Things look pretty grim for the Chicago Bears, losers of four of their last five after jumping out to a 7-1 first half of the season.  The leader of their defense, Brian Urlacher, is out, as are Tim Jennings, Earl Bennett, Robbie Gould and fellow special teams aces Sherrick McManis and Craig Steltz.  Henry Melton and Shea McClellin are doubtful.  The franchise quarterback is battling a stiff neck and a sprained MCL.  But other than that, the Bears are in great shape.

Despite the pile of injuries and the woeful recent record vs the Packers, the Bears can still win Sunday’s game and keep their hope for an NFC North title and their playoff aspirations alive.

RUN. THE. BALL.

Matt Forte hasn’t had his best season.  It’s unclear if that’s on him, on offensive coordinator Mike Tice, the offensive line or even new toy Brandon Marshall.  Whatever the reason, the best way to protect Jay Cutler is to run the ball.  Take it out of Cutler’s hands and go after the Packers and their 15th ranked rush defense.

Start Fast

The Bears cannot afford to get off to their usual slow start.  The worst thing they could do is let the Packers get off to a big lead.  If the Bears get down, they get horribly predictable on offense, paving the J’Webb highway for Clay Matthews right to Jay Cutler.

Corner Cobb

Packers wide receiver Randall Cobb is having the type of breakout season that the Bears dreamed of from Devin Hester.  Cobb has 71 catches for 777 yards and 7 TD’s.  With Greg Jennings just easing back from missing most of the season with a serious injury and Jordy Nelson now taking his turn on the bench with an injury, Cobb is the Packers biggest threat.  I hope the Bears can corner Cobb with Tillman and Kelvin Hayden, who’s filling in for the injured Tim Jennings.

One for the Road

There’s a growing belief that the Bears could be parting ways with Devin Hester, who has failed to live up to the hope he’d become a reliable contributor on offense and seems to have lost his MoJo in the return game.  I can’t think of a better way to send him off in his last regular season home game as a Bear than with a return TD .  The last time the Bears beat Green Bay, Hester had a stellar return to help bring the Bears back.  Remember it fondly here:

Those are my keys for a Bears victory, what are yours?  What do the Bears need to do to pull off this game and save their season and Lovie Smith’s career as Bears head coach?  Post your ideas in the Comments.

BEAR DOWN!!!

Nov.25, 2012; Miami, FL, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) throws a pass during the first half against the Miami Dolphins at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-US PRESSWIRE

The Seattle Seahawks come to town to face the Bears for the 8th time in the Lovie Smith era, including two playoff appearances.  It’s like they’re honorary members of the NFC North.  Last season the Seahawks stomped the Bears 38-14 as Caleb Hanie steered the Bears ship into the rocks.  It signified the end of the Bears’ playoff hopes while Jay Cutler recovered from a broken thumb and may have been the last time we saw Johnny Knox in a Bears uniform as he suffered a serious back injury that’s kept him sidelined all season.

Don’t think that the Seahawks’ 2-1 record over their last three meetings has slipped past Lovie Smith.  He’ll have his guys ready to go against Pete Carroll and the visiting Seahawks.  How can the Bears shut down Russell Wilson, Marshawn Lynch and the Adderall twins?  Check out my keys to a Chicago Bears victory. (more…)

Jan 1, 2012; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen (69) celebrates his sacks of the Chicago Bears quarterback in the third quarter at the Metrodome. The sack set a new team record for Allen for most sacks in a single season with 22. The Bears win 17-13. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-US PRESSWIRE

The Bears and Vikings are set to square off yet again in a matchup that will feature two of the weakest passing offenses in the league on what’s expected to be a cold day at the freshly re-sodded Soldier Field.  It sets up as a ground and pound kind of game.

With the Bears on a tw0-game skid while Jay Cutler recovers from a concussion, this game takes on huge importance against the surprising Vikings.  A loss against the Vikings and the Bears will drop from first to third in the division in less than a week.  But it’s not hopeless; the Vikings are very beatable.  Here are my Keys to a Chicago Bears victory. (more…)

The Chicago Bears face an uphill battle on Monday night as they face the 6-2-1 San Francisco 49ers in prime time.  They’ll do it without starting quarterback Jay Cutler, who’s recovering from a concussion suffered last week in the first half of the Bears’ loss to the Houston Texans.

