Bears vs. Dolphins: 10 Bold Predictions for Thursday Night Football
Bears vs. Dolphins is tonight in the second installment of Thursday Night Football and I'm here to get you ready with 10 bold predictions.
I cover both teams and pick a winner at the end, so if you agree, disagree or have any other thoughts, make sure to leave them in the comments. Enjoy tonight's game!
No. 10: Brian Hartline Plays a Big Role
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Last week against Tennessee, Brian Hartline was one of the players the Titans struggled to stop in the passing game.
Hartline has turned into a good slot wideout and with Brandon Marshall drawing most of the attention from opposing defenses, it's opened up guys like Hartline to make plays down the field. If you take your eyes off him for a second, he's speedy enough to make you pay.
Look for him to make at least one big play.
No. 9: Johnny Knox Finds the End Zone
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Johnny Knox is the best wideout on the Chicago Bears, and I think tonight he's going to have a big game.
The Miami secondary isn't great, and with the rate that the Bears drop back to pass, Cutler will find him Knox with the deep ball.
Knox is going to find the end zone tonight.
No. 8: Brandon Marshall Is a Non-Factor
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Brandon Marshall is by far the biggest threat in the Miami Dolphins, and I see the Bears taking Marshall out of the game.
The Titans did a good job of shutting him out with Cortland Finnegan, who did a great job of denying Marshall the ball and knocking it down when it went to him. The Bears will do the same thing and force Tyler Thigpen to go elsewhere.
Thigpen can still be effective, but he won't be able to rely heavily on Marshall.
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No. 7: Ronnie Brown Has a Big Day
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Ronnie Brown has had a down year this season, but I think tonight he breaks out against the Bears.
Brown had a huge season with the Wildcat a couple of years ago, but he has struggled this year as the Dolphins move away from that formation towards a more standard offense. However, I think Brown finds some creases to run and will have a good game.
It all rests on Tyler Thigpen opening it up with his arm.
No. 6: Offensive Line Protects Jay Cutler
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One thing the Bears haven't been able to do this year is protect Jay Cutler.
He's been getting killed behind that offensive line, but when the Bears have moved Cutler out of the pocket and got him on the move, it's helped keep him upright. Chicago is going to figure out a way to avoid the pass rush and keep Cutler in a position to throw downfield.
It's not always fun being Jay Cutler, but tonight will be a little less painful behind that line than other games.
No. 5: Matt Forte Sees a Good Amount of Touches
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The Chicago Bears aren't exactly what you'd call a well-balanced offense.
Mike Martz has turned Chicago into a pass-first team, and Matt Forte has suffered because of that philosophy. However, between the passing and running games, I think Forte is going to get a good amount of touches and he'll make the most of them.
Forte's a weapon; the Bears just have to use him.
No. 4: Tyler Thigpen Plays Well
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Most NFL teams would be in full-scale panic alert if they had to go to their third quarterback to start a game.
However, Tyler Thigpen is going to surprise a lot of people tonight by stepping up and playing well. He stepped in against Tennessee and played very well considering the circumstances. He's good enough to be effective for Miami tonight.
No. 3: Jay Cutler Goes without an Interception
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Jay Cutler has become synonymous with the word interception during his career but tonight, I don't see that happening.
Cutler does force a lot of passes, but he's going to find himself with a lot of choices on where to deliver the ball, and he's going to make some crisp throws. As long as he gets time to set his feet, he'll be effective.
I don't see Miami forcing Cutler into a terrible interception tonight.
No. 2: Devin Hester Returns a Kick for Six
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After slumping a bit in the return game, Devin Hester is back and better than ever.
Hester is a once-in-a-generation type talent in the return game. With his speed, quickness and vision on the field, he's almost impossible to stop once he gets a head of steam going, and he's going to get down the field tonight.
Don't kick to him or he's going to burn you, plain and simple.
No. 1: Chicago Keeps Pace in NFC North
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The Bears are coming into the game at 6-3, but they don't exactly feel like a team that should have that record.
However, the Bears are going to get the big win tonight, move to 7-3 and keep the pressure on the Packers to keep pace in the NFC North. Remember, the Packers lost to Chicago, so Green Bay really needs to keep pace.
The Dolphins are a little too dinged up to get the win tonight. Look for the Bears to force enough mistakes to get the win.
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