Bullz-Eye's NFL Game of the Week
11/08/2006
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We’ll be dissecting one big NFL match-up every week throughout the season, whether it's a long-standing rivalry, a divisional clash or a game with playoff implications.
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This week’s match up: Chicago Bears at New York Giants
Date: Sunday, Nov. 12
Time: 8:15pm ET, NBC
RESULT: Bears 38, Giants 20
Why to tune in:
This NFC battle has been brewing even before the Bears choked against Miami last Sunday at Soldier Field. The Giants come into this game winners of six straight after starting the season 0-2. Chicago was handed its first loss of the year when it dropped a 31-13 contest to the Dolphins. At this point in the season, these two teams are clearly the front-runners in the NFC with New Orleans and Seattle probably not too far behind. Another win for the Giants could open up a three-game lead in the NFC East while another Bears loss would have people questioning just how good the new Monsters of Midway are.
When the Bears have the ball:
Everything on Chicago’s offense revolves around Rex Grossman. Whichever Grossman shows up on Sunday will usually determine the Bears’ fate. Will the touchdown gunslinger show up in New Jersey Sunday night or it will it be the turnover machine? Chicago has had a margin of success running the ball of late with Thomas Jones. A more balanced attack is what coach Lovie Smith has been looking for all season and now that he’s finally gotten the ground game going, his quarterback play might be on the fritz. The Bears are meeting the Giants at a good time, however, considering the G-Men just lost defensive end Michael Strahan for at least three weeks with a foot injury. New York will also be without linebacker LaVar Arrington (season ending injury), so Jones may find running lanes in the Giants’ wounded front seven. One thing New York has done extremely well in its six-game winning streak is force turnovers, so if the bad Rex Grossman appears on Sunday night, the Giants defense might have a field day.
When the Giants have the ball:
The Bears are beginning to show a weakness defending downhill runners. Frank Gore and Ronnie Brown both cracked the 100-yard mark against Chicago’s defense the past two weeks, so expect Tiki Barber to do the same. Barber got into the end zone for the first time last week and has been killing opponents all season in rushing for a 4.7 yards per carry. Making matters worse for Chicago is that stud middle linebacker Brian Urlacher is now hobbled with a foot injury. He’s expected to play, but his strength is in getting to the ball carrier using his speed and that task will be tough on only one healthy foot. The loss of safety Mike Brown three weeks ago is really starting to catch up with the Bears since Brown played the run so well. Look for the Giants to set up the pass with Barber and slowly use good field position to crack the otherwise elite Bear defense. Wide receiver Plaxico Burress missed the game last week because of injury, but should be ready to go against Chicago.
Prediction:
Even with the loss to Miami last Sunday, I still think the Bears would have met their match this week. Both teams have injury concerns, but I think Grossman is quickly crashing back to earth and will get a heavy dose of pressure from New York. Looking back at its schedule, Chicago can only point to games against Minnesota and Seattle as quality wins, but the Vikings have since shown their true colors and the Seahawks were without Shaun Alexander, so I expect a bit of a wake up call for Da Bears this week.
Close score, but New York will win in a rather dominant performance: Giants 23, Bears 17.
Questions or comments on this game? Send them to astalter@bullz-eye.com.