Can  the Bears pull off a win under the lights to fend off the hard-charging Green Bay Packers and maintain control of the NFC North?  Well of course they can.  What are my keys to a Chicago Bears victory?  Let’s see.

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Nov 4, 2012; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (99) celebrates stuffing a run against the Buffalo Bills during the first half at Reliant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Campbell-US PRESSWIRE

The 7-1 Bears face the 7-1 Texans in prime time game this Sunday at Soldier Field.  Could it get any better?  This game has all the makings of an instant classic.

For the Bears it’s a common formula – it’s all about the defense.  They’re leading the league in takeaways and are only a few touchdowns behind the Jacksonville Jaguars offense with 8 touchdowns.  Peanut Tillman is having an MVP-caliber season while Lance Briggs, Julius Peppers and Brian Urlacher just keep doing what they do at a high level.  The offense remains in work in progress as Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall look to set Bears passing and receiving single-season records.

For the Texans, JJ Watt is an MVP candidate in his own right while making people forget Mario Williams.  The Texans defense is dominating most categories while the offense goes as running back Arian Foster goes.

How do the Bears pull off a victory over the tough Texans squad?  Here are my Keys to a Chicago Bears Victory.

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Aug 27, 2011; Nashville, TN, USA; Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte (22) surges through the line against the Tennessee Titans during the first half at LP Field. Mandatory Credit: Don McPeak-US PRESSWIRE

The Bears return to Tennessee to face the Titans for the first time since 2004.  I was reading the game recap of the Bears’ thrilling 19-17 OT win.  How do you win an overtime game by two points?  That’s right class, a safety!

Chicago defensive ends Alex Brown and Adewale Ogunleye laughed, arguing at their lockers, trying to figure out who deserved credit for the final play.

The way this Chicago defense is playing, there’s more than enough to go around.

Brown sacked Billy Volek in the end zone and knocked the ball loose, and Tennessee tackle Fred Miller recovered but was tackled by Ogunleye for a safety to give the Bears a 19-17 overtime win over the Titans on Sunday.

Talk about some blasts from the past?  You won’t even be able to guess the Bears’ starting quarterback in that game.  Craig Krenzel.  My how things have changed in 8 years.

So what are the keys to a Chicago Bears victory this time around?  Let’s see. (more…)

Oct 2, 2011; Chicago, IL, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) celebrates scoring a touchdown with wide receiver Brandon LaFell (11) during the second quarter against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Rob Grabowski-US PRESSWIRE

The Bears and Panthers return to the lakefront to renew a frequent matchup.  This is the fourth time the  Bears and Panthers have faced off in the last five years.  The Bears edged Cam Newton and the Panthers 34-29 last season, as the Panthers put up 543 yards of offense against the Bears.  What are the keys for the Bears to win their 5th straight game?   Check out my Keys to Victory.

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Nov 13, 2011; Chicago, IL, USA; A fight breaks out between the Chicago Bears and the Detroit Lions in the second half at Soldier Field. The Bears defeated the Lions 37-13. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-US PRESSWIRE

The Bears and Lions face off for the 165th time on Monday Night, with the Bears holding a 94-65-5 edge in the overall series.  The Bears come off their bye week with a 4-1 record, sitting atop the NFC North while the 2-3 Lions may have saved their season with a comeback win over the Eagles last week.

For the Lions, the offense hasn’t seemed to get into a rhythm all season, with Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson failing to connect for a TD all season.  (Johnson’s lone TD came with Shaun Hill in relief of Stafford).  On the defensive side, their defensive line continues to be the engine that drives the unit, but the secondary is such a mess, they’re vulnerable through the air.  The Lion’s 2-3 record could very well be 4-1, with special teams costing them two games by giving up two return TD’s in each game.

So what do the Bears need to do to secure a victory and pick up where they left off before the BYE?  Here are my keys to a Chicago Bears victory, with a motor city theme. (more…)