Week 8- BEARS vs. Panthers, Game Preview

This is probably going to be more of a summary of the first 6 games of the season than a preview of the game to come.  But I just have to boast about this defense!  The Bears D is doing some ridiculous things so far this season.  The Bears defense has allowed 10.7 points per game (taking out a Cutler pick 6 in the opener and a fake FG for TD in Green Bay).  The defense has allowed 6 touchdowns this year, while scoring 5 themselves.  Of the 58 points the defense has allowed, a whopping 28 of them have come in the last 34 seconds of either the 1st or 2nd half.  Meaning, the Bears have allowed 30 total points NOT against a 2-minute drill, when they are predominately playing a "soft" Cover 2 scheme.  And while the defense does need to tighten up vs. the hurry up offense, keep in mind that of the 28 late in half points, 8 vs. the Cowboys came with most of the second string defense on the field.  Another 3 came on a crazy 56-yard FG by the Rams in Soldier Field.

Having allowed just 10.7 points per game.  71 rush yards allowed per game.  On pace for 56 sacks and an astonishing 56 turnovers to match.  This Bears defense is on pace to go down as one of the best in NFL history.  Maybe the most surprising thing about the Bears defense is that they are doing it with Brian Urlacher and Julius Peppers as "role" players and not stars.  While Peppers gets the attention of 2 blockers nearly every play, he's been about the 6th or 7th most productive player on the defense.  Right now, Henry Melton has been the star of the defensive line, leading the team in sacks and the DL in tackles.  Israel Idonije has also been more productive than Peppers in terms of stats.  On the last level of the defense, Major Wright has been playing at a probowl level, with strong tackling and providing the consistency he and the rest of the revolving door at S couldn't provide in coverage last year.  On the subject of "Pro Bowl level play"....in about 10 days from now Charles "Peanut" Tillman will be named the NFC defensive player of the month, to join his teammate, Tim Jennings as the lone winners of that award so far this season.  And in the middle, I feel that Lance Briggs has been the best player on the football team.  Briggs leads the team in tackles, has 2 INTs, both for TDs.  He's 2nd on the team with 6 pass deflections and 2 forced fumbles, and he's been a factor in the pass rush with a sack and several pressures.  Chris Conte and Stephen Paea look to be coming around.  Neither are making the big splash plays that their teammates are, but both are in the right place most of the time.  Once the playmaking comes, the Bears will be 11 deep with defensive vultures.  And speaking of coming around, Urlacher looks like he is starting to do that.  He's making more plays in the backfield every week.  He's getting his hands on more throws in the passing game.

As for this game, it's going to provide a challenge for the Bears D.  Last year the Bears really struggled with Cam Newton's size and mobility.  They were frustrated with his ability to escape the pocket (to throw, not run) and moreso by their inability to get him to the ground after they had their hands on him.  But this year, Cam looks a little off and the Bears D looks a LOT hungrier.  I think the Bears will be prepared for his strength and mobility and fare much better this time around.  Steve Smith has historically given the Bears problems, so it will be interesting to see how they handle him with the CBs playing at such a high level.  I'd like to see a similar strategy with Tillman or Jennings pressing him at the line with safety help deep.  Force Cam to throw it to someone else, or make a mistake (as he has many times this year) trying to get the ball to Smith.

On offense, the last 2 years the Bears could have beaten Carolina with me at QB.  Matt Forte has run against them at will with over 370 yards in the 2 games.  But don't expect the same this year.   Knowing Forte has destroyed them and that the Bears passing offense has been inconsistent, I expect Carolina to put a lot of effort into stopping the run, and forcing Jay Cutler to beat them with injured ribs.  And I'd imagine when they get the Bears into passing situations, they will try to make Cutler beat them by throwing to someone other than Brandon Marshall.  Normally, I'd say this is a good chance to get others involved in the passing game, but they aren't good enough to stop Marshall with all the attention anyway.  Carolina's pass D has been below average this year, but they haven't been that bad.  They play a lot of Cover 2 and have done a good job of not letting WRs get behind them for big plays.  What they have allowed though is teams to dink and dunk them all the way down the field.  Look for the Bears to throw a lot on first down, especially with safe throws and screens to the outside or to Forte as the checkdown.  This will eventually open up the run game for Forte, or beat the Panthers into submission. 


This is the game to get the Bears passing game on a roll.  If the Bears can get the passing game going, with a top 10 rushing attack and the league's best defense, this team is a Superbowl favorite, not just a contender.  If the offense gets going, frankly, this game shouldn't be close.