NFL Week Three: Dallas Cowboys-Chicago Bears Analysis

PREVIEW OF COWBOYS-BEARS TILT ON SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL

Nearly a year ago, the Chicago Bears destroyed the Seattle Seahawks at Soldier Field in front of a national audience on Sunday Night Football, establishing themselves as the elite team in the National Football Conference. The Bears did so in that game by opening up the playbook and letting quarterback Rex Grossman play. Grossman responded with one of his best efforts last season, earning player of the game honors and being unfortunately compared to Brett Favre by John Madden at one point. Of course, Grossman would throw up a stinker in Arizona a few weeks later on Monday Night Football and become the much-aligned question mark during the Bears run to Super Bowl XLI.

As the Bears prepare to take on the undefeated Dallas Cowboys tonight on SNF, the local media has been describing this game as Grossman’s last stand: either Grossman plays well, gets the offense going and helps lead the Bears to a big victory or he stinks up the joint and basically secures the ascension of Brian Griese to the number-one quarterback spot. Whether the Bears as an organization feels this way remains to be seen, but all the blame should not be placed on Rex.

Through two games, Grossman has been made a game manager by Offensive Coordinator Ron Turner, who has not shown the ability to consistently game plan around this kid since midway through last season. Barring two bad and inexcusable interceptions during an ugly second half last week in a 20-10 victory against the Kansas City Chiefs, Grossman was decent, given what he was given by Turner. Unfortunately, Turner has not let Grossman get into a rhythm yet this season. With the exception of Sun-Times Columnist Carol Slezak, few others in the media have pitted the blame on the Bears weak offensive start to Turner’s conservative playcalling. Rather, once again, all the negative press has gone to Grossman, the media whipping boy.

With that said, it’s time for Ron Turner to step up tonight (much easier said than done) and let Grossman play against a very suspect Cowboys defense in which points can be had. Let Grossman go deep and challenge the Cowboys. Get Grossman into an early rhythm by hitting tight end Desmond Clark and rookie Greg Olsen, who will be making his NFL debut. Utilize Bernard Berrian as a deep threat and get the ball to possession receiver Muhsin Mohammed. Take the good with the bad with Rex, and give the kid a fighting chance to do something.

While everyone is putting this game on Rex, it really should be on Turner, who has been as bad as John Shoop at the start of this season.

Keys to the Game

Turner’s Playcalling: Conservative or Aggressive? Turner needs to come out with the idea of Grossman getting into a nice passing rhythm rather than focusing on letting unproven and unimpressive running back Cedric Benson pounding it out to open up the pass. Turner can do so by utilizing the most underrated player on the offense, Clark. Turner needs to show some variety in his playcalling and stop going to the well too many times with the same play (i.e. the halfback dump-off pass, which was used too many times last week against the Chiefs). Turner should let Grossman go for a homerun ball early in the game and see if he can get his quarterback off to a confident start. In summary, be aggressive rather than conversative. Call plays to win the game rather to not lose it. Get the passing game on track and use it to set up the running game.

Turnovers: Chicago’s offense has six turnovers in the first two games this season and has been unable to keep the defense off the field for the most part. Benson (one fumble thus far) and Adrian Peterson (two fumbles, one lost) need to secure the football much closer to their bodies. Chicago can obviously not afford dumb interceptions from Grossman and thus put the Bears defense with its back against its own end zone, which has been an alarming scene thus far in 2007.

Pressure Tony Romo: Unlike Grossman, Romo is a media darling. Why? Because he did a nice job last year, is accessible and says all the right things to them! While off to a good start this season, Romo has not faced a defense like the Bears. Like Turner, Defensive Coordinator Bob Babich has to have his most aggressive game plan of the season. Chicago needs to bring the heat to Romo early and often and rattle the young quarterback with a blitzing scheme featuring Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs or maybe even a defensive back like Ricky Manning Jr. Romo has been anointed by the media as the greatest thing since sliced bread during his short career as a starter, and it’s time for the Bears to show tonight that this kid has a long way to go. Put this dorky white guy to the turf all night and knock him out of the game.

Get Physical with Terrell Owens: For as much of a self-promoter and alleged stud Owens is, the Bears can get his head by being physical. One of the most overrated players in the history of the game, Owens does not like to run over the middle and will put the ball on the ground when hit. Peanut Tillman figures to get much of the duty against Owens, but the Bears should use new addition Adam Archuleta to shadow Owens as well.

Overall: The Bears offense is going to have to do something tonight, beginning with Turner and Grossman, and limit turnovers. Luckily, they’re going up against a Dallas defense that is nothing special. If aggressive, the Bears can put up some points tonight. But will Turner let Grossman and his offensive mates do so?

The Bears defense can hold down the Cowboys offense; however, if it has to be on the field all game and play with a short field because of offensive turnovers, the Cowboys will get their points. Both sides of the ball need to be really physical tonight and make plays, as Dallas will avoid Devin Hester at all costs. Expect the Bears defense to be really physical and go after Romo and Owens, both overrated, ESPN darlings whom can be taken out of the game.

Prediction: It’s time for Chicago to reestablish itself this week as the class of a very weak NFC (Green Bay is 3-0 for God’s sake). If Turner comes out aggressive and lets Grossman play, the Bears will win this game 27-10. If he comes out like the last two weeks and banks the game on the defense or special teams, the Bears will lose a similar game to the opening week loss in San Diego by the score of 19-10.

After two less-than-stellar, offensive efforts to open the season, the Bears offense will come out tonight looking to be aggressors rather than participants in the game. Chicago gets the win by double figures as a hungry defense dominates (eating up Romo and Owens) and the Bears offense gets healthy for at least one game.