The Chicago Bears are 2-1 at home this year and they are looking forward to tomorrow night’s tilt with the Vikings.  The Bears have beaten the Vikings 9 of the last 10 times these teams have played in the Windy City.  The Vikings broke the seal last week in getting their first win of the season, 34-10 over the Cardinals.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Bears have the ball:  It looks like RB Matt Forte will have more success in the passing game than he will in the running game for the Bears tomorrow night.  The Vikings are only allowing 76.4 yards rushing per game and 3.3 yards per carry.  Bears’ QB Jay Cutler is going to have to get rid of the ball quickly tomorrow night as the Vikings already have 16 sacks this year, while Cutler has been sacked 18 times so far in 2011.  That means that he’s going to have to get the ball to the WRs on the team with guts like Dane Sanzenbacher, Johnny Knox and TE Kellen Davis.

When the Vikings have the ball:  Everyone on the Bears’ D is going to have to deal with RB Adrian Peterson in this game.  The Vikings are averaging 160.0 yards rushing per game (5.4 ypc) so far this year while the Bears are giving up 135.6 yards rushing per game (5.7 ypc)!  Donovan McNabb looks like he’s toast, but the Bears will have to find a way to get pressure on him with DE Julius Peppers out of this game due to injury.

PREDICTION:  BEARS 20, VIKINGS 17

The Chicago Bears got blasted 30-13 by the Saints in their first (and only) road game so far this year.  The Lions are averaging 33.8 yards per game this year and they are off to a blazing start to 2011.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Bears have the ball:  The Bears are going to try the same formula that worked last weekend against the Panthers.  They are going to feed the ball to Matt Forte in the running game as the Lions are giving up 113.0 yards rushing per game and 4.8 yards per carry so far this year.  Establishing a running game will slow the Lions’ pass rush a little bit as Jay Cutler is starting to look antsy in the pocket.  It’s hard to blame him as he has been sacked 15 times already this year.  The Bears need someone other than Matt Forte to step up in the passing game.

When the Lions have the ball:  The Bears can expect the Lions to throw a ton of passes on Monday Night.  That’s partially because the Bears are giving 301.5 yards passing per game, but it’s also because Lions’ QB Matt Stafford is off to an outstanding start in 2011.  The Bears are hoping that Julius Peppers and the rest of the D-Line will be able to put pressure on Stafford in this game, but it won’t be easy as he has only been sacked 5 times so far this year.  WR Calvin Johnson (24 rec, 321 yards, 8 TD grabs) is having a monster season but it will be hard for the Bears to double him.  That’s because TE Brandon Pettigrew, WR Nate Burleson, WR Titus Young, TE Tony Scheffler and RB Jahvid Best give Stafford a lot of weapons other than Johnson to throw to.  The Lions don’t have much of a running game but Jahvid Best will get his carries against a Bears’ D that is allowing 124.3 yards rushing per game and 5.1 yards per carry.

PREDICTION:  LIONS 27, BEARS 17

The Chicago Bears have already played three of the best teams in the NFL this year in the Falcons, Saints and Packers.  While I don’t think this will be a walk in the park for the Bears, I do expect them to bring their A-Game just like they did in the season opener against the Falcons.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Bears have the ball:  Matt Forte is going to still be the focal point of the offense in this game, but it will be more likely running than catching the ball this weekend.  The Panthers are giving up 117.0 yards rushing per game and 4.4 yards per carry so far this year as they have had a couple of devastating injuries in the linebacking corps.  Jay Cutler has been sacked 14 times already this year which has caused him to rush things even when has had time to throw the ball.  The Panthers have two good DEs in Charles Johnson and Greg Hardy (5 combined sacks this year), so it will be up to the OTs to give Cutler the time he needs to throw the ball.  If Cutler has time to throw, he’s going to have a great game against a Panthers’ D that is allowing 239.7 yards passing per game and opposing QBs have a 108.9 QB Rating against them so far this year.

When the Panthers have the ball:  The Bears’ front seven will have to take care of stopping the Panthers’ running game, which has been non-existent to this point in the year.  The Panthers are averaging 84.0 yards rushing per game and only 3.3 yards per carry.  The Bears can’t afford to gang up on the passing game though as DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart are still good NFL RBs despite their slow starts.  TEs have tortured the Bears’ defense so far this year and that’s not good news going into this season as Greg Olsen and Jeremy Shockey have combined to catch 21 passes for 306 yards (14.6 avg) with 1 TD grab.  Also, remember that Greg Olsen is going to try to stick it to the Bears who dealt him to the Panthers after the lockout was lifted.  In that same respect, DE Julius Peppers might want to really stick it to his old team by putting heat on rookie Cam Newton the whole game.  The Bears need to double Steve Smith and make Newton beat them by throwing to someone else.

