Bears - Cardinals Preview: The Crusade of Kurt Warner

As I wrote earlier in the week, it seems the Bears have trouble defeating good quarterbacks. Because of this, this week's game boils down to the incomparable Kurt Warner. Along his religious journey on planet Earth, Kurt Warner has very noticeably built a Hall of Fame resume. We all know his story:

Cut by the Green Bay Packers in training camp---- Joins AFL's Iowa Barnstormers ---- Stocks groceries at the local Hy-Vee ---- Marries ex-Marine Corp and strong-arm Brenda ---- Cancels tryout with Chicago Bears because of scorpion bite sustained during his honeymoon (how much should we trust wikipedia?) ---- Trent Green's ACL snaps like a twig ---- Dick Vermeil cries ---- Throws for over 4,000 yards and 41 TDs ---- Wins Super Bowl along with regular and post-season MVP ---- Becomes 4 time Pro Bowler ---- Wins another MVP ---- Makes two more trips to the Super Bowl ---- Currently has career QB rating of 93

An obvious feel good story and an obviously talented quarterback. So, how will the Bears stop this guy on Sunday? Well, for starters, this isn't the same "gee shucks look what I did Lord" guy that could throw a football as accurate as anybody in history. This year his age has caught up with him (38 with a touch of grey in his hair) as he has thrown as many interceptions as touchdowns and is coming off a clunker against Carolina. His team is perhaps in a post-Super Bowl loss hangover and is limping to a 4-3 record. That said, given time in the pocket, this guy still can rip apart weak secondaries like Dan Jiggets and a T-Bone steak.

How the Bears can win: Aggressive defense
Sure getting five turnovers against the Browns is a nice accomplishment, but outside of that game the Bears have yet to show their trademark fast aggressive defense that made them a feared team in the past. This game is certaintly winnable for the Bears, but as always it starts up front with the D-Line. Adewale Ogunleye, Alex Brown and Mark Anderson and co. need to establish a good pass rush early and fluster Warner. If Warner is comfortable he will pull a Carson Palmer on the Bears. A good rush takes the pressure of the DB's as well, who will have their hands full all day with the star receivers for Arizona.

How the Cardinals can win: Thru the air
Despite having two decent young runners in Tim Hightower and rookie Beanie Wells, the Cardinals rank dead last in the NFL in rushing. What they do have, however, are top of the line wide receivers. Larry Fitzgerald is on the short list for best in the NFL, Anquan Boldin is a former Pro-Bowler and Steve Breaston is an up and coming star. All three of these guys caught over 1,000 yards a piece last year. (Think about what Calvin Johnson, Chad Ochocinco and Roddy White did to the Bears this year already.)

Critical Performer: Kurt Warner

Prediction: Cardinals 27 - Bears 24
Sorry TheChicagoSportsCritcs fans, but over the past month the Bears have shown me that they can lose close (Falcons), lose big (Bengals), sit out a week (Bye) and win sloppy (Browns). Add in the fact that the Cardinals are 3-0 on the road and this match-up doesn't look so great for Chicago. Here's hoping I'm wrong.

Bears Week 9 Preview

Bears v. Cards

Summary

This game comes at a critical time for both teams. Both the bears and cards have been maddeningly inconsistent. This game starts a tough 4 game stretch where the bears will show us what type of team they are. Arizona leads their division but that lead is shaky at best. A win for both teams would show that they can beat a high quality opponent and really give a boost to their season.

Key Factors

No shocker here. It will be the bears pass defense v. cards passing offense. Everyone knows that the cards will come out throwing the ball and their offense rests on the right arm of Kurt Warner. The bears have to get a pass rush because if warner gets protection, he will pick apart any coverage the bears use. In an excellent article from espn chicago, it seems that Zach Bowman has been the more effective cornerback this year. Or atleast teams have been less effective throwing to his side. Although that is what the numbers say, i still see the cards throwing a bunch to bowman's side.

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/news/story?id=4623045

Bears special teams. I mean who doesnt remember the last time the bears played the cards and the incredible comeback. As Lovie preaches winning games with defense and special teams, this phase may be the game changer for the bears. Both offenses and defenses seem pretty evenly matched up but if the bears' special teams can give the bears a field position advantage, it could be the difference between a win and a loss.

Key Matchups

Marcus Harrison v. Tim Hightower/Beanie Wells. Harrision as the starting nosetackle has to plug up the run. The cards strength is not running the ball but if they do get that going the bears are in serious trouble. Harrision and the other DT have to stuff the run to make Arizona a one dimensional team. So that the ends and LBs can concentrate on the pass and hope to stop what can be an explosive passing game.

Cutler v. Rodgers-Cromartie. The Arizona CB is a gambler. He will jump routes to try and get the pick-6. He will be overly aggressive with WR and can be duped by the WR. If Cutler and his wrs are able to pull a double move with a pump fake from cutler, you could see Cromartie pounding the ground and cutler celebrating after getting the big plays we have been waiting for all season.

Prediction

This is gonna be a close game the whole day with two evenly matched teams. I can either seeing the bears winning 24-23 or the cards winning 31-24. As the bears are at home, ill take them.

Bears 24-23

Critical Performer

Devin. Hester. I think he will show up big against the cardinals again. He has really progressed as a WR and there will be some opportunities for him in this game to make big plays and get into that endzone. Maybe most importantly, he must and will have some very good punt returns and give the bears the edge in field position. Chicago, welcome the return of the explosive 23!

