Larry Ness
20* Monday Night Game of the Month
The Packers destroyed the Bears at Green Bay in Week 11, routing Chicago 37-3. The Bears hardly looked like a playoff-caliber team in that game, surrendering 30 unanswered points, allowing a season-high 200 rushing yards and Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers was 23-of-30 for 227 with two TDs and one INT (had a 105.8 QB rating). Meanwhile, Bears QB Kyle Orton had an awful game (133 YP), including a fumbled snap that was returned for a 54-yard TD in the fourth quarter. Adding insult to injury, Orton was pulled for Rex Grossman. The Green Bay win left both the Packers and Bears at 5-5. However, look what's happened since. The Packers have 'imploded' (0-4 SU and ATS), while the Bears have won THREE of four. Chicago's playoff hopes also got a huge boost these last couple of days, as the Cowboys lost on Saturday with Minnesota, Philadelphia and Tampa Bay all losing yesterday. A win here and next week at Houston and the Bears could be in the postseason. Let me first say that Green Bay's woes have little to do with Aaron Rodgers. He enters the final two games of the season (his first as a starter), having completed 63.7 percent for 3,470 yards with 23 TDs and 12 INTs. Let me remind everyone that before Favre's terrific 2007 season, his QB rating in 2005 was 70.9 (20 TDs / 29 INTs) and 72.7 in 2006 (18 TDs / 18 INTs). Favre led the Jets to an 8-3 start TY but they've now lost THREE of four and Favre's (84.0 rating with 21 TDs and 19 INTs) not having a better season than Rodgers this year! The Green Bay defense has just fallen apart these last four games, allowing 32.5 PPG. The rush D has been an issue all season (138.2 YPG / 4.8 YPC) but after ranking among the league's top teams against the pass for the season's first 10 games, Green Bay's pass D has been a mess. Brees started the carnage on a Monday night (323 YP / 4 TDs ) and Schaub threw for 414 yards against the Packers in Week 14. The team's four-game total in this 0-4 SU and ATS run shows 1,152 passing yards allowed (288.0 per). Putting that in perspective, Seattle ranked last in passing yards entering Week 16 at 260.9 YPG. Let me also note that Green Bay had allowed just 11 TD passes through its first 10 games (while intercepting 17!) over 330 attempts but over these last four games (119 attempts) has allowed eight TDs with just one INT! I expect Kyle Orton to play much better this time around vs Green Bay, as he's had a very solid year for the Bears. He's provided them with steady play at QB (Rex is now a distant memory), throwing 15 TDs and only 10 INTs for a respectable 80.1 QB rating. Rookie RB Matt Forte (1,115 / 4.0 YPC) is hardly spectacular but gives Chicago the kind of running game it had with Thomas Jones (why did the Bears ever let him go?). The first-year player from Tulane also leads the team with 58 catches. There's nothing special about Chicago's receiving corps as while Hester is an All-Pro return man, he's a mediocre WR (43 catches / 13.2 YPC / 4 TDs). However, the TE combo of Olsen and Clark has accounted for 81 catches. This will be Chicago's third straight home game and the Bears come in well-rested, off Week 15's Thursday night game. Chicago's playoff hopes are very much 'alive' and the Bears will show little mercy for the hated-Packers, who have shown to have little left in their collective 'tanks.'
Monday Night Game of the Month 20* Chi Bears.
20* Monday Night Game of the Month
The Packers destroyed the Bears at Green Bay in Week 11, routing Chicago 37-3. The Bears hardly looked like a playoff-caliber team in that game, surrendering 30 unanswered points, allowing a season-high 200 rushing yards and Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers was 23-of-30 for 227 with two TDs and one INT (had a 105.8 QB rating). Meanwhile, Bears QB Kyle Orton had an awful game (133 YP), including a fumbled snap that was returned for a 54-yard TD in the fourth quarter. Adding insult to injury, Orton was pulled for Rex Grossman. The Green Bay win left both the Packers and Bears at 5-5. However, look what's happened since. The Packers have 'imploded' (0-4 SU and ATS), while the Bears have won THREE of four. Chicago's playoff hopes also got a huge boost these last couple of days, as the Cowboys lost on Saturday with Minnesota, Philadelphia and Tampa Bay all losing yesterday. A win here and next week at Houston and the Bears could be in the postseason. Let me first say that Green Bay's woes have little to do with Aaron Rodgers. He enters the final two games of the season (his first as a starter), having completed 63.7 percent for 3,470 yards with 23 TDs and 12 INTs. Let me remind everyone that before Favre's terrific 2007 season, his QB rating in 2005 was 70.9 (20 TDs / 29 INTs) and 72.7 in 2006 (18 TDs / 18 INTs). Favre led the Jets to an 8-3 start TY but they've now lost THREE of four and Favre's (84.0 rating with 21 TDs and 19 INTs) not having a better season than Rodgers this year! The Green Bay defense has just fallen apart these last four games, allowing 32.5 PPG. The rush D has been an issue all season (138.2 YPG / 4.8 YPC) but after ranking among the league's top teams against the pass for the season's first 10 games, Green Bay's pass D has been a mess. Brees started the carnage on a Monday night (323 YP / 4 TDs ) and Schaub threw for 414 yards against the Packers in Week 14. The team's four-game total in this 0-4 SU and ATS run shows 1,152 passing yards allowed (288.0 per). Putting that in perspective, Seattle ranked last in passing yards entering Week 16 at 260.9 YPG. Let me also note that Green Bay had allowed just 11 TD passes through its first 10 games (while intercepting 17!) over 330 attempts but over these last four games (119 attempts) has allowed eight TDs with just one INT! I expect Kyle Orton to play much better this time around vs Green Bay, as he's had a very solid year for the Bears. He's provided them with steady play at QB (Rex is now a distant memory), throwing 15 TDs and only 10 INTs for a respectable 80.1 QB rating. Rookie RB Matt Forte (1,115 / 4.0 YPC) is hardly spectacular but gives Chicago the kind of running game it had with Thomas Jones (why did the Bears ever let him go?). The first-year player from Tulane also leads the team with 58 catches. There's nothing special about Chicago's receiving corps as while Hester is an All-Pro return man, he's a mediocre WR (43 catches / 13.2 YPC / 4 TDs). However, the TE combo of Olsen and Clark has accounted for 81 catches. This will be Chicago's third straight home game and the Bears come in well-rested, off Week 15's Thursday night game. Chicago's playoff hopes are very much 'alive' and the Bears will show little mercy for the hated-Packers, who have shown to have little left in their collective 'tanks.'
Monday Night Game of the Month 20* Chi Bears.
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