PREDICTION:  BEARS 24, PANTHERS 17

Throw the numbers out, because this weekend is going to be a war between two heated rivals.  The Bears were 1-1 at home against the Packers last year, losing the NFC Championship against them.  They are going to be looking for revenge.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Bears have the ball:  The Bears are going to come out feeding the ball to Matt Forte in the running game in an attempt to control the clock and slow the Packers’ pass rush.  Jay Cutler is going to have to get rid of the ball quickly in this game as the Packers are going to be sending OLBs Clay Matthews and Erik Walden on blitzes all day long.  That means that the WRs (Roy Williams, Johnny Knox, Devin Hester and Dane Sanzenbacher) are going to have to get yards after the catch on short passes to help the Bears move the ball through the air.  Look for Matt Forte on a lot of screens in this game to also slow down the pass rush of the Packers.

When the Packers have the ball:  The Packers are going to come out of the locker room throwing the ball.  The Bears need DE Julius Peppers (2 sacks), DE Israel Idonije (1 sack) and DT Henry Melton (2 sacks) to get a good pass rush on Aaron Rodgers, because if he has time to throw the ball, the Bears are in trouble.  The Bears are likely going to have issues in the secondary due to injuries to both of their starting safeties.  If the Bears have too many DBs on the field, the Packers could turn to the ground with James Starks and Ryan Grant.

PREDICTION:  PACKERS 23, BEARS 20

The Bears gave up a lot of yards (386) last weekend against the Falcons but not many points (12).  That is because they were forcing turnovers and getting to the QB (5 sacks).  They are going to need more of the same this Sunday in New Orleans to stop the high powered Saints’ offense.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Bears have the ball:  The Bears should copy the Packers’ gameplan on offense.  They should throw the ball all over the field.  They can be effective throwing the ball as long as the O-Line holds up as Jay Cutler was sacked 5 times by the Falcons last weekend.  WRs Johnny Knox, Devin Hester, Earl Bennett and Roy Williams will give the corners and safeties of the Saints’ fits this Sunday in the Big Easy.  The Bears are also likely to give the Saints’ D a heavy dose of RB Matt Forte in both the running and passing game.

When the Saints have the ball:  I’m thinking that MLB Brian Urlacher is going to play inspired ball this Sunday to honor the death of his mother.  That’s probably really bad news for Saints’ RBs Mark Ingram and Pierre Thomas.  The Saints will have an edge on the Bears’ D though when they attack the edges of the D with Darren Sproles.  The Bears are going to need Julius Peppers, Israel Idonije, Henry Melton and Matt Toeiana to get after Drew Brees.  If he has time to throw the ball, he’s going to have success.  WRs Devery Henderson, Robert Meachem and Lance Moore are all solid players.  The secret weapon of the Saints’ is TE Jimmy Graham, so Major Wright and Chris Harris better be ready for him.

PREDICTION:  SAINTS 27, BEARS 23

The Chicago Bears are in for a rough fight this Sunday against the Falcons, who were 13-3 last year.  I have a feeling that the Bears are going to feel disrespected by the fact that they are a 3-point underdog at Soldier Field.  They are going to be a very motivated bunch this Sunday and I think they are going to play well.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Bears have the ball:  The Falcons’ have a weak secondary and I think the Bears are going to come after it.  I see them using a lot of 4 WR sets on Sunday with Roy Williams, Devin Hester, Earl Bennett and Johnny Knox all getting their fair share of targets with Jay Cutler spreading the ball around.  I think the biggest matchups in this game are going to come on the edges of the O-Line for the Bears.  If young OTs Gabe Carimi and J’Marcus Webb win their battles against Falcons’ DEs John Abraham and Ray Edwards, Jay Cutler could have a huge game this Sunday.  The Bears can also run the ball with Matt Forte out of the 4 WR set to keep the Falcons’ D honest.

When the Falcons have the ball:  It will be up to the Bears’ front seven to deal with Michael Turner this Sunday.  He’s a power runner, so a lot of his runs come up the middle.  The Falcons have had injuries on the interior of the offensive line, so chances are that Brian Urlacher is going to be free to run to the football this Sunday.  The pass rush is likely going to get to Matt Ryan a few times this Sunday, with Julius Peppers and Israel Idonije doing most of the damage.  The Bears have to get to Ryan or he’s going to make some plays in the passing game to WRs Roddy White, rookie Julio Jones and TE Tony Gonzalez.

PREDICTION:  BEARS 21, FALCONS 20

It just simply doesn’t get any better than this.  The Packers vs. The Bears for the right to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.  No artificial turf, no warm air…..just a nice cold day at Soldier Field the way football is supposed to be played.   Here is a look at how I see the matchups in this game:

When the Bears have the ball:  The Bears are going to need to tighten up the chinstraps and run the ball against the Packers.  Matt Forte & Chester Taylor are going to have to play like they did last weekend when they combined to rush for 124 yards.  Forte will also have to be a weapon on the short stuff out of the backfield in the passing game because I don’t see Jay Cutler having a lot of time to throw the ball.  Look for the Bears to also take on the safeties of the Packers with passes over the middle to Greg Olsen and Kellen Davis.  That’s because the Packers’ corners are a trio of thieves and Jay Cutler does throw his fair share of pickoffs.  It the Bears get the running game going, maybe Cutler can hit some big plays down the field off of play action.