NFL bets this week

This week is strange. I usually hate playing any line over a TD because of how wacky the NFL is but somehow i find myself playing a bunch this week. I'm hot so lets see how it goes....

Chiefs +6.5 at Jags

Bengals +3 v. Ravens

Colts -9 v. Texans

Falcons -9.5 v. Redskins

Packers -9.5 v. Bucs

Bears -3 v. Cards

Dolphins +10.5 at Pats

Saints -13 v. Panthers

Lions +10 at Seahawks

49ers -4.5 v. Titans

Giants -5 v. Chargers

Eagles -3 v. Cowboys

Steelers -3 at Broncos

Last week 8-4

Act wearing thin....

I would like to start this post off by saying i like Tyrus Thomas and hope he can fulfill his enormous potential. However, this kid needs a mentor/buddy/father/grown man to slap him around in his life.

Tyrus was sent home this morning from Bulls practice because of flu-like symptoms. These symptoms come right after took exception to Vinny's criticism of him and Lindsey Hunter calling him out in a team meeting. This is becoming a pattern in my book. Its no wonder that the bulls didnt sign ty to an extension. He says that he is putting in enough work for him to start but ty, you dont make that decision. its the coaches that make the decision if you are putting in enough work or playing well enough to start. If the coaches tell you are late on your defensive rotations, then you have to show that you can do them first. He is suppose to bring defense to this team but its seems as though that is lacking. Of course, then he wont be playing at the end of the game.

I know this kid is only 23 but its his 4th year in the league and frankly i would like him to start acting like it. Besides rose, he probably has the most potential on the team but he acts like because he is working hard, he is entitled to starters minutes and confidence from the fans/media/coaches. Last year, he averaged 10 pts 6 rbs. Do something first then start talking. And this guy said he could average 20pts 10rbs. yeah right....

http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2009/11/bulls-send-thomas-home-with-flu-like-symptoms.html

Bear bashing???

Look, as i said in my review, i dont think the bears played a clean or great game yesterday. But, i dont really understand the bashing that they are talking from the media, fans and my co-contributor here today. By no means do i think the Browns are a good team. But with that being said, their players still get paid to play in the NFL. Their offense scored 20 against the Vikes, 20 against the Bengals, and 14 against the Steelers. The Bears only let them score 6. The defense played good. Yes, they only got one sack but got enough pressure to force 5 turnovers and a 10 rating for Derek Anderson who has been to a pro-bowl.

The offense had trouble putting the ball in the endzone. But, the steelers had trouble putting the ball in the endzone against the bears and remind me now if people are talking about how bad their offense or ben roethlisberger is?

The bears scored 30 pts! 30 pts! Has everyone so quickly forgotten the bears of the past couple of years where they could have scored 30 pts in 2 games combined? The Bears are suppose to win games with their defense, getting turnovers, great special teams, and not turning the ball over on offense. I know Cutler coming in has boosted expectations for this offense but have we gone to far over board? The bears right now are averaging 22.7 pts per game. If you had told most fans that number at the beginning of the season, we all would have taken it hands down.

There are absolutely things that the Bears need to do better, the players and coaches admitted it. But they beat a team by 24. The vikings won but gave up 26 pts to the packers and are the 20th ranked defense in the league but no one today is bashing them for that. The bears did what they were suppose to do and that was beat a lesser team handily. Let's wait to predict the demise of this team until after they lose a game.

P.S - Friday Night Lights is still the best show on TV

Got a good quarterback? You'll probably beat the Bears

Lets take a look at the quarterbacks the Bears have beaten this year:
-Ben Roethlisberger
-Seneca Wallace
-Matthew Stafford
-Derek Anderson

Beating Pittsburgh and Big Ben has been the win of the year and is the exception in the season so far. The other three quarterbacks they've beaten probably shouldn't be starting in the NFL.

Here are the quarterbacks that have beaten the Bears this year:
-Aaron Rodgers
-Matt Ryan
-Carson Palmer

All three of these guys are established and talented quarterbacks.

Now for the bad news. Here are the quarterbacks the Bears still have to face:
-Brett Favre
-Brett Favre
-Kurt Warner
-Donovan McNabb
-Joe Flacco
-Aaron Rodgers

-Matthew Stafford
-Alex Smith
-Marc Bulger

I know that a teams quarterback is only one part, but I really believe good quarterbacking will beat the Bears 3 out of 4 times like what has happened already. Their secondary is shaky and they have not rushed the passer well at all. Judging by this I've got them winning the bottom 3 and winning 1 or 2 games (Packers, Cardinals and Ravens likely suspects) in the group of five establsihed quarterbacks. Of course this is speculation and they could lose to the 49ers pretty easily and could also score an upset win somewhere in the schedule. This is just one way of observing the year so far.

Will 9-7 make the playoffs this year?

Bears Postgame

Well the bears come away with a win. No, they didnt look great but its a step in the right direction. We saw an improved running game and a more explosive Matt Forte in this game. The defense looked great and had 5 takeaways. There seemed to be much less confusion as to the signals and calls on the defense with Hillenmeyer in the middle and the takeaways seem a direct result of it. The offense was by no means great but the line was better and the wrs continue to impress with their route running and ability to adjust to the ball while its in the air. Mostly impressive was Cutler. No, he didnt throw a TD and no, he didnt have a great game but he took a beating. He was hit a lot and he popped back up and got into with the defense. Cutler is a tough guy and i think he will have endeared himself to bears fans after a performance like sunday's. Next week, the cards and all their wrs. Should be an interesting matchup. Also, i was almost right on with my 31-6 prediction.