com. Follow him on Twitter, @Bearsbacker and on Facebook for up to the minute news about the Bears.

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Week Nine MNF Game Preview: Chicago Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles

7th November 2011 by under Game Preview     

The Philadelphia Eagles (3-4) and Chicago Bears (4-3) will meet for the 42nd time ever tonight at Lincoln Financial Field. The Bears lead the all-time series 29-11-1.

The Bears beat the Eagles last season 31-26 at Soldier Field.

The Bears defense were able to get consistent pressure on Eagles QB Michael Vick. Also, QB Jay Cutler threw four touchdown passes in perhaps in his best game of the season.

The last meeting between the two NFC teams in Philadelphia came in 2007, when the Bears won 19-16. Each of the last four meetings have been decided by five points or fewer.

Devin Hester has 18 career punt and kick return TDs, five return touchdowns have come on Monday Night Football.

The Bears are 18-5 in games where Hester has scored a touchdown, receiving or returning

Lovie Smith is 6-2 on Monday Night Football. He is 4-1 over the last five seasons coming off a bye week.

The key matchup in tonight’s game is the rushing offenses against the defenses. The Bears 15th ranked rushing attack has put up very impressive numbers, but the Eagles rank first in the NFL on the ground.

The Eagles are allowing the about five yards per carry, so Matt Forte could be in line for a good night. LeSean McCoy has been a beast for the Eagles, so he could be in line for a good day as well for the Eagles.

The matchup of the running backs will be interesting to watch.

In three career games against Philadelphia, Matt Forte has rushed for 194 yards, averaging 4.1 ypc, while reeling in 84 yards receiving. He hasn’t been able to find the end-zone in those three games though.

According to Football Outsiders, the Eagles rank 30th at covering opposing running backs in the passing game.

In two career games against Chicago, LeSean McCoy has rushed for 152 yards, averaging 5.1 ypc, while reeling in 67 yards through the air. He has one touchdown on the ground in that time.

The two running backs will be looked at all night, but the quarterbacks will be important factors as well.

In two career games against Philadelphia, Jay Cutler has posted a QB rating of 98.3 and has thrown for five touchdowns and only one interception. He has been sacked five times in those two games.

Michael Vick is 0-3 all-time as a starter against the Bears. He has posted a 76.2 passer rating, rushed for 187 yards with no TDs, been intercepted three times and sacked 15 in five games versus Chicago.

The big name quarterbacks and running backs will be a thrill to watch tonight, but the area where the Bears will have an advantage is on defense.

The Bears linebackers are much better than the young trio that the Eagles are starting this season. Urlacher and Co. need to use their experience to an advantage.

The Eagles pass rush has been lethal this season however, as well as their very talented secondary. DE Jason Babin, who was signed this off-season has posted nine sacks in seven games thus far this season.

Cornerbacks Asante Samuel and Nnamdi Asomugha has reeled in three interceptions combined and will be tough matchups for the Bears receiving core.

With WR Earl Bennett returning for the Bears, it will only help them on tough third-down situations.

The game will likely come down to the pressure brought by the defensive front of both teams.

Key Questions:

Will Julius Peppers and the rest of the Bears defensive line repeat their performance from a year ago?

Will Jason Babin and the rest of the talented Eagles defensive line keep getting pressure on opposing quarterbacks?

Both questions will be answered tonight. The running backs and the defensive lines should be pumped up and ready to go tonight.

The quarterbacks, Jay Cutler and Michael Vick both want to make that big play.

Players Who Must Step Up:

1) Lance Briggs- He posted only six tackles in last season’s matchup with Philadelphia, but has made 55 tackles, one interception and one forced fumble thus far this season. He will be called upon to be in the right gaps alongside Brian Urlacher. The defense doesn’t want a repeat of their last MNF performance. Look for Briggs to be sound on defense tonight.

Prediction: Eight tackles, one forced fumble.

2) Kellen Davis- He has been quiet as of late, posting only two catches over the last two games. He has been improving as a blocker and has been a weapon at times in the offense. He was able to score against the Eagles a season ago, so he could again take advantage of the weak linebackers once again.

Prediction: Three catches, 42 yards, one touchdown.

3) Charles Tillman- He will be asked to cover the Eagles top receivers, DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin. He has forced two fumbles thus far this season, but hasn’t yet reeled in an interception. He has been a very consistent corner for the Bears over the years. He will have a tough task tonight, so expect him to be mentally and physically ready for the Eagles weapons.

