Bears 49ers breakdown

The SF defense is real bad. From footballoutsiders.com's stats: 31st overall. 29th against the pass. 30th against the run. 16th-20th against WRs, 31st against TEs, 29th against passes to running backs. Look for Desmond Clark to have a big day.

On special teams, the Bears have the #1 overall and #1 on FG/XP, kickoffs, and punt returns. That's fantastic, especially considering what a wildcard Gould was coming into the offseason. The 49ers are 16th overall and below average on field goals and punt coverage.

When the 49ers have the ball, I expect a very pissed off Bears defense to do some serious damage.

Damnit

Mike Brown out for the year.

Damnit Damnit Damnit.

I hope we haven't seen the last of you.

Game Balls

I guess

From the miracle in the desert:

Urlacher: For general ass-kicking. Once the Arizona offense went one dimensional with 10 minutes left he was unbelievable stuffing every single play. Plus the strip of course.

Mark Anderson: For the greatest 5 yard sprint I've ever seen by a reserve D Lineman.

Lance Briggs: Huge. Urlacher and Briggs had two huge pressures with 11 minutes left to stall an Arizona drive at midfield. Between that and the play mentioned above the arizona offense went catatonic.

Peanut and Mike Brown for knowing that on this night just falling on the ball wasn't going to get it done.

Finally. Brendan Ayenbadejo.

with 3:17 left and Rex Grossman probably getting ready to throw his 5th pick of the day, he breaks through the line and almost blocks the punt. The result? A low liner, if deep, because Scott Player was rushed. Hester fields it at the 17 with all the Bears still in their blocks and the nearest Cardinal at the 30 yard line. Hester then can run to the right hash mark (they had mostly been angling punt returns left). He cuts back to the left at the 25 yard line and runs up the right hash to the 35. Here, he half stumbles, fakes left, and cuts back to his right behind the block of ... Brendan Ayenbadejo at the Bears 43. (Brendan's older brother and inspiration, Obafemi, plays fullback for the Cardinals. As a side note, how happy do you think their schoolteachers were when they realized that O's little bro's name was "Brendan"?)

At this point, it's all Hester. He's got Justin Gage in front of him off the right hash mark and the last non-punter defender to Gage's right off toward the sideline. Hester angles to the sideline and as soon as the dude's hips are turned out he cuts straight ahead and runs right past him to the inside, towards Scott Player and a Bears Win.

I spent all day tuesday morning whistling "Bear Down Chicago Bears" on the El Tuesday. Yes, that was me. Sorry.

Bills Predictions

Mine: 33-6
eternale1: 24-3
DedlyFred: 27-6

see me on EFnet #bears if you want to chime in before noon.

Seattle

Not much to quibble with last week. The front four dominated this game from start to finish, and Rex has, if anything, been improving his deep ball and pocket presence from earlier in the season.

The ex-Bear parade comes into town from Buffalo this week, we'll try to break down that matchup.