0 Comments

Bears at Cowboys Game Preview

| September 16th, 2010

Ah, the 2-0 start.  So elusive, like the mongoose that scavenges your camp site at night.  Lovie Smith has only had one team start 2-0 and that team went to a Super Bowl.  Is Sunday’s game at Cowboys Stadium that important?  To quote Ricky Roma in Glengarry Glen Ross, “It may mean something to you, it may not.  I don’t know.  I don’t know anymore.”  

YOUR OFFENSIVELY RESURGENT 2010 CHICAGO BEARS
OVER
Dallas Cowboys

Why do I like the Chicago Bears this week?
  • I always like the Chicago Bears.
  • I think, for the first time in a long time, the Bears have the offensive pieces in place to counter a steady diet of opposing pass rush.  Martz will utilize both backs and his band of speedy receivers to stretch the defense and keep Ware, Spencer and Ratliff from disrupting Jay Cutler’s rhythm.
  • In 2007, the Bears had no answers for Jason Witten’s ownership of the middle of the field. (Then again the highlights show a lot of Hunter Hillenmeyer and Adam Archuleta.)  But if the Cowboys want to use Witten in the passing game, they’ll be leaving Julius Peppers one-on-one.  If Peppers knocks out another quarterback, they won’t be able to keep the jerseys in stores.
  • The way to beat the Bears defense is by attacking the holes in the cover two: the deep middle and under the safeties at the sidelines.  The Cowboys did this brilliantly in 2007 but showed a complete inability to get the ball that deep down the field against Washington.
  • If the Bears protect at all, they are going to have ample opportunities deep down the sideline.  Either Knox or Hester hits a 40-plus yarder.
  • There is no bigger mismatch in this game than Robbie Gould vs. David Buehler.  Gould is arguably the most consistent kicker in the game from under fifty yards and Buehler has had a mediocre preseason and looked overwhelmed by a thirty-four yarder against the Redskins.  If this game is as close as I think it is, Gould will make the difference.
Chicago Bears 27, Dallas Cowboys 24 
Buehler misses a forty-five yarder at the whistle.