Prediction: Six tackles.

Game Prediction:

Bears 23, Eagles 20.

Weather Forecast:

Expect the temperature to be around the mid-40′s all night in Philadelphia.

Jake Perper is the owner and head writer for Bearsbacker.com. He is also the Chicago Bears writer for NFLTouchdown.com. Follow him on Twitter, @Bearsbacker and on Facebook for up to the minute news about the Bears.

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Game Preview: Chicago Bears @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

23rd October 2011 by under Game Preview     

The Chicago Bears (3-3) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-2) will meet for the 54th time ever today at Wembley Stadium in London, England. The Bears lead the all-time series 35-18.

The last matchup between the two NFC teams came in Week Three of the 2008 season. The Bucs came away with the 27-24 OT win. The Bears blew a 24-14 fourth quarter and watched the Bucs score 13 straight points to win the game.

Bears head coach Lovie Smith is 2-2 all-time against the Bucs. However, this will be the first time Bucs head coach Raheem Morris will coach against the Bears.

In one career game against the Bucs, Bears RB Matt Forte rushed for 89 yards, and reeled in seven passes for 66 yards and one touchdown.

The Bucs have allowed an average of 114 yards rushing per game. That could be a good thing for the Bears, who have averaged 103 yards rushing per game so far this season.

The running game is always a key for the Bears, but the passing game could be the bigger reason they come away with a win today.

Jay Cutler excelled in the offensive game plan that was called up last Sunday night by Mike Martz.

The screen game will likely be an added plus for the Bears today, like it has been all season. The Bears have completed 19 of 22 screen passes for 186 yards. Only six teams have more screen yards.

Dane Sanzenbacher, Roy Williams and Johnny Knox will be key targets for the Bears on offense. Devin Hester might not get a lot of snaps on offense considering he is coming off a chest injury. Look for the Bears to try to use him in the return game more than offense.

The offensive line played much better last Sunday night and they could again have success playing against a Bucs defense that has only eight sacks all year.

Julius Peppers and the Bears defense contained Vikings QB Donovan McNabb last Sunday night. In 15 career games against the Bucs, Peppers has 15.5 sacks, one interception and three forced fumbles.

Coming of arguably his best game this season, Peppers could be in line for another nice game against a banged up Bucs offensive line.

Lovie Smith liked how the defense played last week, but he wants to see them force more turnovers. Lance Briggs and Co. need to find ways to create turnovers and stall drives.

It will be interesting to see what decision the Bears make in the secondary. Major Wright suddenly popped up on the injury report this past Thursday with a hip injury, so veteran Chris Harris took the first team snaps in practice.

Wright returned to practice, but coaches could turn to a three safety rotation with Chris Conte also in the mix.

The key for this Bears defense is to win the battle at the trenches, Julius Peppers will handle his own, but other defensive linemen need to step it up.

Rookie Stephen Paea had a sack in his NFL debut last Sunday, Henry Melton has been invisible and dominant at times, and Israel Idonije has been consistent enough.

Players Who Must Step Up:

1) Chris Conte- The rookie safety had a pretty solid game last Sunday night against the Vikings. He will be used on some safety blitzes and will come into the box as the eight man. He is a smart and athletic safety, who could put up a decent amount of tackles today.

Prediction: Seven tackles, one interception.

2) D.J. Moore- He came very close to an interception last Sunday night. He will be hungry to force a turnover today. Considering the Bears are only plus two in the turnover margin, the defense will be flying around and Moore is one of those beneficiaries of the efforts on defense.

Prediction: Four tackles, fumble recovery.

3) Johnny Knox- He has yet to reel in a touchdown pass this season. He’s averaging about 50 ypg receiving. He needs a big game and the Bears want to get him the ball. He could be very good if he takes advantage of the space in the Bucs defense.

Prediction: Five catches, 64 yards.

Game Prediction:

Bears 23, Bucs 17.

Jake Perper is the owner and head writer for Bearsbacker.com. He is also the Chicago Bears writer for NFLTouchdown.com. Follow him on Twitter, @Bearsbacker for up to the minute news about the Bears.

