Bears fans rejoice, for the winless Detroit Lions are coming to town. After week five’s utter domination of the Lions at Ford Field, Kyle Orton and the Bears are hoping for a repeat performance here in week nine. It’s a huge game for Chicago, as they’re tied with Green Bay atop the NFC North at 4-3. Since the Packers are going to be in a fight for their lives against the unbeaten Tennessee Titans, the Bears are staring at a perfect opportunity to regain sole possession of first place.

The offense expects to continue its surprising improvement versus a porous Lion defensive unit that ranks 31st against both the run and pass. Orton had a career day against the Lions last time, and has never suffered a loss at their hands. His play has been the reason the Bears have survived this season, persevering even when the defense offers no assistance. Knowing how difficult it is to shut down a team in two straight meetings, coordinator Ron Turner should prepare the offense accordingly. The running game needs to make its return to the Bears offensive game plan, as it has been missing for some time. Matt Forte is tenth in the league in rushing, but his production has been hampered by stingy defenses trying to make the Bears one-dimensional. The Bears have won in spite of those successful attempts, but will need Forte and the ground game in this stretch of the season.  

Continue reading "Joe's Gameday Preview: Chicago Bears vs. Detroit Lions"

This week features a solid slate of NFL action that includes some great divisional match-ups, as well as a rivalry game that has lost a bit of its sheen. Week nine, in your grill! 

New York Jets (4-3) at Buffalo Bills (5-2)

Coming off of a surprisingly tough game against the lowly Chiefs in which Brett Favre threw three interceptions, the Jets find themselves in position to make a statement against the division leading Bills. With a loss earlier this season to New England, Eric Mangini’s Jets can’t afford to suffer another division loss if they have any hopes of winning the AFC East. Favre has been inconsistent under center the past few weeks, so running back Thomas Jones will see plenty of action to take the pressure off of his quarterback.

Dick Jauron’s Bills started the season strong, winning their first four. Since then, they’ve dropped two of their last three contests, falling back into a tie with New England for the AFC East lead. With the Patriots facing an erratic Colts squad, Buffalo can regain their momentum with a win over the Jets before facing the Patriots themselves next weekend. A loss this weekend could be the difference between fighting for a share of the division lead or sole possession of first place after week ten. 

Continue reading "Joey A's NFL Week 9 Preview"

Bears fans almost witnessed a complete disaster on Sunday. As it turned out, it was only a mild one. As Kyle Orton left the field near the end of the first half against Detroit, the collective hopes for this team left with him. Everyone knew what was coming. Kyle’s injury meant the return of Rex Grossman, otherwise known as the most scrutinized quarterback in NFL history (he also goes by “Sexy Rexy” and ‘Wrecks” Grossman).  

The funny part is that Grossman wasn’t the problem versus the Lions. The defense is the reason the game was so out of hand. They were simply awful in the first half. After two initial Detroit drives that ended in a Mike Brown interception and a three-and-out following a sack, the Bears capitalized with ten quick points, reminiscent of their last meeting. That’s where the similarities stopped, as the Lions tore apart the Bears defense for 23 points in the second quarter. Quarterback Dan Orlovsky found receiver Calvin Johnson six times in the first half, and rookie running back Kevin Smith found the holes in an undisciplined Chicago defensive front. With no pressure in his face, Orlovsky had an easy time going through multiple reads, often getting to his third or fourth option. As bad as the defense was in the first half, they came out in the second and showed the Lions why they’re in first place in the NFC North. 

Continue reading "Rex Returns to Lead Bears Over Still-Winless Lions"

 Week ten in the NFL is Dallas-less, and showcases some interesting division contests as the race to January heats up. Week ten starts early, with the first Thursday night game since Week one. I've tweaked my Weekly previews to be slightly more streamlined, so I hope you enjoy!

Denver Broncos (4-4) at Cleveland Browns (3-5)

The Brady Quinn era begins tonight. It’s a strange decision to say the least, as Quinn has only had a day and a half worth of practice for his debut. Luckily, he gets to shine in front of the Cleveland faithful by playing against one of the worst defenses in the league. Now we’ll see how much Derek Anderson was to blame for Cleveland’s woes, or if it was his supporting cast that hasn’t come through. Braylon Edwards, Kellen Winslow, and Jamal Lewis are the Browns’ top playmakers, yet they haven’t made any plays this season. They better step it up, or Brady Quinn’s arrival won’t save them. 

Continue reading "Joey A's NFL Week Ten Preview"

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. 

Continue reading "Joe’s Gameday Preview: Tennessee Titans at Chicago Bears"

After the first offensive and defensive possessions for the Bears on Sunday, fans naturally felt more relaxed at the prospect of facing the undefeated Tennessee Titans. The Bears forced a three-and-out on the Titans’ opening drive, then took the ball and went 75 yards to the end zone, taking the early 7-0 lead. It’s just too bad they had to play the rest of the game.  

