Game 4 Preview: Chicago Bears @ New York Giants
by Mike Mueller on Oct 1, 2010 3:00 PM CDT
in Game Preview
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The Bears, as a whole, are taking care of the football and taking it away from the opposition. Our play makers on offense, on special teams, and especially on defense are making big plays at big moments. Now they go to the biggest stage. New York (really New Jersey) on Sunday night on NBC.
Quick Numbers:
32 - 21 - 2: Bears all-time record vs. the Giants.
14 - 10: Bears over Giants in the 1963 NFL Championship Game. The Bears have played the Giants 6 times for the NFL title, winning 4 of them (1963, 1946, 1941, 1933). That's some history folks.
21 - 16: Giants over the Bears in 2007, the last time they met. The Giants had 4 turnovers to the Bears none and the Bears led 16-7 going into the 4th quarter, and the Bears still lost.
175: Number of rushing yards the Giants had that day... will not happen again.
Key Injuries:
BEARS:
OUT: Chris Williams-hamstring; Major Wright-hamstring
GIANTS:
OUT: Will Beatty- foot; Shaun O'Hara- ankle; Mathias Kiwanuka- bulging disc
DOUBTFUL: Keith Bullock-Toe
QUESTIONABLE: Osi Umenyiora-knee, Rocky Bernard- back
When New York has the Ball:
The Giants have a well-balanced offense, in theory. They can run bulldozer Brandon Jacobs or quick footed Ahmad Bradshaw. They have Super Bowl winning QB Eli Manning throwing to Steve Smith and Hakeem Nicks. In practice, the Giants offense has been limited by a very suspect offensive line. Eli, meet Julius Peppers. The Bears have been very successful stopping the run this season. If they are successful again on Sunday night, the Giants will become one-dimensional making Eli, who is not the most fleet of foot, a huge target for the Predator.
(photo courtesy of Brandon Whitehead)
Key Matchup: Julius Peppers vs. LT David Diehl and RT Kareem McKenzie. If Peppers plays like he did Monday, look for a lot of penalties again. NYG was flagged for 11 penalties against Tennessee last week. Diehl and McKenzie each got a personal foul called against them. If they get rattled by JP, well, it should be fun.
X-Factor: The Cover-2. The Bears ran this a lot against Green Bay and Rodgers picked them apart, but the Bears held on. Is Eli as capable as Rodgers (no), but he's got some skill and he has quality receivers to get it done.
When Chicago has the Ball:
The "vaunted" Giants defensive line is not what it once was. They are 26th against the run, allowing 137 yards per game. But they are only allowing 3.8 ypc (11th) so the total number isn't the whole story. The Bears have been unable to run the ball against anyone. Will Martz stick to the run game at all? The Giants have the 4th best passing defense, so the Bears might be forced to run to move the chains.
Key Matchup: Frank Omiyale & Kevin Shaffer vs. Justin Tuck, Mathias Kiwanuka (4 sacks!), and Osi Umenyiora. Let's try and keep Jay Cutler off the turf.
X-Factor: Devin "You are Ridiculous" Hester of course. NYG Head Coach Tom Coughlin has come and said publicly that they will punt out of bounds to keep the ball out of his hands. We'll see if that's true come Sunday. But Devin has his mojo back (insert Austin Powers joke here). If they kick to him, he'll do something electric. If they kick out of bounds, the offense will have great field position all day.
The Giants, as a whole, are the last ranked special teams unit in the NFL. Special Teams will play a big role on Sunday night.
Go Bears!
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Nice job Mike!
Glad to see you’ve adopted my format.
In the airport at Newark. I wish I could just stay here and go to the game! People are down on Giants right now. We’ve got them on the ropes.
"You win because of the quarterback. We have to get that position stabilized. We're fixated on that." -- Jerry Angelo (12.30.2008)
Jerry Angelo trades for Jay Cutler! (4.2.2009)
by SackMan on Oct 1, 2010 3:06 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
Bless you!
For tolerating that Newark airport. Unless you are in the Intl terminal. That terminal has an Irish bar, Guinness I think, and it’s niiice. But otherwise, wow, what a dump.
I'm not so mean. I wouldn't ever go out to hurt anybody deliberately - unless it was, you know, important, like a league game or something. - Dick Butkus
Running
They are 26th against the run, allowing 137 yards per game. But they are only allowing 3.8 ypc (11th) so the total number isn’t the whole story.
Part of it is facing Tennessee and Carolina early in the season.
Five foot three seems to thrive on his misery...
thats about right
Carolina and Tenn’s air attack doesnt scare anyone. They could hone in on the run. Against the Colts, where you have an aerial attacck, the giants pass d gave up over 250 yards. and their run d allowed almost 100 yards with around 4.5 per carry.
by GtM on Oct 1, 2010 5:24 PM CDT up reply actions
honestly,
the Giants have looked great against the run and shoddy against the pass.