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Week Six Preview: Minnesota Vikings @ Chicago Bears

16th October 2011 by under Game Preview     

The Minnesota Vikings (1-4) and the Chicago Bears (2-3) will meet for the 100th time ever tonight. The Vikings lead the all-time series 52-46-2.

The Bears swept the season series against the Vikings last year. Defeating them 40-14 in Week 15 to win the NFC North.

Looking up at the Packers and Lions at 5-0, the Bears have to win this divisional match-up against the Vikings.

Since 2003, the Bears are 7-1 against the Vikings. The home team has won 15 of the last 18 games.

In six career games against the Vikings, Bears RB Matt Forte has rushed 109 times for 414 yards and one touchdown.

Forte is averaging 5.4 ypc and is the NFL’s leader in yards from scrimmage with 785. It all starts with a solid running game for the Bears and Forte needs to get going early.

Cutler is coming off his most impressive game of the season last week against the Lions posting a QB rating of 99.6. The Bears need to take advantage of Antoine Winfield’s absence in the Vikings secondary.

The Bears wide receivers could be in line for a good day if Cutler can take advantage of his opportunities. Johnny Knox and Devin Hester have had some success against Minnesota in the past.

It all starts up front with the offensive line for the Bears. Cutler needs time to make a play, last week against the Lions he was getting pressured on basically every play.

Using FB Tyler Clutts for protection has helped the offense out, so expect to see him on the field a little more than usual.

Lance Louis will take over at right tackle and Chris Spencer will return to the lineup at right guard. Rookie tackle Gabe Carimi is still out with a knee injury.

Cutler showed he can be a very good quarterback and with ample time to throw, this offense can be even better.

The defense on the other hand seems to be aging very fast. Brian Urlacher was furious last week after the loss to the Lions on Monday Night Football.

The defense needs to play much better then they have. The defensive line is failing to get much pressure, the linebackers haven’t been in the right gaps and the secondary is constantly getting burned for one big play each game.

Defensive end Julius Peppers is going to try to play, but he is listed as doubtful. If Peppers is able to play, he likely won’t be able to last the entire game. Peppers hasn’t missed a game since 2007.

Defensive tackle Henry Melton has practiced all week at defensive end and will move into Peppers spot at defensive end.  Amobi Okoye and Anthony Adams will start at defensive tackle.

Nick Reed, Mario Addison and Stephen Paea will all be part of the rotation on the line.

The secondary will see a lot of changes as well. Bears head coach Lovie Smith decided to bench veterans Chris Harris and Brandon Meriweather earlier this week in favor of inexperienced safeties Major Wright and Chris Conte.

The thinking here is that Conte and Wright are more athletic. Harris didn’t seem to pleased with the demotion, but he understands the unit has been underachieving.

The Bears defense will have to watch out for Vikings running back Adrian Peterson. Peterson has had some of his best games in his career against the Bears.

In seven career games against Chicago, Peterson has rushed for over 700 yards and 11 touchdowns.

The Bears were able to contain Peterson in the Week 15 match-up last season, limiting him to 51 yards on 17 carries.

Peterson scorched the Arizona Cardinals with three touchdowns last week, so shutting down the running game is a must.

The Vikings are a run first team and Donovan McNabb isn’t the same quarterback that he used to be, so the Bears will have eight men in the box more often than none.

Players Who Must Step Up:

1) Amobi Okoye- He will be making his first start ever as a Bear. Its important for him and the rest of defensive line to bring constant pressure on Donovan McNabb. Okoye could be in line for a good day, considering he is one of the most athletic players on the line.

Prediction: Five tackles, two sacks.

2) Charles Tillman- He is the most consistent players on this defense. He is tied for third on the team in tackles with 31 and has forced two fumbles this season. He hasn’t had an interception just yet this season, but tonight could change that. Look for Tillman to have a best game of the year tonight.

Prediction: Six tackles, one interception

3) Dane Sanzenbacher- He has been very good so far this season for an undrafted free agent. He leads all Bears receivers with two touchdowns and could be looked for in the red zone tonight.

Prediction: Four catches, 31 yards, one touchdown.

Game Prediction:

Bears 30, Vikings 16.

Weather Forecast:

Expect the weather to be partly cloudy in the lower 50′s at Soldier Field tonight. It could be a windy night, with gusts of 16 mph possible.

