*Editor's Note: This piece was written Tuesday night but, due to Internet problems, is being posted just now.
Only the NFL can make headlines with the release of its regular season schedule. Granted, there are only a handful of games for fans to absorb, so the attention given to each week is natural. However, this speaks increasingly to the booming popularity of the league.
So I worked ten hours earlier today and have yet to look at the match-ups. Frankly, I forgot about it until just moments ago, and it’s very tantalizing. I love trying to predict the outcome, and the best games, and how it’ll all play out. I recall the Bears having one of the tougher schedules out there. This is most likely because we’re stuck playing the AFC South this year, a division that produced three, count ‘em 3, playoffs teams in the AFC last year. The Colts will be riding high on Dungy’s swan song; the Jags should be entering their prime; the Titans will roll if Young makes some strides; and the Texans are certainly credible with Schaub in his second year. Yikes. Pencil in an 0-4 for the Bears if Grossman has a turnover in any of those games.
Week 1: Sun., 9/7/08, 8:15 PM ET
Chicago at Indianapolis
Someone thought it would be funny and cute to stage a rematch of Super Bowl XLI for the premiere of Sunday Night Football. Now, there are two ways to look at this game. A) You immediately recognize the Colts as the superior team. Dungy’s final year, Manning not gonna slow down a bit, supporting cast all there (and Gonzalez will fill-in nicely for Harrison, who reportedly just had more surgery done…), this is a no-brainer. And if there’s any doubt, remember what they did last year to the Saints in their primetime opener? B) Hey, Week 1 is perhaps the most capricious weekend of football each year. Teams are adjusting to new schemes, fitting in new role players, trying to figure out the opposition (of whom they have no film), etc. A team with a more talented roster can easily fall victim to an ‘07 trash heap. Not to imply that last year’s Bears were a trash heap or anything. More like a perpetual motion machine, moving constantly in a back and forth motion. I thought the Bears could do this last season opening at San Diego, but man was that game woeful. Between the three measly points we managed, Grossman’s ineffectual performance, the emergence of Benson’s patented two-yard hop-and-drop, and the bizarre no-call on Tommie Harris (which I guess I shouldn’t complain about), my body shuddered to realize this team was one game removed from the Super Bowl.
I’ll take the former, thank you.
Bears: 0-1
Week 2: Sun., 9/14/08, 1:00 PM ET
Chicago at Carolina
The playing field seems a bit more level this week. A fellow 7-9er, Carolina has similar QB issues and some questions on defense. Delhomme went down for the count in Week 3 last year and had Tommy John surgery, and David Carr did nothing to validate his #1 pick status. Rookie Matt Moore went 2-1 as a starter late in the season, notably. The Bears should be pumped or terrified, depending on how you look at it, to face Steve Smith again. They’ll also need to deal with DeAngelo Williams, who should be showing some good stuff by now.
I think the Bears will pounce on whichever shaky QB is under center for the Panthers and eke out a close one for its first win, possibly with the aid of a Devin Hester return.
Bears: 1-1
Week 3: Sun., 9/21/08, 1:00 PM ET
Tampa Bay at Chicago
Home opener. Tampa Bay won the NFC South last year with nine wins and somehow lost a playoff game they had two weeks to prepare for. They’ll have a good ground game if Cadillac can stay healthy and Graham can continue his play from last year, but the rest of the offense lacks otherwise. Garcia will break down – he’s got to at some point, right? – and so will Joey Galloway and Ike Hilliard. The combined ages of those three guys totals at least a hundred. I don’t think their D is anything to write home about, either.
Another toss-up, but I’m going with the Bears cause I’m still pissed at the Bucs’ Michael Spurlock for returning a kickoff for a TD last December (the franchise’s first) and costing me my entire fantasy season. I beat a cat who was undefeated in the last week of the regular season, subsequently clinched our league’s wild card spot, and then lost it a week later because of Spurlock. The Bears will crush.
Bears: 2-1
Week 4: Sun., 9/28/08, 8:15 PM ET
Philadelphia at Chicago
Another primetime affair! Quite excellent. The Eagles are yet again one of those middling NFC teams who can easily move two steps forward or four steps backward this year. Their D might steal the show with Asante Samuel stepping in, though. McNabb is looking to bounce back to his 2004 form. Westbrook is a beast.
The team that commits the least turnovers will most likely win any football game, and this adage will prove even truer when the Bears are matched up against some of the NFC’s middle class. I think they’ll do us in here, personally. Samuel had three interceptions against Grossman when they last met, and Westbrook always scares me. Urlacher and Briggs will need to work hard to contain his versatility. No Griese heroics this year.
