Week 10---Sunday Night in Chicago: Where the Elites Meet

Houston Texans (7-1) at Chicago Bears (7-1) 8:20 pm EST on NBC

This is about as much anticipation for a mid-season game as you're going to get.  When you pair two 7-1 teams, you're going to get a lot of "bests" and "mosts".  Let's get to it...

Da Bears:

Rudyard Kipling once said, "I have struck a city---a real city---and they call it 'Chicago'.  Having seen it, I urgently desire never to see it again.  It is inhabited by savages."  

If he was referring to the beloved duo of Lance Briggs (Arizona) and Brian Urlacher (New Mexico), he wasn't far off.  Urlacher could run for mayor....and win.  In his 12th season as a Bear, he is leading the 6th-ranked defense in the league.  That being said, this D is a mystery wrapped in an enigma and is strangely vulnerable to being picked apart by an elite team, for they are nothing if not generous, allowing 4.3 yards per carry.  So how do they win?  

1.  A defense that has scored touchdowns 7 times off 17 interceptions....17.  That's a lot.
2.  A defense that gives its offense a short field to work with
3.  A defense that has somehow made a slow-starting offense the 3rd best in the league
 

Speaking of enigmas, Bears QB, Jay Cutler, (Vanderbilt) is a beautiful disaster.  His QB rating through the first three quarters of each of the 8 games played is 68.6, but he explodes with a 135.0 fourth-quarter passer rating.  Can you trail the entire game against Arian Foster and the Houston Texans offense and get away with a win yet again?  I wouldn't advise it anymore than I would advise marrying Kristin Cavallari. 




Da Texans:

How does the league's number two offense win?  Two words:  Arian.  Foster.  

The 26-year old self-proclaimed vegan (who eats meat) is known for a few key things:

1.  10 rushing TDs (leads the league) with ZERO fumbles
2.  24 rushes per game average (leads the league)
3.  His brand new $43.5 million 5 year contract and his Under Armour endorsement deal
4.  and....the South's answer to "Tebowing"........"Fostering", his very own Namaste pose that he says is his way of paying respect to the game of football.  

This Texan team takes care of the football with only 6 turnovers the entire season, the lowest in the NFL.  QB Matt Schaub (Virginia) enjoys a hugely productive play-action option while opposing defenses keep their eyes on number 23.  And be sure to watch the best defensive player in football, JJ Watts (Wisconsin).  He is the league leader in tipped passes, has 10.5 sacks and 28 tackles for a loss.  Ouch. 

Although the Bears home field advantage helps give them a one point edge in Vegas-land, I think this game is what we call dead even.  It's going to be a great night.