Jake Perper is the owner and head writer for Bearsbacker.com. He is also the Chicago Bears writer for NFLTouchdown.com. Follow him on Twitter, @Bearsbacker for up to the minute news about the Bears.

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Week Five Preview: Chicago Bears @ Detroit Lions

10th October 2011 by under Game Preview     

The Chicago Bears (2-2) and the Detroit Lions (4-0) will meet for the 163rd time ever tonight at Ford Field in Detroit. The Bears lead the all-time series 93-64-5.

Tonight marks only the fifth time the Bears will meet the Lions on Monday Night Football, who will be hosting a Monday night game for the first time since 2001.

The Lions have taken three out four on ‘MNF’ against Chicago, the latest game coming in 1995.

Bears head coach Lovie Smith has been successful on Monday night, posting a 6-1 record in his tenure in Chicago.

The Bears are actually the last team to beat the Lions, beating them six times in a row. The Lions have won 8 straight games since that 24-20 loss on December 5th last year.

In six career games against Detroit, Matt Forte has rushed 95 times for 498 yards and three touchdowns, while reeling in 19 receptions for 259 yards and three touchdowns.

Last season, in the Bears home opening win against Detroit, Forte took a screen pass 89 yards for a score. When Forte rushes for 100+ yards, the Bears are 9-0.

The offensive line for the Bears were able to open up holes for Forte last week against Carolina, but the ferocious Lions defensive front isn’t a unit known to give up a lot of yards. In fact, they’ve only allowed one rushing touchdown all season.

The Bears offensive line against the Lions defensive line is a match-up to watch all night long. Another key match-up to watch is the Bears defense against Lions tight ends Brandon Pettigrew and Tony Scheffler.

It’s clear the Bears will be focusing in on WR Calvin Johnson, but with the focus on Johnson that could leave some catches out there for the Lions tight ends.

In seven career games against the Bears, Johnson has reeled in 33 catches for 484 yards and three touchdowns.

Those stats aren’t that great considering of how talented Johnson is. The Bears have done a good job at containing him in games against him and the Lions.

Mentioned above, the focus will be on containing Johnson, so athletic tight ends Pettigrew and Scheffler will likely see some passes coming their way. Nickelback D.J. Moore and LB Brian Urlacher will have to be focused on stopping those tight ends, if not the Bears defense could be in trouble.

Lions RB Jahvid Best is a very gifted back and the Bears haven’t been great at stopping the run, but the defensive front will be ready. The Bears defense is ready to redeem themselves from a disappointing performance last week against Carolina.

Will they be able to shut down the potent offense for the Lions? Tonight will show Bears fans, if this defense is still one of the “elite” units.

Safety Chris Harris, tight end Matt Spaeth and guard Chris Spencer will all be able to play after dealing with injuries as of late. Unfortunately, rookie right tackle Gabe Carimi (knee) and WR Earl Bennett (chest) are still out with their injuries.

The Lions will be without safety Eric Coleman (ankle), former Bear, WR Rashied Davis (foot) and tackle Jason Fox (foot). CB Aaron Berry (groin), DE Lawrence Jackson (hamstring) and safety Amari Spievey (hamstring) are all questionable.

Players Who Must Step Up:

1) Israel Idonije- In eight career games against the Lions, Idonije has racked up one sack and one forced fumble. Last season, Idonije broke out with eight sacks playing across Julius Peppers, but through four games this season he only has one. He needs to bring some pressure off the end, Stafford is a strong armed quarterback, who at times can be rattled by pressure.

Prediction: Four tackles, one sack.

2) Johnny Knox- In three career games against the Lions, Knox has reeled in 11 passes for 117 yards and returned a kick off 102 yards for a touchdown. He hasn’t found the end zone so far this season and is likely hungry to get a score tonight. Look for Knox to be a key target for Cutler all night.

Prediction: Six catches, 77 yards, one touchdown.

3) Charles Tillman- In 13 career games against the Lions, Tillman has four interceptions and one forced fumble. He will likely match-up with the 6’5″ Calvin Johnson. Look for Tillman to be focused at containing Johnson. One thing if for sure, he will definitely be trying to force a fumble or two.

Prediction: Seven tackles, one forced fumble.

Who will win?

Bears 24, Lions 23.

Jake Perper is the owner and head writer for Bearsbacker.com. He is also the Chicago Bears writer for NFLTouchdown.com. Follow him on Twitter, @Bearsbacker for up to the minute news about the Bears.


