November 19, 2012; San Francisco, CA, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Jason Campbell (2, left top) is sacked by San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Aldon Smith (99, left bottom) and defensive end Justin Smith (94, right) during the first quarter at Candlestick Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-US PRESSWIRE

They say a picture is worth 1000 words.  The photo above says it all.  The Bears were obliterated by the 49ers to fall 32-7 in a game in which the score was not indicative of the beating they took.  There are not many bright spots to discuss, so I won’t bother to list any except to say thank God Jay Cutler didn’t play.  He may have gotten a concussion just watching that game.  (more…)

The Bears trail the San Francisco 49ers 20-0 at the end of the first half in what can only be called a total and utter embarrassment.  Behind backup quarterback Colin Kaepernic, the Niners have marched the ball up and down the field on a Bears team that looks ill-prepared and completely overmatched.

Just to get a sense for how bad the Bears are doing through the first 30 minutes, Jason Campbell is 4 of 8 for 21 yards with an interception while Matt Forte has 11 carries for 35 yards.  Leading wide receiver Brandon Marshall has been targeted once and that occurred with less than 2 minutes left in the half.

On the defensive side, all you need to know is that Charles Tillman, Tim Jennings, Chris Conte and Major Wright combined for 16 tackles.  When your secondary is making all the tackles, it speaks to your front 7 getting dominated and not making plays.

The Niners are dominate the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball and it shows just how far the Bears are elite status.  It’s very likely they’ll fall out of first place in the division with a key divisional matchup with the Vikings set for next week.

The Chicago Bears (5-1 overall, 3-0 at home) defense dominated the Detroit Lions (2-4 overall, 1-3 on the road) en route to a 13-7 victory on Monday night.  Lovie Smith improved his MNF record to 9-2 for his career.  Ndamukong Suh and the Lions defense used every trick they had to try to finish off Jay Cutler once and for all, but the Bears quarterback prevailed in the end.  Brandon Marshall showed that no defense can stop him at Soldier Field, scoring the Bears only touchdown.

Bears cornerback Charles Tillman wrote the story of the night, shutting down the Lions top wideout Calvin Johnson, who didn’t catch a pass until the third quarter.  Tillman also saved a touchdown late in the game and punched out, what seemed like, every ball that came within his arm’s reach.  The rest of the team forced four turnovers and held the Lions scoreless for the first 59 minutes and 30 seconds of the game.

What we saw on the field wasn’t pretty, but the Bears won the game and are sitting alone atop the NFC North.  It looks like everyone passed the test this week, but some players just barely made it.  Let’s go to the grades.

Quarterback – B
Cutler had a tough day against a ferocious Lions defense, completing just 16 of 31 passes for 150 yards and one touchdown.  The Bears faithful had a big scare when Suh body slammed Jay in the second quarter, but that wasn’t enough to keep the ever resilient Bears quarterback from completing the game.  Despite being sacked four more times, the most telling stat was that Cutler did not turn the ball over.  He also scrambled well, rushing for 34 yards on three carries.  In the end, Jay did enough to win the game, and that’s all that matters.

Wide Receivers – B
With Alshon Jeffery out and Earl Bennett back in the lineup, the wide receiving core looked to be having a little bit of trouble gaining chemistry.  Marshall was solid, yet again, with six catches (10 targets) for 81 yards and the Bears only touchdown.  Devin Hester had a nice 23-yard catch but will need to amass more than three catches for 38 yards in upcoming games.  Bennett still knows how to make a first down in the slot, twice moving the chains deep in Bears territory.  As long as Marshall is on the field, everyone should continue to improve.

Running Backs – A-
Matt Forte had one of his best games of the season, rushing 22 times for 96 yards (including a season long 39-yard scamper) and catching three balls for four yards.  It was the third time this season he had 100 or more yards from scrimmage.  His production fell off in the second half, but Michael Bush stepped in and rushed six times for 36 yards.  It was nice to see the value of having two legitimate backs produce throughout the game.  If the Bears had better blocking, the screen pass game could have succeeded as well.

Tight Ends/Fullback – D
It seems to happen every week.  Kellen Davis drops at least one pass and misses at least one block.  Do the Bears still think he is the answer at tight end?  I don’t see how.  Matt Spaeth had some nice blocks, but he isn’t a pass-catching tight end (was targeted once and dropped the pass).  It was nice to see rookie FB Evan Rodriguez active for the game, but he didn’t see any time on the field.  Hopefully, he will return next week and be another weapon for Cutler.

Offensive Line – D+
Not their best performance of the season (five sacks allowed), but at least J’Marcus Webb seems to have faded into the background.  Gabe Carimi is the new “most scrutinized” Bears offensive lineman.  He was called for two penalties (one was offset and caused by a defensive offsides) and was beat off the snap multiple times.  Roberto Garza had two false starts, Lance Louis had one and Chilo Rachal had a dumb unnecessary roughness call after a nice run by Bush.  However, I’m starting to like Rachal more and more each week.  He brings an Olin Kreutz-type toughness to the line.

