Patriots vs. Bears: 5 Reasons Chicago Can Beat New England
Sunday, the New England Patriots travel to Chicago to face the Bears. If the Bears want to win, they need to stick to their game plan.
Since the embarrassing loss at Cleveland, the Patriots are on a tear, and the defense is showing signs of improvement, with young players developing in front our own eyes. Every team in the NFL has a flaw, and the Pats are doing a great job in hiding them right now.
While the Patriots are considered one the best teams in the league, the Chicago Bears have not had support of the experts and analysts nationally until recently.
Initially, the Chicago Bears were not considered a top-tier team, with the Green Bay Packers and the Minnesota Vikings in their division. Now that the Vikings have faltered and the Packers have had injuries which they are bouncing back from, the Bears are in the driver's seat with a division leading 9-3 record.
The Chicago Bears are starting to make the Martz offense click because Lovie Smith has balanced the scheme better between runs and passes. The Bears have the speedy receivers to run the offense, but Jay Cutler has to stay mistake-free under duress from the Pats 3-4 defense.
The Bears defense has held teams in check, and Julius Peppers has a chance to be Defensive Player of the Year with his stellar play on both ends of the defensive line. The team has been very healthy, which hasn't been the case in last few years as well.
Both teams will have to execute in cold weather, which both teams are accustomed to. If the Bears win and Atlanta takes a couple losses, the NFC Championship could go through Chicago...
Bears Defense Will Have To Play Sound
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The Bears play a base Cover 2, which is a bend-and-don't-break defense. While the Patriots love to throw short passes and go on long drives, that plays right into the Bears defensive scheme. Once a team reaches the red zone, the defense knows there is less space and can pressure the quarterback into making more mistakes.
If Tom Brady tries to go deep, look for the zone coverages to swarm on third down. The Bears are known for playing where the ball goes and shifting in accordance to how they are being attacked. In training camp, the defense has a routine of all players touching the ball at the end of the play, and it shows during the regular season.
BenJarvus Green-Ellis will have a much tougher time breaking big runs against an improving defensive line led by Julius Peppers. Peppers has freedom to move where the gaps are, and that is bringing the Bears success as of late. We saw what he can do against Michael Vick, so don't underestimate the potential for Brady getting sacked early in the game.
The scheme is not very exotic, but the right players are finally in place to make the defense work.
Jay Cutler Has Weapons All over the Field
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Early in the season it looked as Jay Cutler was going to be the scapegoat for the Bears woes. He was throwing interceptions in the red zone and didn't seem to have the timing with his receivers.
Now that Cutler is getting more used to the system, with the seven-step drops and timing routes, players like Earl Bennett are becoming weapons. Originally we thought Johnny Knox and Devin Hester would be the go-to-guys, but Cutler likes to scramble when plays break down, so he looks to throw to the open guy and not on the timing route that Mike Martz dialed up.
With a Patriots pass defense that is ranked near the bottom of the NFL, this will be a great measuring stick for how the Bear's offense has developed since August. If Cutler keeps his cool, checks down and then goes for the big play downfield when it is actually there, Cutler could have a career day.
The screen game with Matt Forte and Chester Taylor should be utilized, as well. Both backs are skilled in this area, and Forte is also becoming better picking up blocks. The screen passes helps build a rhythm for the team to build off of.
Culter needs to remember...one yard at a time.
The Pats Have a Short Week and Are Coming off an Emotional Win
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The Patriots are currently being talked about as a Super Bowl favorites with the recent 45-3 beating of the New York Jets on Monday Night Football.
While the win was very convincing, it comes at a time where the Patriots will have less preparation than the usual full week. That is where Bill Belichick is at his best.
The Patriots are also dealing with a 4-3 Cover 2 in Chicago, instead of the more exotic 3-4 scheme that Rex Ryan runs. It sounds easier to deal with, but the Bears defense will lull you to sleep, then punch you in the mouth.
People that make wagers know the statistics behind teams coming off short weeks after an emotional win. The Bears are getting some respect, finally, with the Patriots only being a two-point favorite.
Will the one the most well-prepared teams in the NFL be ready in the short time they have?
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Bears Are Starting To Build Confidence
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After the game against the Philadelphia Eagles, the country started to look at the Chicago Bears in a different light. Even if Michael Vick did get his fantasy points for the day, the Bears held him in check and pressured him constantly.
Jay Cutler has started to build some confidence in the offense, which was a task in itself.
Lovie Smith has been patient with both sides of the ball, and the Martz offense has been adapted for what the Bears really need to be successful.
The Bears special teams is one of the best in the league. Field position will be a very important element of this game. If Devin Hester or Danieal Manning can break off for a few big runs, the momentum that gives the fans and the team is under-appreciated.
The defense has been rushing the front four and still causing pressure. Brian Urlacher looks like he did during the Super Bowl run, and Julius Peppers covers up a lot of mistakes.
Both teams have momentum heading into this game, but the Bears are out to prove something to everybody who initially counted them out.
Soldier Field Is Awful...and Great for the Bears
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The Chicago Bears have one of the worst fields in the NFL. Recently players voted and picked Chicago as the lowest-quality field.
While the park district runs the stadium—unlike other teams that have privatized groundskeepers—this plays as an advantage for Chicago.
The field recently just had more sod replaced after the state high school football championships, which will make the field even more loose than before.
Route-running is a challenge at Soldier Field, and the Bears know where all the spots are on the field. Even the special teams use this to find their sweet spots.
An actual real "home-field" advantage.
Just look how Michael Vick moved around with a little less quickness and dexterity.
Soldier Field is a burden and a blessing...
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