Bears: 2-2
Week 5: Sun., 10/5/08, 1:00 PM ET
Chicago at Detroit
The first divisional game will be key considering the potential for a packed North. The Vikings are on the verge of breaking through if Tarvaris Jackson can figure out how to play his position, and Aaron Rodgers and the Packers may surprise some folks with seven or eight wins. Of course, Detroit will always suck. They lost Mike Martz and his circus offense, Shaun Rogers forced a trade, Roy Williams is starting to get annoyed, Matt Millen is still in office… Need I say more? If Benson is starting, he gets his first hundred-yard game here.
Bears: 3-2
Week 6: Sun., 10/12/08, 1:00 PM ET
Chicago at Atlanta
Who knows where the Falcons will be by this time? Will new coach Mike Smith be steering things in the right direction? Will the signal-calling duties rest on the shoulders of Matt Ryan? Will Michael Turner be viable as a featured back? Does this sound like an annoyingly bad movie trailer?
This game could be the one where the Bears lay a complete egg – turnovers, incompletions, penalties – and yet still find a way to win. I’m buying Turner as a starter, but if the Falcons are leaning on him for their offense, which they most certainly will be, he’ll suffer and tire quickly. The Bears’ superior special teams will decide this one.
Bears: 4-2
Week 7: Sun., 10/19/08, 1:00 PM ET
Minnesota at Chicago
The Vikings can cause some serious damage next year. If Tarvaris Jackson can learn how to read a defense and quicken his release, you’re looking at a trendy Super Bowl pick. Great D, sensational running game, dominant O-Line – it’s all there. Unfortunately, Childress’s coaching is still highly suspect, and they just greatly overpaid for Berrian. Jackson wanted more reliable receivers and the organization goes and throws a bunch of money at a guy who dropped ‘em all the time last year. He’ll be a steady receiver for them, a deep threat every time, and we’ll sorely miss him, don’t get me wrong.
Don’t be fooled, though. Adrian Peterson will dominate this match-up.
Bears: 4-3
Week 8: BYE
Week 9: Sun., 11/2/08, 1:00 PM ET
Detroit at Chicago
I once watched one of those NFL Films season capsules on the 2006 Lions. Yes, you read that correctly. They actually produced a show based around a team that went 3-13. The best part of it was when they interviewed Matt Millen regarding the hiring of Marinelli as their head coach. He claimed he wanted Hot Rod because “he’s committed to winning.” Nice. Winning is something all coaches should strive for. Need I say more?
Bears: 5-3
Week 10: Sun., 11/9/08, 1:00 PM ET
Tennessee at Chicago
Like I said earlier, the Titans’ fortunes will go as Vince Young goes. He will need to make better decisions and recognize when he should take advantage of his mobility so he doesn’t kill himself running around all the time. The team’s done nothing to help his receiving corps, though, save for the addition of Justin McCareins. Albert Haynesworth, playing with the franchise tag on him, will be looking to have another great year as long as he avoids serious injury. If he’s in the game, Benson will total roughly forty yards and change, and maybe a few more catching dump-offs in the flats. Whichever defense plays better will most likely decide this one. I’m calling the Titans in this one.
Bears: 5-4
Week 11: Sun., 11/16/08, 1:00 PM ET
Chicago at Green Bay
I was pleasantly surprised at how well Aaron Rodgers played against Dallas last season. Then again, when you’re stuck on the bench behind Favre for a few seasons, who wouldn’t want to jump on that opportunity? Rodgers could develop into a new Romo, minus the affinity for dumb blonde celebrities, and the Packers may sneak up on the league and steal a handful of games. I’m thinking they finished one or two games below .500 – not good enough for the playoffs, but enough to give some hope to all the Wisconsiners in the post-Favre era. It helps that Ryan Grant is playing for a new contract, too. Their D will be solid like last year except for Al Harris, who is so widely overrated. This guy was a Pro Bowler in ’07, really? Plaxico downright abused him in the NFC Championship! I remember when the Pack had him and Mike McKenzie and for the longest time I always thought it was the same longhaired cornerback making plays all over the field. This could be why people think he’s so good.
That being said, the Bears will look to continue their recent dominance against their North rivals and definitely won’t let an opportunity like this pass by. We’ve been waiting for years for Favre to get injured or bolt the Bay or retire and now it’s here. Grossman will throw for 220 yards, roughly, with a couple TDs and maybe one INT, and Benson will do just enough to move the chains. But nothing more, mind you.
The real story will be the Bears TEs. Shying away from Woodson and Harris, Olsen and Clark should flourish up the middle of the field. Ryan Grant will top 100 yards, but it won’t matter.