Defensive Line – A-
They are a model of consistency.  If the starters can’t get pressure on the quarterback, the subs can.  Shea McClellin registered half of a sack, and his speed is proving to be problematic for every opposing quarterback.  Israel Idonije (1 sack), Julius Peppers (1), and Stephen Paea (0.5) also showed up on the stat sheet.  The Lions ran for 99 yards (5.5 yards/carry), but went pass happy toward the end of the game and the defensive line brought the pressure.  Overall, these guys are gelling into one of the top front fours in the NFL.  If the Bears blitz a few guys from the secondary like they did against the Lions, the defensive line will have even more shots at opposing quarterbacks.

Linebackers – A-
When it comes to Bears defense, it starts and ends with Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs.  Combined, they had 15 tackles, three pass deflections and a fumble recovery.  Urlacher still looks to have lost a step, but he can still make big plays (red zone fumble recovery).  Having these two guys run Lovie’s Cover 2 defense is like having Bill Gates as your IT support.  It’s a beautiful thing to behold.

Secondary – A
Tillman is showing just how valuable experience is in the NFL.  He shut down one of the top receivers in Calvin Johnson, holding him to season lows in catches (3) and yards (34) and forced two more fumbles (32 forced fumbles for his career).  Some people over at ESPN even think that he is in the race for MVP of the league.  Chris Conte and Major Wright continue to keep everything in front of them (Lions longest play was 23 yards) and they both almost had an interception.  Tim Jennings has dropped off in interceptions a bit, but led the team in tackles (9).  Despite a fourth quarter interception, D.J. Moore had a tough day at nickelback.  However, the Bears let backup Kelvin Hayden take some snaps at that position, and he blanketed the Lions receivers.

Special Teams – D
Based on what we have come to expect from Dave Toub and the Bears special teams unit, Monday night was a disaster.  Robbie Gould had a field goal blocked for the first time since Week 6 of the 2010 season, Hester was replaced on kick and punt returns, and they had three special teams penalties.  The lone bright spot was Zack Bowman, who recorded two special teams tackles and recovered a fumble that led to a Bears field goal.  The Lions have one of the worst special teams units in the NFL and all the Bears could muster was 2 kick returns for 27 total yards and 2 punt returns for 7 total yards.

Coaching – B+
I applaud defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli and Lovie Smith for using more blitzes at the right times.  Stafford seemed confused all night long and the Bears just kept coming.  Tice called a pretty much even run-pass game plan, and it worked.  However, I thought the run game could have been used more, especially in the second half when it was obvious that Cutler was hindered by the hit he took from Suh.  Since 2010, Lovie is now 13-3 when he loses the coin toss (Detroit won the toss on Monday) and 11-11 when he wins it.  Coincidence?

Overall – B

Oct 22, 2012; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler (6) is sacked by Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh (90) during the first half at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-US PRESSWIRE

Jay Cutler was battered and bruised in the Bears 13-7 win over the Detroit Lions.  Jay came out firing early on, leading the Bears right down the field on their opening possession.  He also moved the ball well on the ground, scrambling three times for 34 yards in the early going.

With just over 5 minutes left in the second quarter, Cutler was sacked violently – but cleanly – by Ndamukong Suh.  Here’s a gif of the play: (more…)

Which team will a sloppy field help?  Who can benefit the most?  The traditional thinking is that a sloppy field would favor a running attack, so the Bears with Matt Forte and Michael Bush should gain some edge.   In general, a wet track would favor offensive players because they know where they’re going and defenders don’t.

What scares me is that it could help level the playing field, so to speak.  The Bears appear to be the better team, but a mishandled snap or a slippery ball could give the Lions an unexpected edge.  Of course, that goes both ways, but you never know.  The Bears entered Week 7 as the third ranked team in turnover margin with a +9 while the Lions entered the week at 18th with a -1.

On the flipside, Devin Hester could have an advantage.  Directional kicking and coverage teams could be out the window on a stormy night, so the Windy City Flyer could be set up for a special night.  Devin is a mudder.  His father was a mudder, his mudder was a mudder…

For up-to-the-minute details, check out the weather here.  If you’re going to the game, bring a poncho and as always…

BEAR DOWN!!!