Following the opening drive, Rex Grossman forced a ball towards Marty Booker that was tipped in the air and picked off by Chris Hope of the Titans. That halted any momentum from the first score, and the offense failed to put up points until late in the fourth quarter. Their next nine possessions ended in eight punts and a blocked field goal and totaled 94 yards. It was a pathetically anemic performance by the offense. The Bears only converted 3 of 14 on third down, thanks in large part to Grossman’s inaccuracy. Rex was either late on his throws or too widely misplaced them for his receivers to make a play on the ball. While he avoided his trademark turnovers, Grossman is still responsible for most of the offensive woes. If there never was any evidence of the difference before, there is now: had Kyle Orton been playing, the Bears win that game. The running game was decent if nothing else, but I have yet to see Kevin Jones or Garrett Wolfe spell Matt Forte for any significant stretch of time. That’s inexcusable to me, as tailback combinations are the key to longevity and consistency of a successful running game. 

Continue reading "Bears Latest to Fall to Superior Titans"

Division races in the NFL became much clearer in week ten's action. While some teams are completely out of the picture, others have made things very interesting. Let's take a final look at week ten in the 2008 NFL season.

Denver Broncos 34, Cleveland Browns 30

With San Diego barely edging out Kansas City, the Denver Broncos needed this game to stay on top of the unimpressive AFC West. Jay Cutler regained some confidence with 441 yards and three touchdowns in the comeback win. Denver’s defense hasn’t improved, but if their offense is reignited they should have no problem staying ahead of the Chargers.

The Brady Quinn era in Cleveland kicked off with a whimper, but he’s not to blame. Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow aren’t making the plays needed to help whoever is at quarterback. With locker room leaders Jamal Lewis and Willie McGinest coming out with statements that some of their teammates quit during the game, the Browns’ woes may not be over anytime soon.

Continue reading "Joey A's Final Drive: Week 10"

Week eleven offers some key division match-ups along with disappointments trying to dig out of the cellar. With all the bye weeks out of the way, we’re in the stretch run to the playoffs! I love this game.

New York Jets (6-3) at New England Patriots (6-3)

The Jets and Patriots are meeting for the second time this season, but now the winner will occupy first place in the AFC East. The Jets aren’t the same team that fell to New England in week two. Brett Favre has an improved control of the offense, Thomas Jones is tearing up the turf, and the defense is in the top third of the league. Beating the Patriots in Gillette Stadium would confirm their legitimacy.

In spite of all the criticism and doomsday predictions (mostly coming from me), the Patriots have risen to the occasion. Going 6-3 without Tom Brady at quarterback astounds me. Bill Belichick has done a solid job putting his players in the best position to win. However, the season-ending injury to linebacker Adalius Thomas may be too much for a defense that doesn’t have any room for mistakes.

Continue reading "Joey A's NFL Week Eleven Preview"

The NFL’s oldest rivalry opens up a new chapter at Lambeau Field this Sunday, November 16, 2008. Entitled “After Favre,” this new plot twist leaves fans of both teams anxious but uncertain as to what will unfold in this classic tale. One thing they can expect to see is Kyle Orton under center for the visiting Chicago Bears. After missing the loss against the Titans with an ankle injury, Orton will try and keep his team in first place with a win over the Packers. 

Orton’s arrival means Rex Grossman moves back to the area where he can most help the offense: the sidelines. Orton’s ankle could offer problems in terms of his velocity, but his accuracy should remain intact. Luckily, he shouldn’t have to win this game all by himself, as the Packers’ rush defense ranks 28th in the league. If Lovie Smith and coordinator Ron Turner realize this, they can keep Kyle in the high teens for pass attempts by simply handing off to any one of their three running backs. Between Matt Forte, Kevin Jones, and Garrett Wolfe the Bears have an opportunity for a huge day on the ground. The Packers own the NFL’s third ranked pass defense, so going through the air too often won’t end well. They also lead the league in interceptions with sixteen. This would appear to be the perfect game for Kyle to try and play through an injury, since the Packers (like the Bears) have struggled to pressure the quarterback, totaling only sixteen sacks through 9 games. (For all those wondering, the Bears have 17 sacks. Take that Packer fans.)

Continue reading "Joe's Gameday Preview: Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers"

As far as I know, the Chicago Bears were supposed to play a game on Sunday. They were supposed to travel to Lambeau Field for a key contest that will surely factor in when determining the NFC North champion. Apparently, Lovie Smith’s team decided to take the day off. There is no other reason for only putting three points on a suspect Packer defense while giving up an astounding 200 rushing yards to a team that had an at-best average ground game. The Bears didn’t show up to play and the Packers took advantage.  