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Week Five Preview: Chicago Bears @ Detroit Lions

10th October 2011 by under Game Preview     

The Chicago Bears (2-2) and the Detroit Lions (4-0) will meet for the 163rd time ever tonight at Ford Field in Detroit. The Bears lead the all-time series 93-64-5.

Tonight marks only the fifth time the Bears will meet the Lions on Monday Night Football, who will be hosting a Monday night game for the first time since 2001.

The Lions have taken three out four on ‘MNF’ against Chicago, the latest game coming in 1995.

Bears head coach Lovie Smith has been successful on Monday night, posting a 6-1 record in his tenure in Chicago.

The Bears are actually the last team to beat the Lions, beating them six times in a row. The Lions have won 8 straight games since that 24-20 loss on December 5th last year.

In six career games against Detroit, Matt Forte has rushed 95 times for 498 yards and three touchdowns, while reeling in 19 receptions for 259 yards and three touchdowns.

Last season, in the Bears home opening win against Detroit, Forte took a screen pass 89 yards for a score. When Forte rushes for 100+ yards, the Bears are 9-0.

The offensive line for the Bears were able to open up holes for Forte last week against Carolina, but the ferocious Lions defensive front isn’t a unit known to give up a lot of yards. In fact, they’ve only allowed one rushing touchdown all season.

The Bears offensive line against the Lions defensive line is a match-up to watch all night long. Another key match-up to watch is the Bears defense against Lions tight ends Brandon Pettigrew and Tony Scheffler.

It’s clear the Bears will be focusing in on WR Calvin Johnson, but with the focus on Johnson that could leave some catches out there for the Lions tight ends.

In seven career games against the Bears, Johnson has reeled in 33 catches for 484 yards and three touchdowns.

Those stats aren’t that great considering of how talented Johnson is. The Bears have done a good job at containing him in games against him and the Lions.

Mentioned above, the focus will be on containing Johnson, so athletic tight ends Pettigrew and Scheffler will likely see some passes coming their way. Nickelback D.J. Moore and LB Brian Urlacher will have to be focused on stopping those tight ends, if not the Bears defense could be in trouble.

Lions RB Jahvid Best is a very gifted back and the Bears haven’t been great at stopping the run, but the defensive front will be ready. The Bears defense is ready to redeem themselves from a disappointing performance last week against Carolina.

Will they be able to shut down the potent offense for the Lions? Tonight will show Bears fans, if this defense is still one of the “elite” units.

Safety Chris Harris, tight end Matt Spaeth and guard Chris Spencer will all be able to play after dealing with injuries as of late. Unfortunately, rookie right tackle Gabe Carimi (knee) and WR Earl Bennett (chest) are still out with their injuries.

The Lions will be without safety Eric Coleman (ankle), former Bear, WR Rashied Davis (foot) and tackle Jason Fox (foot). CB Aaron Berry (groin), DE Lawrence Jackson (hamstring) and safety Amari Spievey (hamstring) are all questionable.

Players Who Must Step Up:

1) Israel Idonije- In eight career games against the Lions, Idonije has racked up one sack and one forced fumble. Last season, Idonije broke out with eight sacks playing across Julius Peppers, but through four games this season he only has one. He needs to bring some pressure off the end, Stafford is a strong armed quarterback, who at times can be rattled by pressure.

Prediction: Four tackles, one sack.

2) Johnny Knox- In three career games against the Lions, Knox has reeled in 11 passes for 117 yards and returned a kick off 102 yards for a touchdown. He hasn’t found the end zone so far this season and is likely hungry to get a score tonight. Look for Knox to be a key target for Cutler all night.

Prediction: Six catches, 77 yards, one touchdown.

3) Charles Tillman- In 13 career games against the Lions, Tillman has four interceptions and one forced fumble. He will likely match-up with the 6’5″ Calvin Johnson. Look for Tillman to be focused at containing Johnson. One thing if for sure, he will definitely be trying to force a fumble or two.

Prediction: Seven tackles, one forced fumble.

Who will win?

Bears 24, Lions 23.

Jake Perper is the owner and head writer for Bearsbacker.com. He is also the Chicago Bears writer for NFLTouchdown.com. Follow him on Twitter, @Bearsbacker for up to the minute news about the Bears.


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