Now That's Chicago Bears Football

With Jay Cutler sitting and Todd Collins starting one would think the Bears would be in trouble. However, Matt Forte entered the game Sunday in Carolina knowing he would have to step up his game, but I don't think he thought it would be that easy. With 101 yards rushing and 2 touchdowns in the first quarter Forte looked like he was back at Tulane. He showed blazing speed, agility and strength as he gashed the Panthers defense. But that was only the first quarter. Carolina made some adjustments defensively and made Collins throw. I still don't know why the Bears insist Caleb Hanie isn't ready, so they went with Collins. Wrong decision. Collins looked terrible throwing four interceptions and gaining only one first down through the air...on a screen pass to Forte.
Hanie was finally put in towards the end of the third quarter. Though the box score may not show it, he was a much better quarterback than Collins. Just as it looked like Carolina was starting to gain momentum, he picked up a key 3rd down on a strike to Johnny Knox. He also didn't turn the ball over.
The Bears defense was spectacular again not allowing a single touchdown and limiting the Panthers to just 147 total yards as well as forcing 3 turnovers. Julius Peppers was excellent is his hometown return recording an interception on his knees on a pass he deflected. Brian Urlacher also recorded an INT on a heads up play that hit off a receiver's leg. But the main man on D was Israel Idonije. He recorded 5 tackles, 3 sacks and a forced fumble. The Bears last week cut Mark Anderson due to his poor production and need someone to step up on the other side of Peppers. Let's hope this is just a glimpse of things to come.
On Sunday we face a Seattle team that is fresh off their bye week but terrible on the road. Jay Cutler returns to the lineup against a vulnerable pass defense. Their defense has 11 sacks which is more than the Bears (but 4 of them are from Chris Clemons) and 5 picks, but they also just got torched by the Rams. However, they are yet to yield a 100 yard rusher and they allow just under 73 yards per game on the ground. Here's the catch, they allow an average on 319 yards per game through the air and every quarterback who has faced them thus far has thrown for over 250 yards.
So, here's the gameplan. Seattle allows just over 2 sacks a game, and Matt Hasselbeck likes to throw interceptions. Get pressure on him and there will be turnovers. Give Cutler time and let the passing game open up the running game. If Cutler gets rid of the ball quickly, our receivers can have a big day. We're faster and more talented. We probably won't be the first ones to put up 100 yards on the ground against them, but 70 yards on the ground and 300 yards in the air should spell victory for Chicago.