Bears Week 8 Preview

Bears v. Browns

Summary

What bears team will show up? They have looked good in 3 games this year and terrible in the other 3 games this year, especially in the disaster that was last week. Last week has prompted changes on the O-line and at MLB. The Browns are 1-6 and a terrible football team. They have little to no offense and im not sure their defense is any better. The line on this game has the Bears giving 14 pts so most everyone this this will be a blowout.

Key Factors

Matt Forte. Hello, Matt welcome to your 2nd NFL season, now would you like to participate in helping your team win a game? Forte has been a huge disappointment this season and no matter whether he is banged up or his O-line sucks, he has to get more involved for the bears to be a good team. This week would be a good week to get something rolling as the bears will face much tougher run D's than the browns in the upcoming weeks.

The Bears run D. The browns won a game this year in which their QB completed only 2 passes, a modern record. I and im sure the bears would love it if the Browns had to throw 45 times in this game but to do that the bears must shut down Jamal Lewis, James Harrison, and a decent young run blocking o-line. Hold the browns under 100 yds rushing and it will spell victory. *Money to anyone who can name the Browns 2 starting WRs.

Key Matchups

Alex Mack v. Marcus Harrison/Tommie Harris. The browns have a decent young developing line but it is anchored by Mack who is a rookie center. The Bears DTs should eat him up and be able to confuse him pre-snap and clog up the middle. Both Harrision and Harris have underperformed this year. They need to have impressive games on sunday against a young inexperienced center.

Greg Olson v. Browns LBs. The Browns play a 3-4 so Olson will probably be helping a lot on blocking the rushing OLBs. I can envision him chipping a lot to help the OTs and sometimes being locked up on a OLB and having to block them on his own, not Olsen's strong suit. Olsen also needs to figure out how to contribute more on offense. I know teams have been game planning to stop him but good/great players get open despite being the focus of the opposing D.

Prediction

Look, I think the bears are angry and embarrassed after last week's pasting. I think they will win this one huge and this time going into the locker room, the bears will be the team with the sizable lead.

Bears 31 - Browns 6

Critical Performer

Zack Bowman. I know he has had a pretty down season so far but he is young and i think, as the bears do, this kid can be a really good CB. I think the D-line will come out with a vengeance and harass Anderson all day long and Bowman can make a few plays and come up with a pick at least this week.