Bears Saddle Up for Dallas

After a controversial end to Sunday’s season opener against Detroit, the Bears have a trip to Dallas on the schedule next to face the 0-1 Cowboys. Opening the season at home against a division opponent and getting that first win is a huge confidence booster to start off the season. The celebration would have to be cut short as focus quickly turned to their week two opponent, the Dallas Cowboys. According to Jay Cutler, “They’re going to be intimidating. We just have to find their weaknesses and exploit them.” With the upsetting news regarding Hunter Hillenmeyer, the Bears must remain focused in their attempt to go 2-0. The Cowboys, on the other hand, will be hungry for a win especially after a disappointing loss to the new-look Washington Redskins. In a division as competitive as the NFC East, Romo and the Cowboys cannot afford to lose two in a row to start the season. “You can’t get started 0-2. It’s a very deep hole to get into and our football team understands that. You can’t get behind the eight ball,” Romo said during Wednesday’s Q&A.
Despite being sacked four times, the Bears offense outgained the Lions 463-168 in the opener. A stronger Dallas defense with a different defensive scheme is sure to keep that margin much smaller. It also doesn’t hurt to have someone like DeMarcus Ware on your side. Cutler calls him “physical, strong, and someone who gets around the edge quickly.” If he doesn’t like what he sees rushing the quarterback, Ware has the ability to drop back in coverage as well. The Bears offense took advantage of a matchup similar to that Sunday when Cutler found running back Matt Forte for a twenty-eight yard touchdown strike. With an offensive line that allowed four sacks against a weaker Detroit defense the Cowboys are chomping at the bit to get their hands on the starting quarterback. Romo and the Cowboys have to be ready for pressure of their own as their offensive line may be down two key starters in Marc Colombo and Kyle Kosier due to knee injuries. That should favor the Bears if reserves are trying to contain the likes of Julius Peppers.
On the other side of the ball, Mike Martz’s system is impressive-plain and simple. Whether the Bears have the ability to become the next “Greatest Show on Turf (or whatever they use in Soldier Field)” is still in question. Cutler used Matt Forte nicely out of the backfield as exhibited by his two touchdown passes in the game. Forte took a simple screen pass eighty-nine yards for the score to close out the first half on the first score and the second came with a minute and a half left in the fourth to put the Bears up for good. Cutler saw a match-up he liked and took advantage of it. Perhaps more importantly the offensive line allowed the receivers and quarterback to let the play develop and unfold in front of them. Cutler did his best at spreading the ball out by completing passes to six different receivers. Devin Hester was only targeted once, whereas Devin Aromashodu was thrown to ten times. Hester and Cutler both gave their thoughts on the statistic. Cutler said, “If Devin would’ve gotten open, I would’ve thrown the ball. Devin’s going to have his games. I’m not worried about him.” Hester’s rebuttal was less directed at any one player in particular and more of a statement regarding the offense. “There’s no number one on this team. This offense isn’t designed to have a number one receiver.” With a Dallas defense that likes to switch up coverages Mike Martz had better be ready to pull some magic out of his playbook.
Playing at home is an automatic advantage as exhibited by teams such as the Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints. Tony Romo feels the same way. “It’s easier to communicate offensively. Homefield matters.” With 100,000 screaming Cowboys fans itching for the team to get its first win the decibel level in there will be deafening. Greg Olsen compared it to “being in college again.” The Bears need to avoid becoming awestruck by the size of the stadium and the scoreboard and focus on going into a stadium as visitors and coming out victors. The Cowboys know what it’s like to play in that stadium better than anyone obviously. They know the nuances and all the secrets on how to effectively communicate in order to win. They hold that huge advantage over the Bears and I think it will show. The Bears still have some kinks to work out in that offense and it may not be wise to take too many chances against a defense as tough as Dallas. They say everything is bigger in Texas. In this case, there is an exception and that is the Bears margin of error. I do expect a closer game than some, but the factors going into that atmosphere for the first time with a new offense this early in the season are too much. Cowboys 24, Bears 20.

Beginning of the End?

Sox-Twins series begins tonight. This will most likely be the end of the season on the Southside if they don't bring their A game. We'll see what they've got left in their tank.

My Oh My

What an interesting September this is going to be. With the Sox and Twins trading win for win, the Twins lead is 3.5 going into the second week of September. This would lead one to assume next week's Twins-Sox series will decide the season. For us Sox fans, be glad it's at U.S. Cellular Field and not the new House of Horrors, Target Field. After sweeping Boston at Fenway for the first time in 19 years and with the Twins beating the A.L. West leading Texas, it's hard to say just who has the momentum. Everything is clicking for both teams right now. Ozzie and the Sox begin a four game set with Detroit tomorrow at Comerica and the Twins take on the lowly Royals. The Sox need to keep winning and stay within a reachable number because things don't get any easier for them. Hopefully, we'll have some October baseball to talk about in this city. I would love to see what October magic Manny can do in a Sox uniform.