Ed Hochuli 3:16 Posted November 21, 2008 Report Share Posted November 21, 2008 So we have three teams tied for first in the NFC North, and you want to know who wins the division. Well, you've come to the right spot because I have the answer. The winner of the Dec. 22 game between Green Bay and Chicago will crown the North champion. The game is at Soldier Field, so that should favor the Bears. Except they just got torched by the Packers, 37-3, in a mismatch that exposed their defensive shortcomings. That makes Dec. 22 a virtual toss-up, which is appropriate considering the current state of the division. It also makes it the critical game of the NFC North season. Find me a winner, and you have yourself the winner for the division. Sorry, Minnesota. In the meantime, let's handicap the field. If you're ready, so am I. Chicago What's to like: The schedule. There's not one opponent with a winning record. In fact, the combined record of their last six opponents is 10 games below .500. They're in the middle of a two-game slide, but they catch a break this weekend with St. Louis -- that's a win. Then it's off to Minnesota, and that can be tricky -- especially with Kyle Orton 0-2 there. But then look what's ahead: Three straight home games, including that Monday night date with Green Bay. Also included is a Dec. 11 date with New Orleans, and always bet against a dome team in Chicago in December. What's not to like: The defense. What's up with these guys? They're dreadful, especially against the pass. And when was the last time Brian Urlacher did anything besides an amusing commercial? They stopped Tennessee's Chris Johnson and Lendale White two weeks ago but couldn't solve Kerry Collins. Then they couldn't stop Ryan Grant or Aaron Rodgers last weekend. I don't like where this is headed. Why they could win: Orton is back to make plays at quarterback, and keeping the ball longer on offense means keeping the defense off the field. Good idea. Why they could not: Their defense is out of synch. You can look it up: The Bears are 19th overall and 30th against the pass. Plus, they can't rush the pocket. Alex Brown is the club leader with three, or 10.5 fewer than Miami's Joey Porter. I spoke to an assistant coach whose team played the Bears this season, and he used the word "discombobulated" to describe their defense. Works for me. X-factor: Return specialist Devin Hester. Earlier this season, I said it was a mistake to play the guy more than occasionally at wide receiver. Now I know it is. He's almost no factor as a return man, and there was no one better the past two years. Hester is a weapon that could go off at any moment, but I've just about given up hope. Combined record of remaining opponents: 24-36. Green Bay What's to like: Grant. Back in early October, I listed him as my most disappointing player. But then November happened, and I should've known better. In the last two months he's become the Von Ryan Express. Remember what happened a year ago? The Packers plugged him at mid-season and the guy went off -- rushing for 956 yards and a 5.1-yards per-carry average. Now he's coming off his second 100-yard game in four weeks, which tells you Grant gets better as the weather gets colder. Good for Green Bay. You win there this time of year by running, not throwing, the ball, and Grant just reminded the Bears. What's not to like: The defense against the run. The Packers rank 27th in that department, and that could cripple them down the stretch -- particularly with linebacker Nick Barnett and defensive end Cullen Jenkins missing. Two of their opponents are Carolina and Jacksonville, each ranked in the top 11 rushing offenses, and a third is 15th-ranked Houston. Then comes Matt Forte. I don't care what happened last weekend -- let's see the Pack stop him Dec. 22 in Chicago. Why they could win: Because their defense creates mistakes (the Packers lead the league in interceptions) and turns them into touchdowns. Look it up: The Packers' defense has a franchise-record seven scores off returns, three shy of the league record set in 1998 by Seattle. Hey, they have nine TDs from their defense and special teams, and that could get you a job in Oakland. It is one short of the Raiders' team total. Why they could not: I don't completely trust Rodgers in crunch time. This is his first go at it, so I don't know how he responds to playoff atmospheres. Yeah, he held up well in Game One against Minnesota, and that could have been torture for Brett Favre's successor, no matter who he was. But this is unfamiliar territory. You knew what you were getting with Favre; with Rodgers, we're learning each