Kyle Orton wasn’t great. Honestly, he wasn’t even good. Unfortunately, he was placed in that situation on Sunday by his slacking defense. Orton led his team down for a field goal after the Packers’ initial touchdown, and from there Chicago never found points to put on the board. The offense was in a constant sputter for four quarters, never reaching the red zone on their ten offensive possessions. They kicked one field goal, punted six times, fumbled once, and the other two drives were ended by halftime and the game’s conclusion. That makes for one extremely boring drive chart. Matt Forte produced when he was called on, averaging 4.0 yards on his 16 carries. By halftime however, the running game was abandoned because the Bears trailed by two touchdowns and needed to make up the difference through the air. Green Bay was in a position to tee off on the quarterback and protect against the big play. It was over after two quarters. 

Continue reading "Bears Get Blown Out in Green Bay"

Week eleven was insane, featuring some last second wins, exciting divisional match-ups with major playoff implications, and some unexpected blow-outs. Here’s week eleven’s Final Drive!

New York Jets 34, New England 31

They didn’t necessarily establish authority over the Patriots, but Brett Favre and the Jets won which is all that matters. Thomas Jones had 30 carries for 104 yards, controlling the time of possession for New York. Their defense may not have performed up to their normal level, but the offense and special teams made up for their lack of productivity. Through 10 games with the Jets, Favre has them in the AFC East lead. Who expected that?

Matt Cassel’s not bad. He’s certainly come a long way from week one. In fact, he’s progressed to the point where he throws for 400 yards and leads his team to an over-time forcing touchdown with only one second remaining on the clock! It’s okay, you can think it, it was Brady-like. Unless the Patriots franchise him (which is an idea), Cassel will surely leave via free agency this off-season. Expect a Matt Schaub-sized contract.

Continue reading "Joey A's Final Drive: Week Eleven"

We watch and see if the Titans of the NFL can remain perfect while the AFC East and NFC South races are heating up. It’s week twelve in the NFL, and it’s previewed right here, right now.

New York Jets (7-3) at Tennessee Titans (10-0)

Giving the Titans their first loss of the season would go a long way in establishing the Jets as a heavy-hitter in the AFC and give them breathing room in a constricted AFC East race. Brett Favre may be given a lot of the credit for their turn-around, and he obviously deserves a portion of it. The bulk of their success should be attributed to their ferocious defense, which is exponentially improved from last season.

In the Final Drive of Week 11, I mentioned that Jeff Fisher should pick a game for his team to lose just so they can avoid all that undefeated pressure that crumbled the Patriots. This is NOT that game. They’re going to be facing a team that can make noise in the playoffs behind a hall-of-fame quarterback and can’t afford to give them any more confidence. Week 14’s contest versus Cleveland might be a solid day to start Vince Young and sit his two star running backs. I’m just sayin’.

Continue reading "Joey A's NFL Week Twelve Preview"

Nothing soothes the pain of a vicious loss in the NFL than a trip to St. Louis. Stop by, see the sights, and put up 38 on the Rams. It’s turned out be a great way to relax in recent years. At least, this is what the Bears players, coaches, and fans are hoping takes place. After being humiliated by the rival Packers last week, the Bears are looking to take their frustrations out on the 2-8 Rams. This should be an easy mark, but these Bears are no sure thing. Coming out of St. Louis with a victory could be harder than anyone expects. 

Offensively, the Bears have nothing to hang their hat on following a three-point output. Kyle Orton was obviously hindered by his injured ankle, and never found a way to get the ball downfield. The running game was shelved early as the Bears found themselves falling further behind on the scoreboard, limiting Matt Forte’s carries. Wide receivers were missed or couldn’t make the catch, so tight end Greg Olsen and Forte were the only Bears with more than two receptions. The performance was a definite reminder of the anemic Bear offenses of the past, where scoring twelve points on their own was a cause for celebration. Against the Rams’ 30th ranked defense however, fans should not be surprised if the Bears explode early. Number two overall pick Chris Long has played well at the defensive end position, but his presence can only help so much. The Rams give up a staggering 158.4 yards rushing per game, so if the Bears can’t run the ball effectively, they can only blame themselves. Orton dropping back should be a rare sight on Sunday since Lovie Smith has three viable options at tailback with Forte, Kevin Jones (who has fallen off the planet apparently), and Garrett Wolfe (great on special teams). Honestly though, it will be a shocker if Jones and Wolfe get more than three carries between them. Lovie wants to run Forte into the ground before he can even make it to the post-season. 

