An abbreviated week for the Chicago Bears means an abbreviated Brutally Honest Preview for me. And posting that preview on Monday afternoon instead of the usual Wednesday or Thursday morning. Previews only have a shelf life of a couple days, so if you’re still doing Chicago Bears recap today…time to move on. “Lean Forward” as MSNBC would say.
And the Bears were to playing defense yesterday vs. New Orleans what MSNBC is to generating good ratings. After a loss, you want to “reset” and all those stupid meaningless cliches, as fast possible. With this week the schedule means you have to. Let’s get to Chicago Bears versus New York Giants.
TV: NFL Network, 7:30 CDT. Thursday
LINE: Chicago Bears -9.5
New York Giants Preview:
How bad are things for the New York Giants? Well, Guyism reports that one strip club has vowed not to show their games anymore in protest.
Rick’s Cabaret New York blacked out the Giants following their loss to the Eagles. The strippers say men aren’t ponying up cash during games. A month of hapless performance by the Giants have taken a toll on the local stripper economy. “We love the Giants, but they get the crowd at our Weekend Football Viewing Parties all depressed”
The Giants lost 36-21 to the Eagles in New Jersey in a game that well somebody had to win. Chip Kelly and Philly have their own issues, but the Giants are just what it takes to fix up your problems. Just ask the Bears defense, who clearly have major issues too. Nothing like the NYG O to take care of that.
NBC Analyst Rodney Harrison: “Eli Manning and this offense, they’re just terrible.” #ThisIsTrue #CaptObvious
The Giants are are a respectable 10th in passing, but they’re dead last in the NFL in rushing yards per game. They don’t even put up 6o yards a contest.
What about the other side of the ball? The Giants are known for two things: Head Coach Tom Coughlin being a massive douche. That hasn’t changed. And their endless army of inter-changeable pass-rushers from all the front-seven positions, year-in and year-out. That’s completely changed. Jason Pierre-Paul, the 15th pick in the 2010 draft has just one sack. He’s also demoted to second string. He plays through a sprained MCL as he tries to improve upon his disappointing season. Justin Tuck and Mark Herzlich are the only guys left in the base 4-3 on that defense you’ve still heard of.
Chicago Bears Preview:
Jay Cutler was sacked three times on blitzes in the first half as the Bears struggled to find proper protection from the Saints’ various methods of attack.
It’s also odd that Cutler’s best outings come in losses, not wins. It seems every time he throws for 300+ it’s in a losing effort. In wins, sometimes his stats are less pretty. Yesterday he threw for a season-high 358 yards – 218 to Alshon Jeffery, who broke Johnny Morris’ Chicago Bears record for yards receiving in a game.
He had a QB rating of 128.8 and two touchdowns. One of which went to Brandon Marshall, who is whining about not being targeted enough. Cutler also went without an interception for the second time this season, though he did lose a first-quarter fumble when he was blindsided on a safety blitz by Malcolm Jenkins.
Speaking of #CuttyDoesIt here’s the greatest Chicago Bears jersey, you’ll ever see.
Like I said last week, Cutler isn’t the problem, the defense is.
Yesterday, Julius Peppers didn’t even register in the stat sheet. Yes, New Orleans has a very good offensive line, but that is just unacceptable. Peppers is the best player on this defense. Or at least his reputation says he is. Julius Peppers has the track record of being the Bears best defender. However, where is he in 2013? He’s not making an impact at all.
In five games, Peppers has one sack and eight total tackles. Stephen Paea, who plays next to him, has played in one fewer game than Peppers, and he has almost twice as many tackles. With Henry Melton out for the year, and Shea McClellin looking like a TREMENDOUS BUST, and now Melton’s back-up, Nate Collins going down for the season with the same exact injury as Melton, the Bears desperately need Julius Peppers to get healthy and contribute. They’re down to their 3rd string interior tackle as the leader on the first team defense.
The ROI here is just awful. The investment is no longer paying off for Chicago as he’s earning 10 million dollars this season.
Brutally Honest Record 62-22
Brutally Honest Pick: Chicago Bears 24, New York Giants 16
Chicago Bears look just fine against bad competition. Not so much against the better teams. Therefore, they are consistent. They are 13-22 in the Cutler era versus teams with a record over .500
Listen to my Bears reports every Friday at 7:30 AM CDT on WAOR, 95.7 The Fan Michiana
Paul M. Banks is the owner of The Sports Bank.net, an affiliate of Fox Sports. An analyst for 95.7 The Fan and 1620 The Zone, he also writes for Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter (@paulmbanks), Facebook, and RSS