Welcome back to the Chicago Bears Round Up! I am sorry for taking an entire year off from the blog, but life happens. I am going to get back into the blogging fold with a preview for this week's game against the Cardinals
This game could come down to what teams makes the least amount of mistakes. Jay Cutler has been mistake prone for years now and it has been a thorn in the Bears sides. Last week against the Packers, Cutler threw an interception to Clay Mathews. Although, when looking at the pre-snap read, it seems that Mathews could have been "freelancing". That will happen from time to time, but against the Cardinals, Cutler will need to be on his A game. The secondary of the Cardinals is one of the best in the NFL. With the string of injuries the Bears have had in the wide receiver corps, this would spell trouble for the team.
Cutler Projected Stats: 17/27, 220 yards, 1 TD, 2 Ints
The main reason the game was competitive last week was the run blocking of the o-line and the vision of Matt Forte. Again, Forte and the o-line will be the key to success in this game. If Forte does not have over 130 yards this week, the Bears will have to rely on Cutler and that could spell trouble. The Bears will need to expose the weak interior of the Arizona defensive line to make headway in the passing game.
Forte Projected Stats: 21 Carries, 137 Yards, 2 TDs
The defense looked better due to smoke and mirrors. The Bears kept Rodgers off the field with the running game, but it still wasn't enough as he torched them through the air. The week will give us the truth about what to expect with this new defense. With Carson Palmer not being the most mobile QB look for McPhee to cause havoc in the backfield. That being said, the run game of the Cardinals has taken a hit with the loss of Andre Ellington. For all you fantasy owners out there I recommend you pick up David Johnson of the Cardinals. He will be the catalyst of this game due to the hit or miss nature of Chris Johnson. This match-up will be a fun one with many twist and turns.
Final Score Prediction: Bears 24 - Cardinals 21
