Chicago Bears Hungry in Their Week Seven Cleveland Browns Matchup

The Cleveland Browns head to Chicago to take on a Bears team that is licking its wounds after a 45-10 beat down from the Cincinnati Bengals last week.

The Bears seemed to be riding high after starting the season 3-1, including a win against the world champion Steelers. But they are now on a two game losing streak and are hungry to put on a beat down of their own this week.

Offensively, the Bears have the weapons to do it. But defensively, they are struggling to overcome the loss of All Pro linebacker Brian Urlacher.

Quarterback Jay Cutler and running back Matt Forte lead the offense.

Cutler has struggled to gain consistency after being traded away from the Denver Broncos. But with one of the leagues strongest arms and the capability to buy time in the pocket with his feet, he can light teams up on any given day.

Cutler is coming off of a three-interception game and has now thrown five picks in the last two (nine interceptions in the Bears three losses). The season has been a tale of two Cutlers as in the teams' three wins he has seven touchdown passes against just one interception.

Forte, who ran for over 1,200 yards in his rookie debut, is going threw some growing pains in his sophomore season. Forte currently has just one touchdown run against three fumbles, and his yards per carry average has dropped to 3.5 in his second season.

He did manage 121 yards on only 12 carries in Week Four against the Lions, but he has had three games this season where he was not even able to get over the 30-yard barrier.

It seems as though the Bears are a team in transition as they attempt to find their offensive identity from a run-first team to a team more reliant on the passing game. Look for coach Lovie Smith to try to gain more balance in their attack against the Browns this week.

The receiving corps is led by Devin Hester, who is starting to establish himself as more than just an electric return man. Hester is coming off his first 100-yard receiving game this year and is beginning to figure out the intricacies of the position.

The rest of the wideouts are average at best. Second year wideout Earl Bennett is becoming Cutler’s go-to guy in third-down situations, but has not established himself as a big play threat.

Rashied Davis was beginning to look like a playmaker in 2008, but is currently buried down the depth chart as the team looks to use return man-wide receiver Johnny Knox  to take shots down the field in three-receiver sets.

Knox, in his rookie season out of small Alibene Christian College, has three receiving touchdowns (all over 20-yards) and one kickoff return for a touchdown this year.

The offensive line is a veteran group whose old legs are having a difficult time in the run game.

Center Olin Kreutz is in his twelve year. Left tackle Orlando Pace, now in his thirteenth season, is struggling to regain his Pro Bowl form after several seasons of injuries.

Right tackle Chris Williams is the only youngster on the line. The former first round draft choice is learning on the job as he comes back from back surgery that ruined what would have been his rookie year.

Nine-year veteran Roberto Garza, Frank Omiyale, and Josh Beekman split time at the guard spots.

The defense is reeling after getting torched by the Bengals in Week Six. Carson Palmer threw five touchdown passes, and former-Bear Cedric Benson ran over, around and through the Bears defense in route to 45-points last week.

The Bears cannot figure out exactly what lineup they want to send out on the field at linebacker, switching Nick Roach and Hunter Hillenmeyer between the outside and middle linebacker slots.

The one mainstay is outside linebacker Lance Briggs, who already has 46 tackles over six games.

The Bears defense is allowing a Cleveland Browns-like 40 percent conversion rate on third downs. That did not happen when Urlacher was in the lineup.

The front four consists of Tommie Harris, Marcus Harrison, and Anthony Adams splitting time at the defensive tackle positions, and Alex Brown and Adewale Ogunleye at the ends.

Harris is the teams best run-plugger in the middle but has been dealing with a string of injuries. Brown and Ogunleye are solid edge rushers, but age is beginning to creep up on them.

Charles Tillman has the ability to be a shut-down corner and will usually matchup with the oppositions' best receiver. He managed to contain Calvin Johnson and Roddy White, but was beaten all over the field by Chad Johnson against the Bengals.

Second year player Zack Bowman starts at the opposite cornerback position. He is young and improving, but teams will continue to pick on him until he shows he can stop it.

Rookie Al Afalaya starts at safety and can hit. His coverage skills are still a work in progress, however.

Danieal Manning is beginning to open some eyes at the opposite safety spot. He has been the one pleasant surprise for the Bears defense in 2009, showing a real nose for the ball.

Manning combines blazing speed, outstanding instincts along with a complete disregard for his body when filling holes to stop the run. He is starting to draw comparisons to Steelers all-world safety Troy Polamalu.

The Bears are hungry after two straight embarrassing losses, and will look to get off the schneid against the Browns.

If the Bears are able to establish their running game early, Cutler will be too much for the Cleveland defense to handle.

The Bears defense is not the Monsters of the Midway of the past, but they do not need to be against the Browns.

If Jamal Lewis and company can get the Cleveland Browns running game going early, they can keep it close. But in the end, the Browns do not have the veteran talent necessary to win this game.

Final Prediction: Chicago Bears 27 – Cleveland Browns 13