Bears: 6-4
Week 12: Sun., 11/23/08, 1:00 PM ET
Chicago at St. Louis
I’m buying a Rams comeback in 2008. Steven Jackson finished strong last year and with Bulger throwing to Torry Holt, that’s a pretty strong group. Plus, they’ve got the #2 pick in the draft, which will amount to A) Michigan OT Jake Long, B) LSU DT Glenn Dorsey, or C) Virginia DE Chris Long. Since Long is already in contract negotiations with the Dolphins to go #1 overall, the Rams will probably nab Dorsey. He’ll make an immediate impact on their weak defensive line with his strong build and quickness. Additionally, they already have Pace and Barron to solidify the O-Line, so Long’s not as much of a need.
Though I’m not too keen on Scott Linehan, he’ll pull this one out from under us because an overwhelmed Archuleta, replacing an injury to McGowan in the final quarter, will be too caught up in the emotions of returning to the only place he’s ever had athletic success to bother tackling Steven Jackson as he bursts through a gaping hole in the secondary.
Bears: 6-5
Week 13: Sun., 11/30/08 8:15 PM ET
Chicago at Minnesota (The Fourth Battle of the Adrian Petersons)
The Bears have the distinction of being the sole team to play three straight road games. Come on! At least the Bears can take solace in their lucrative marketing appeal with yet another Sunday Night game.
If I had to bet my life on it right now, I would say Minnesota is the best candidate to win the North but only by one or two games. This game could therefore potentially be a very important one if both teams are vying for control of the division. I don’t think the Bears have enough talent to beat the Vikes, so this will hinge on how Minnesota’s playing. They’ve been notoriously erratic and inconsistent the past two seasons and need to show more focus and motivation. If they’re playing well, like on a 2+ game win streak or something, they’ll easily win. If not, we will. Simple as that. Calling this in Minnesota’s favor.
Bears: 6-6
Week 14: Sun., 12/7/08, 1:00 PM ET
Jacksonville at Chicago
Jacksonville will be the trendy Super Bowl pick this year. They locked up Garrard with a new contract (he even sacrificed money to play!), threw around some money in free agency to help him (Jerry Porter, Troy Williamson), and have perhaps the best one-two punch in Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew. Of course, who knows if Taylor can stay healthy again for another full year. That was quite the aberration. Their defense won’t be as good as past years with the departure of coordinator Mike Smith and DT Marcus Stroud, but the offense should make up for it.
This team is hungry. Losing to the Pats twice in the playoffs is not a fun pill to swallow, especially after Tom Brady’s literally flawless performance in the AFC Divisional game. The Bears will fall below .500 for the first time since Week 1.
Bears: 6-7
Week 15: Thu., 12/11/08, 8:15 PM ET
New Orleans at Chicago
The Bears will have four days to prepare for this one. Not a good sign.
The Saints should return to their form of two years ago when they reached the NFC Championship. There’s too much talent on this roster. The return of Deuce McAllister will be a huge boost to the running game; Reggie Bush can in no way be a feature back at this point in his career. They’ll get a solid role player in the first round, too, most likely at linebacker or cornerback.
But this is where their season ends, just like the past two years, in the unforgiving atmosphere of a cold December night on the lakefront. If the Bears make it three in a row, the Saints become our official bitches. Grossman passes for 300+ yards against a weak secondary and Hester, who by now should be completely assimilated into the offense, runs wild. Both teams could be fighting for a playoff spot, so it should be a good one regardless. Then again, that’s how it was last December when the Bears traveled to Washington on a Thursday.
Bears: 7-7
Week 16: Mon., 12/22/08, 8:30 PM ET
Green Bay at Chicago
A Thursday Night game followed by a Monday Night game. Sound familiar? That’s because it happened in last December. Clearly, the scheduling committee likes to shake things up. Well, it works well for all the out-of-market fans (myself included).
I already said all I had to on Green Bay, who’ll probably be looking for win number six or seven at this point if not stuck waiting for next season to begin. Bust out the brooms – I smell a sweep.
Bears: 8-7
Week 17: Sun., 12/28/08, 1:00 PM ET
Chicago at Houston
This is it. It all comes down to the final week for the Bears. At 8-7, they’re on the cusp of making the playoffs. Minnesota’s got the division secured, so Chicago will be looking for a wild card spot. Houston will be good, maybe even contending for a playoff spot, but good enough to challenge the Colts and Jags for the AFC South crown? Nah. This could be the Bears best all-around performance with quality contribution from every position.
Bears: 9-7
So there you have it – a 9-7 record that will land us second in the NFC North and a hopeful wild card spot in the playoffs. Now we’ve only got four and a half months til this thing starts playing out!
