The Chicago Bears are having a charmed early season. They played the woeful Carolina Panthers, and held them to 150 yards for the game, giving up just two field goals, and won the game, 23-6. The Bears second-string QB, Todd Collins, threw for four interceptions, completing 6 passes in an otherwise poor outing. But Matt Forte rushed for 166 yards, including a 68 yard burst down the left sideline for a touchdown. Forte was the man for the day, and the Bears advance to 4-1 for the season.
Hopefully Jay Cutler will be well enough to start vs. Seattle. But getting him back is not as urgent as it seemed.
Perhaps Collins will learn from his mistakes and make some nice throws. Perhaps the Bears can afford to let Cutler sit this next game out. Whenever he gets back, he will be a target and can expect a focused approach to making him rush his throws.
But the Bears defense is better this year with the addition of an inspired Julius Peppers who is all over the field. He is making plays that a younger Brian Urlacher once did. Urlacher still commands respect, but he is aging now. Lance Briggs is solid on defense as Urlacher's wing man, and is one of the best linebackers in the League. Chicago has some winnable games coming up. Take the harvest now, because once the weather gets cold, the schedule gets really tough.
