If Lovie Smith and his Bears want to be among the elite in the NFC, their match-up versus the unbeaten Tennessee Titans on Sunday is the perfect opportunity to show it. Jeff Fisher’s Titans have been the most consistent team in the NFL in 2008, winning each week with a combination of hard-nosed defense and an outstanding running game. They are what the Bears often claim to be, but this season Chicago holds down first place in their division because of its passing game, which is in jeopardy due to the loss of Kyle Orton.
Even with Lovie Smith’s ever-present cryptic answers when giving any sort of timetable, it seems Orton will miss at least one game due to his ankle injury. Despite claims of wanting to play, Orton has been held out of practice two straight days, with Rex Grossman taking all of the first team snaps. “Sexy Rexy” will need to avoid the costly mistakes that have marred his career if he has any hopes of leading the Bears to victory over the AFC’s best. Helping Grossman out are the offensive weapons that have developed this season with Orton at quarterback. Devin Hester and Rashied Davis have vastly improved as receivers, and Marty Booker is still find ways to beat coverage. Even better news is Brandon Lloyd’s full participation in practice this week. Lloyd was on his way to becoming the Bears’ number one target before a knee injury derailed his season. Along with his selection of wide-outs, Grossman will be aided by the best set of tight ends in football in Greg Olsen, Desmond Clark, and rookie Kellen Davis. Olsen is living up to his first round selection, and will be a staple of the Bears’ offense for years. Add that to a running game that found itself behind Matt Forte’s 126 yard performance last week, and you’ve got the recipe for a solid offensive attack, with or without Kyle Orton.
Defensively this game would appear to play right into the Bears’ strengths. The Titans have a great running back tandem in Chris Johnson and Lendale White, but the Bears’ defense ranks sixth in the league against the run. Conversely, the Titans haven’t been forced to pass the ball to win, so their offense ranks 29th through the air. That’s music to the Bears’ ears, since pass defense isn’t their strong suit, ranking a lowly 30th. Corner Danieal Manning looks to return this week after missing time with a hamstring issue, but safety Mike Brown is still questionable with a calf injury. Brown sat out Wednesday but was limited on Thursday, leaving his status for Sunday still up in the air. Linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer is still questionable with a thumb injury, so look for Nick Roach to fill the void on the strong side. Injuries or not, this defense has to start producing to the level of their income, or expect to see drastic changes during the off-season.
If Grossman and the offense can jump on the Titans early for at least a two-score lead, they will force the Titans into unfamiliar territory. Kerry Collins has not been asked to win any games for Jeff Fisher, who instead relies upon his backfield to move the ball. The Bears defense won’t have many chances for turnovers on Sunday if Tennessee is allowed to run effectively. Their opportunities will increase dramatically if Collins is putting the ball in the air more than 30 times. Shutting down the run is the Bears’ first priority, but then they must adjust when the Titans are in passing situations. It’s a game plan which requires discipline from the Bears defense and touchdowns from the Bears offense. In order to defeat perfection, one must perform perfectly, so let’s hope Grossman and the Bears are up to the task.
