The Bears are enjoying their Week 6 BYE, scattered about at their respective alma maters or vacationing until they’re due back at Halas Hall on Monday to start preparations for a Monday Night matchup on October 22nd with the Detroit Lions and a push for the second half of the season.
Sitting at 4-1, the Bears appear poised to make a playoff push, but their foes across the NFC North aren’t just going to lay down and let them run away with the division. In case you don’t have Red Zone channel, the rest of the division is in action Sunday in a rare triple-header that will give Bears fans plenty to watch and cure the Bye week blues.
Sep 30, 2012; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson (81) during the game against the Minnesota Vikings at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-US PRESSWIRE
12PM – Detroit Lions at Philadelphia Eagles
The maybe kinda-sorta concussed Calvin Johnson and the Detroit Lions head to Philadelphia to face the one-man turnover machine known as Michael Vick. The Lions are a surprise this season and not in a good way. After a playoff berth last season, the Lions offense hasn’t been able to get in sync while the problems in the secondary have been exposed.
The 3-2 Eagles have been winning ugly as they continue to overcome turnovers to just edge their opponents. Coach Andy Reid has been under fire for not running Shady McCoy enough, so could his tenure in Philadelphia be nearing an end if the Eagles can’t keep up their early season success?
Not only is this a good game to root for the Eagles and put some extra distance between the Bears and a division rival, but it’s also an opportunity to do some advanced scouting for the Bears’ next opponent.
3:25PM – Minnesota Vikings at Washington Redskins
Oct 7, 2012; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) comes onto the field to start the game with the Tennessee Titans at the Metrodome. The Vikings win 30-7. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-US PRESSWIRE
The Vikings are probably the biggest surprise in the league, sharing the top spot in the NFC North with the Beloved Bears. They’ve beaten the Colts, Jaguars and Lions en route to their 4-1 record, but the signature win has to be a home victory over the 49ers, who are still considered among the top teams in the conference. The Vikings, coached by former Bear Leslie Frazier, rely on an old formula to win games. They run the ball and play defense while getting just enough from Christian Ponder to get the job done. They visit RGIII and the 2-3 Redskins, so it’s a chance to see what all the fuss is about with the Redskins’ rookie QB sensation.
Oct 7, 2012; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) runs and then slides for a first down against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-US PRESSWIRE
7:20 PM – Green Bay Packers at Houston Texans
The nightcap is a signature matchup of the 2-3 Green Bay Packers visiting the undefeated Houston Texans. The Packer have already lost as many regular season games this year as they did all of last year. Aaron Rodgers and the Packers offense has stumbled out of the blocks while Clay Matthews and the Packer defense continue to struggle to slow anyone (except Jay Cutler and the Bears) down.
The Texans are one of two remaining undefeated teams and they’ve got balance all around. They can run with Arian Foster, they can pass with Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson and they can play defense with early season MVP candidate JJ Watt. This figures to be a great game to close out a full day.
Enjoy the games, enjoy the bye and get ready for at least 11 more Bears games through the second half of the season.