Nov 13, 2011; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte (22) breaks a run for 40 yards in the second half against the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field. The Bears defeated the Lions 37-13. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-US PRESSWIRE

Detroit Lions (2-3) at Chicago Bears (4-1)

The Lions own a 4-1 advantage over the Bears on MNF, but all 5 previous meetings were in Detroit.  This will be the first Bears – Lions Monday Night game at Soldier Field.  The Bears have won 7 of the last 8 meetings over the Lions.  Last season’s series split was the first since 2003.  The Bears have swept the season series in ’05-’06 and ’08 – ’10.  The Lions swept in ’04 and ’07. (more…)

Oct 10, 2011; Detroit, MI, USA; A Monday Night Football sign before the game between the Detroit Lions and the Chicago Bears at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-US PRESSWIRE

The Bears and Lions are set to restore their rivalry at Soldier Field on Monday night.  It’s been 15 days since the Bears last played and almost a full month since they graced the lakefront. It ought to be rocking under the lights.

The Lions bring the #2 offense in yards per game to face the Bears’ top scoring defense.  The Lions may have saved their season last week when they rallied to beat the Eagles in overtime.  Meanwhile, the Bears come off a bye week sitting alone atop the NFC Nroth.  To help us get ready for this showdown, we reached out to Zac Snyder, editor of Side Lion Report, to get his take on the game.  Here are my questions and Zac’s answers: (more…)

Nov 13, 2011; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears defensive end Julius Peppers (90) and Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh (90) go face to face during a fight in the second half at Soldier Field. The Bears defeated the Lions 37-13. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-US PRESSWIRE

In Week 7, the Chicago Bears (4-1) will meet the Detroit Lions (2-3) for the 165^th time in their history with the Bears holding a 94-65-5 advantage.  The Bears are 53-24-4 and have won six of the last seven games at Soldier Field against the Lions.  This will be the first time that these two teams meet on Monday night at Soldier Field.

This rivalry has turned ugly over the past few years, with on-field fights and lots of penalties (26 for 198 yards last year when the teams met on Monday night).  You can expect much of the same this week.  The Lions are known for playing dirty and the Bears could fall into their style of play again if they aren’t careful.

The Lions have underachieved all season long, losing three games by eight points or less and needing a fourth quarter comeback in both of their wins.  The Bears defense has been playing out of its mind recently, scoring five touchdowns in their last three games and ranking in the top five in the league in sacks (18, 5^th), opponents yards per game (291.2, 3^rd), opponents points per game (14.2, 1^st), and interceptions (13, 1^st).  Let’s see how the numbers shape up for this primetime slugfest.

5-1:  The Bears record against the Lions with Jim Schwartz as their head coach.  Also, the Bears record in the game following a bye week since 2006.

7:  Number of times that one team swept the season series between the Bears-Lions since Lovie Smith began coaching in 2004.  Bears swept the Lions five times (’05, ’06, ’08, ’09, ‘10).  Lions swept the Bears two times (’04, ‘07).  Series split in 2011.

1:  Number of times that the Lions have picked off Jay Cutler in seven career games (182 pass attempts).  Also, number of touchdowns by Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson at Soldier Field in five career games.

7, 3:  Number of sacks and forced fumbles on Cutler by Lions defensive end Cliff Avril in six career games.

10, 5:  Number of sacks and forced fumbles by Julius Peppers in 10 career games against the Lions.

6:  Interceptions thrown by Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford against the Bears in four career games.

12-1:  Bears record when Forte rushes for 100+ yards in a game (only loss was to Detroit last season).

7:  Receiving (2), kick return (3) and punt return (2) touchdowns by Devin Hester in 10 Monday Night Football games.

5.0:  Matt Forte’s average yards per carry against the Lions in eight career games (135 attempts, 678 rushing yards).

4:  Plays of 40+ yards from scrimmage by Forte against the Lions.

8:  Touchdowns of 60+ yards scored against the Lions this season.

115:  Passing yards needed by Cutler (10,468) to pass Erik Kramer (10,582) for fourth place all-time in Bears franchise history.

0:  Points scored by Bears opponents on their first drive of the first and second half this season.

14.2:  Bears average points per game allowed this season, first in the NFL.

14.7:  Lions average points per game scored at Soldier Field since 2005.

118.4:  Cutler’s fourth quarter QB rating this season, which ranks first in the NFL.

4:  Touchdowns scored in the second half by the Bears defense this season.

12:  Total touchdowns scored in the second half by the Bears this season.

3:  Touchdowns scored in the second half by Bears opponents this season.

65:  Second half/overtime points scored by the Lions in three road games this season.

Primetime games for the Bears are always interesting.  Cutler is going to have to keep his eye on Avril and Stafford is going to have to watch out for Peppers.  Hester has been known to shine on Monday night, so we will have to see if the Lions even give him a chance at a return.  It is going to come down to whose defense can stop the other team’s offense late in the game.  No lead will be safe come Monday night.  Who knows, with the way things have been going for the Bears, we may even see the game end on a Charles Tillman or Lance Briggs pick-six in OT, Mike Brown style.