Continue reading "Joe's Gameday Preview: Chicago Bears at St. Louis Rams"

Two minutes. That’s how long it took the Chicago Bears to jump out to a lead over the St. Louis Rams. That lead was never relinquished or even close to being in question for the rest of the afternoon, as the Bears pounded the Rams 27-3. Fans of the Bears had a relaxing afternoon as their team took apart one of the worst in football. Don’t jump off the Super Bowl cliff though, this was only the Rams.  

Matt Forte could do no wrong on Sunday. Even after a fumble early in the second quarter, it was still his time to shine. Forte broke through on the Bears’ opening possession for 13 yards and a touchdown on what was a four play, 49-yard drive to the end zone set up by a 50-yard Danieal Manning kick return. Forte racked up 136 yards and two touchdowns on the day, giving him new personal highs for his short career. He added an impressive 47-yard touchdown in the second quarter. He was the center point of a Bear offense that put up 24 points in the first half on Sunday, putting the Rams away early. The surprise out of the running game was Lovie Smith’s choice to spell Forte during the game. Adrian Peterson, known for his special teams work, filled in on multiple plays and carried the ball 5 times for a solid 35 yards. Garrett Wolfe even found carries during garbage time in the fourth quarter. Heck, even Devin Hester and Rashied Davis ran the ball off of reverses. With everyone getting in on the ground, it was a shock to never see running back Kevin Jones on the field. Jones has apparently not impressed his coaches enough to get playing time over the forgotten Peterson or the small, shifty Wolfe. It’s a safe bet to think that Jones won’t be in Chicago after this season.  

Continue reading "Bears Defense Shines in Win Over Rams"

Week twelve was full of benched quarterbacks and offensive explosions. This was actually a record setting stretch, as the NFL went over 800 points scored in a week for the first time in its history.  Let’s get to the best of week twelve in this edition of the Final Drive!

New York Jets 34, Tennessee Titans 13

The balance of power has shifted in the AFC. The Jets are flying high on a five-game winning streak, the latest of which coming against the formerly undefeated Tennessee Titans. They jumped on the Titans early and never looked back as their defense shut down the opposing running game and picked off the nigh-unpick-able Kerry Collins. What remains to be seen is how each team will handle the outcome. There’s already unrest in Tennessee coming from running back Lendale White, who had only one carry in Sunday’s loss. It might be hard to believe, but the Titans could be in trouble come playoff time.

Continue reading "Joey A's Final Drive: Week Twelve"

If the upcoming Sunday night game between the Bears and Vikings is anything like their last meeting, expect fireworks in the Metrodome. In week seven, they combined for 89 points and over 750 yards of total offense. The difference maker was in the turnover column. Chicago only gave it away once, while Minnesota sent the Bears multiple gifts in the form of four interceptions and a fumble. Even with their horrendous ball protection, the Vikings closed the gap late and the Bears hung on in a shoot-out. This Sunday in Minnesota, the Bears have the perfect opportunity to regain first place in the NFC North with only one more divisional contest remaining. Adrian Peterson and the Vikings will be anxious to do the same. Each team sits at 6-5 atop the North and wants to make a lasting impression on the division race. 

Continue reading "Joe's Gameday Preview: Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings"

 With three games already out of the way on Thanksgiving, we have an abbreviated schedule of NFL action. With thursday's awful outcomes, let's hope this weekend's key match-ups offer more excitement. This is the opening drive (sort of) of week thirteen in the NFL!

Carolina Panthers (8-3) at Green Bay Packers (5-6)

The Panthers are in a tight race in the NFC South, tied with Tampa and barely ahead of Atlanta. With tough match-ups for all three teams, winning could propel one of them towards the South title. Carolina was assaulted by the Falcons last weekend, and need to rebound against a struggling Packers team. Green Bay was blown out on Monday night by the Saints, giving up 51 points and failing to defend against the big play. Losing to Carolina would severely cripple their chances of winning the mediocre NFC North at 5-7. Aaron Rodgers has played fairly well, but the Packer defense hasn’t backed him up.

Continue reading "Joey A's Opening Drive: Week 13"

For those of you too busy with cooking dinner or crying babies to follow Thanksgiving’s slate of NFL action, I’m here with a quick recap. (You didn’t miss much.)

Tennessee Titans 47, Detroit Lions 10

The Titans logged 21 points in the first quarter off of two Chris Johnson runs and an interception return for a touchdown. They added two Lendale White rushing touchdowns in the second quarter, ending this game at halftime. Detroit was never in this game, as is expected from a team who is 0-12. Daunte Culpepper was average at best, but was never helped out by a Detroit running game that only totaled 23 yards. Tennessee ran over the Lions, racking up 292 yards on the ground. This blowout served as evidence for those who think Detroit should not be allowed to host games on Thanksgiving. Also, CBS’ Phil Simms should not be allowed to commentate on nationally televised games, period.

Continue reading "Joey A's Thanksgiving Day Recap"