I'll admit all day that I'm not an expert. I'm a passionate, yet logical fan. In that sense I guess I can be a bit arrogant, and will make no apologies for being just that. You don't see the two mixed too much at all. That means that picking the game between the Chicago Bears and Cincinnati Bengals is something that won't be easy.
Go on the ESPNChicago website and look at some of the things the fans are saying. People are calling for the head of Scott Powers because he would have the audacity to pick a team with a great defensive line to take down a team with an unproven offensive line. It's really something that saddens me as a Chicago fan. Sure, these people don't represent every Chicago fan, and may not even (and probably don't) represent the majority of Chicago sports fans. However, they are the ones making their voices heard.
That's one of the reasons I started this blog. I know that the reasonable fan, the one that understands that it's not "we", it's they, but still roots just as hard as the "we" crowd. The one that understands that admitting your favorite teams faults doesn't make you a bad fan, just an honest one. The one that...well, has a brain, is something that exists in Chicago sports. In fact, when I talk person to person with most of the fans I know, that's all I find, but yet you go on different websites and see people trying to destroy people who would dare say that they don't agree with what is convenient to the Chicago sports fan, and I know that's not who Chicago sports fans REALLY are.
Sure, every team has their idiots. I mean, look at Green Bay. Sure, nobody will say that Packers fans are among the smartest in the league (although their passion will never be questioned), but how many do you see still calling Cutler a quitter when he had a grade 2 MCL sprain (tear) in that NFC championship game. Let me put that in simple terms, he was fractions of an inch away from having the same injury to his MCL as Derrick Rose had to his ACL. A quitter? Absolutely not, an injured player? Absolutely. Anyone who calls him a quitter from that game is an idiot, plain and simple, assuming they know the facts. If not, then they're still an idiot, but just because they're blabbing without knowing the facts.
Still though, I am someone that demands more out of myself that I do out of other people. Maybe I'm on a bit of a high horse, but the bottom line is that I don't expect anything out of somebody else that I can't provide myself (within reason, of course). However, I've been shaking my head at a lot of my fellow Bears fans who are trying to say that this game is going to be a breeze for the Bears. Let's not forget that the Bengals have made the playoffs 2 years in a row. Sure, the AFC is worse than the NFC right now (and it's not even close), but they've still been good enough to be in the playoffs in a legitimate conference.
The biggest strength for the Bengals is their defensive line. Geno Atkins is easily one of the best defensive tackles in the league. Carlos Dunlap is no joke, and Margus Hunt may wind up being a serious threat all season. Beyond that, Vontaze Burfict has proven how little combine numbers really mean. I was begging for the Bears to use their (wasted) 7th round pick on him in the 2012 draft. However, they didn't take him. I understand the character issues, but everyone knew the guy could play, regardless of combine stats, yet all of the teams fell victim for the combine hype.
What's the biggest question mark on the Bears offense? Offensive line. I've been singing the praises of both Kyle Long and Jordan Mills all preseason. Both guys have looked great. However, at the same time, neither player has played a single game in the regular season. Their competition so far has been complacent starters and 2nd (and 3rd) string guys. The real competition has not been there. That's not to say that they cannot handle them, but at the same time they are unproven. That means that they haven't shown what they really can do yet. That really goes for all rookies at this point, but it still means that none of us know what exactly to expect.
A lot of fans can't believe that anyone would question Long or Mills at this point. I mean, did you see what they did to the defensive linemen from the Raiders? Yeah, exactly, complacent starters from the Raiders. Again, I'm not saying that they won't dominate the Bengals, but you're going from one of the worst to one of the best defenses out there. Let's keep things in perspective.
Bottom line, this is going to be a tough game. If I break it down, I'll do it this way:
Passing Offense: Bengals (slight)
I'll gladly admit that this can wind up going the opposite way, but the Bengals, at this point are more proven. I'll take Cutler over Dalton, but Cincinnati has a more complete group than the Bears have been proven to have.
Running Offense: Bears (solid)
This will include passing to an extent, as the Bears have one of the best receiving running backs in the league with Forte. However, he has to be used to really show that strength. Still though, the duel running threat that the Bears have exceeds what the Bengals have with Green-Ellis and....yeah.
Offensive Line: Bengals (slight)
This is very much based on what is proven. The big new is that Whitworth, the starting left tackle for the Bengals will be out. This will very likely shift things in the Bears favor. However, that assumes that Long and Mills are able to hold their own on the right side. Again, this is about what is proven rather than what we really think.
Secondary: Bears (solid)
The Bears had the best corner duo in the league last year, even better than a strong Seattle group. They're a year older, but both Tillman and Jennings are in phenomenal shape and shouldn't have much of a dropoff. The safety duo of Conte and Wright may not have the best at either safety spot, but they work with the rest of the defense perfectly.
Linebackers: Bears (solid)
As much as I've praised Burfict, the Bears still have Briggs. DJ Williams will get the start, but if he's not on from the start, all of us know that Jon Bostic will be able to come right in. Sure, Bostic still has some hurdles to jump in his game, but he's still a very good option. James Anderson is also a great guy to have starting as well. The Bengals have a solid group there, but it's not at the level of the Bears.
Defensive Line: Bengals (slight)
The one thing I will say is that this isn't a huge win for the Bengals. The Bears still have a very strong trio of defensive ends who can get to the quarterback. They have a strong duo of starting tackles. Don't forget about Henry Melton, a legitimate pro bowl guy in his own right. The Bengals have the stronger group, but it's by no means a blowout.
Special Teams: Bears (solid)
Having the best return man of all-time going back to just returning is a great start. Having arguably the best kicker in the game isn't bad either. The Bears have been a team that has always prided themselves on what they have at special teams, on top of everything else. This game I expect to be no different.
Before I give my final prediction, remember, this isn't the Bears defensive line against the Bengals' defensive line. It's not the Bears offensive line against the offensive line of the Bengals. It's the Bears defense against the Bengals offense, it's the Bears offense against the Bengals defense.
This is a very tough game to call. However, the Bears are at home, and a lot of the edges that the Bengals do have are small ones. With the Bears there are several solid edges that they have. This is where I can include what I expect out of certain players over what is proven. What I expect to see is the Bears to maybe come out with a bit of a whimper on the first couple of possessions on offense. Hold on defense, then come to life on offense and tear the Bengals apart....okay, yeah, that's a bit much. I do expect to see a Bears win. In fact, I'm going to be on the optimistic side and say it'll be 24-17.
No comments:
Post a Comment