When the Packers have the ball:  The Packers suddenly have a running game with rookie RB James Starks so the front seven of the Bears’ D is going to have to deal with him.  The Bears also need to get DEs Julius Peppers & Israel Idonije into the Packers’ backfield or Aaron Rodgers is going to have a big day.  That’s because the Bears don’t have enough quality DBs to cover Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, James Jones and Jordy Nelson all day long.

PREDICTION:  PACKERS 20, BEARS 14

The Seahawks beat the Bears in Solider Field on October 17th by a score of 23-20.  I think this Sunday is going to be very different as it’s going to be really, really cold.  The high for this Sunday’s game is going to be 22 degrees.  This will be Bears’ weather and I’m not so sure that the Seahawks will enjoy playing in a Winter Wonderland.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Bears have the ball:  The Bears need Matt Forte to have a much better game than he had in the first meeting when he rushed for a very wimpy 11 yards.  The Bears need Forte to have a good game to have a balanced offense which would also slow the Seahawks’ pass rush a bit.  Jay Cutler gets nervous when he gets drilled a few times, so the Bears might resort to using a shorter type passing game throwing the ball to RB Matt Forte out of the backfield and TE Greg Olsen over the middle.  If Cutler has time to throw the ball though, he’s going to take some deep shots to WRs Devin Hester & Johnny Knox.  Don’t forget Cutler’s old buddy from Vanderbilt (WR Earl Bennett) as he made some big catches for the Bears this year.

When the Seahawks have the ball:  The Seahawks rushed for 111 yards the first time around against the Bears and they can’t let that happen again.  It will be interesting to see the collisions when Marshawn Lynch takes on Brian Urlacher & Lance Briggs.  I’m betting that the Bears will be able to stuff the Seahawks’ running game this time around.  The Bears need to get to Matt Hasselbeck in this game because he will make plays down the field if he has time to throw the ball as he was really effective against the Saints last weekend. 

PREDICTION:  BEARS 24, SEAHAWKS 13

The Bears have won 2 games in a row and they have already clinched the NFC North.  They already have a bye in the first round of the playoffs so they don’t have much to play for….or do they?  They can knock out the Packers who get into the playoffs with a win this Sunday.  The Bears beat the Packers 20-17 in the first meeting between these two teams in Chicago.  The Packers are 3-3 in their last six games but they are 6-1 at Lambeau Field.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Bears have the ball:  I just can’t see the Bears risking the health of too many of their key players in this game.  I think Jay Cutler might start the game but he won’t be in it long.  Caleb Hanie will likely get a lot of P.T. in this game and the Packers will eat him alive.  The Bears will also save Matt Forte some punishment in this game.  I see Chester Taylor getting his chance to be the main man in the running game and I doubt that will go to well either.

When the Packers have the ball:  The Packers are going to be all systems go in this game.  Aaron Rodgers is without a doubt coming out passing in this game.  The Bears must get pressure on Rodgers or he will pick the Bears’ secondary apart by moving the ball around between Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, Jordy Nelson and James Jones making it impossible to double anyone.  The Packers likely won’t run the ball much unless they get a big lead in this game.

PREDICTION:  PACKERS 30, BEARS 10

The Bears have won six of their last 7 games as they have won the NFC North already.  Now they want to get a bye in the first round of the playoffs so they need this game badly.  The Jets are 6-1 on the road and they would be a Wild Card in the AFC if the playoffs started today.  One more win likely makes them a lock for the playoffs making this a big game for them too.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Bears have the ball:  The Bears are going to come out running the ball with Matt Forte.  He’s going to have to fit for every yard against a Jets’ D that is only allowing 92.7 yards rushing per game and 3.6 yards per carry.  The Jets are likely going to be bringing the house after Jay Cutler to try to force him into making some mistakes.  But if he has time to throw the ball I think he’s going to make some plays to Johnny Knox, Devin Hester, Earl Bennett, Greg Olsen and Matt Forte out of the backfield.

When the Jets have the ball:  Mark Sanchez is hurting right now so I expect that the Bears will key on stopping LaDainian Tomlinson & Shonn Greene.  The Bears are only giving up 89.8 yards rushing per game and 3.8 yards per carry so I think they will be up for the challenge.  The Bears have 32 sacks and 19 interceptions so far this year so they will try to force Mark Sanchez into making some bad throws.  They need to put a good pass rush on him though because he does have a nice set of WRs and TEs.

PREDICTION:  BEARS 16, JETS 13