week. X-factor: Rodgers. He's a rookie as a starter. Let's see how he handles the pressure of a stretch drive. Combined record of remaining opponents: 25-35 -- and there's a bonus. The season finale is with winless Detroit. Minnesota What's to like: Adrian Peterson and the league's fourth-ranked rushing attack. Peterson can score from anywhere on the field and he has. Backup Chester Taylor is no slouch, either, a threat as a receiver or running back. So Gus Frerotte isn't one of the premier quarterbacks out there -- he's good enough to make opponents respect the pass, which means they can't always stack the box for Peterson. What's not to like: The schedule. There are three opponents with winning records, and they come in succession at the end of the year. First, there's a Dec. 14 game at Arizona. Uh-oh, the Cards don't lose at home. Then there's a Dec. 21 game against Atlanta, which could still be in the playoff mix. Then comes the season finale against the New York Giants, and if the Giants aren't coasting by then the Vikings are in deep kimchi. Why they could win: They have two of the game's critical elements for making the playoffs -- the ability to both run and stop the run. Peterson leads the league in rushing, averaging five yards per carry, and that's with defenses hanging all over him. The defense ranks second against the run, which is noteworthy because that puts it ahead of Baltimore -- a club that hasn't allowed an opposing back to rush for 100 yards in 29 straight games. X-factor: There are two of them: Pat and Kevin Williams. They're the Vikings' Pro Bowl defensive tackles, and they're as good as they are massive. Only one problem: Their names have been mentioned in connection with testing positive for a banned diuretic, which means they could face possible suspensions. If that happens, adios, Minnesota. from cbssportsline.com Sounds like he likes our chances. Thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZ54 Posted November 21, 2008 Report Share Posted November 21, 2008 At this point I'm just hoping we can beat the Rams. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jason Posted November 21, 2008 Report Share Posted November 21, 2008 from cbssportsline.com Sounds like he likes our chances. Thoughts? My thoughts: I'll be there I'll be shirtless I'll be inebriated I'll be painted up I'll be boo'ing the coaches I'll be rooting for the revenge win I'll be hoping for a spark for next year Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Hochuli 3:16 Posted November 21, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 21, 2008 My thoughts: I'll be there I'll be shirtless I'll be inebriated I'll be painted up I'll be boo'ing the coaches I'll be rooting for the revenge win I'll be hoping for a spark for next year Well......my turn I'll be hammered (doesn't happen often for me at sporting events, though). I won't be shirtless. I'll boo the coaches. I'll be rooting for the Bears. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Connorbear Posted November 21, 2008 Report Share Posted November 21, 2008 My thoughts: I'll be there I'll be shirtless I'll be inebriated I'll be painted up I'll be boo'ing the coaches I'll be rooting for the revenge win I'll be hoping for a spark for next year Where are your seats? Peace Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artbest Posted November 21, 2008 Report Share Posted November 21, 2008 The matchup doesn't favor the Bears on paper - the Bears have one of the league's worst pass defenses and, while the Packers aren't strong against the run, the Bear running game (and this is NO knock on Matt Forte) isn't exceptional and the Bears with their league-worst receivers will have trouble passing against the Packer secondary, which is among the best in the league. I believe the Packers to be a mediocre team - much like the Bears - but the matchup, which would have been a good one in '05 and '06 when the Bears played excellent pass defense and actually rushed the passer - is a bad one for the Blue and Orange. I just hope the game still has relevance when they play. The key, IMHO, won't be this week - the Rams won't show up on Sunday - it's the Viking game. On paper, that appears to be a loss for the Bears - the Vikings "gave" the last game to the Bears via two special teams gaffes. Fortunately, games aren't played on paper AND, if Lovie makes the changes in the lineup that he needs to make, who knows? Win the game in Minnesota and you're a contender. Lose it and it's going to be REALLY tough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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