Week 1, they gave up like, 86 yards to the vaunted Carolina tandem.
Week 2, they basically did not play against the run AT ALL. They dressed 2 DTs, and played a 4-1-6 D all night thinking it would stop the pass. (It didn’t) … they basically forced INDY to run for a ton of yards.
Week 3, they stuffed Tennessee’s Johnson all day, until a late garbage-time 40-yard run.
However, against the pass they have been marginal, not that great.
Not making excuses, at all: What I’m saying is, the numbers are misleading — you could very well pass for 300-400 yards against the Giants and only run for less than 100.
You play to win the game!
by Simms-McConkey on Oct 1, 2010 11:10 PM CDT up reply actions
Also:
Bernard, Questionable
Kiwanuka, Out
If the Bears hold on to the ball then this is a solid win. Good opportunity to really dominate a struggling team. Would really like to see that.
"More cowbell" - Bruce Dickinson; "More bell cow" - Lovie Smith
Kiwanuka out?
that might be a curse in disguise. let’s hope jason pierre-paul doesn’t have his breakout game against us.
by Staleystan595455 on Oct 1, 2010 3:52 PM CDT up reply actions
maybe he'll backflip his way to Cutler
In the 8th grade Mike Ditka won his school's Science Fair with a model of a working volcano. There were 17 other working volcano's made that day, but only one named Mount Ditka.
by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Oct 1, 2010 4:19 PM CDT up reply actions 2 recs
jason pierre-paul
wasn’t he a marine biologist, or the maker of almond joy?
the giants will try to establish the run against the cover 2, which we have been playing more this year than last. i think they will spend a great deal of time trying to do this.
"I am a sinner who does not expect forgiveness. But I am not a government official." - Francis Wolcott
naw, probably not wrong
i just made an attempt at a small, obscure joke
"I am a sinner who does not expect forgiveness. But I am not a government official." - Francis Wolcott
OH lol
my bad again, but i agree with you that the giants probably start the game off by banging their head against the wall trying to run on us.
by Staleystan595455 on Oct 1, 2010 7:04 PM CDT up reply actions
And Lovie Smith's wife is STILL grateful...
If you can't laugh at yourself you must not be very funny.
I remain a pessimistically hopeful Bears fan.
yup! lol
"I am a sinner who does not expect forgiveness. But I am not a government official." - Francis Wolcott
you're better off with JPP than Kiwanuka
Pierre-Paul is a raw young kid with athleticism but no experience
You play to win the game!
by Simms-McConkey on Oct 1, 2010 11:15 PM CDT up reply actions
i know one in indianapolis that certainly did
…and she knew how to express her admiration too.
gotta love a girl with a Ph.D in English.
"I am a sinner who does not expect forgiveness. But I am not a government official." - Francis Wolcott
If Kiwi and Benrard are out, it may very well be that kind of game.
Osi and Manningham may be out as well. Talk about raining and pouring.
by LoNJDTechnology on Oct 1, 2010 4:38 PM CDT up reply actions
No doubt.
As LostInSTL said, this is an opportunity for the Bears to make a “statement” game. Injuries stink and the teams that can make it through the season relatively healthy are usually the ones that around in the post season.
"More cowbell" - Bruce Dickinson; "More bell cow" - Lovie Smith
Kiwi is definitly out and ......
….. Osi is listed as questionable . Their D is hurting at end . Also Shaun O’Hara is out for their O-line ( hes their center and the glue that holds that line together ) .
" Everyone has a plan 'till they get punched in the mouth. " ~
Mike Tyson
by MidWayMonster54 on Oct 1, 2010 5:36 PM CDT up reply actions
The Letdown
Great breakdown, Mike. This is my first WCG comment, so thanks for giving me something to comment on… My biggest concern has to do with the culture that we’ve experienced with Lovie at the helm… Lack of fire, passion, all that…
Some of it seems to have abated through three games, but I can’t help having some nerves over the idea that our guys might think (as SackMan said (with whom I agree, btw)) that the G-Men are “on the ropes”… I know I’m talking out of both sides of my mouth a little…
BUT if they don’t come out of the gate with the same passion we saw on MNF, we might be in trouble…
... rockin' the "Bill Cowher Bandwagon" since late 2008.
Welcome
and for my comment…i like Peppers nickname to be “The Predator”
"I'd rather have an ugly win than an ugly loss. Yeah, they had a lot of yards, but yards don't mean crap. Points do." -Brian Urlacher
by BearNecessities on Oct 1, 2010 3:49 PM CDT up reply actions
I second that
One time while a young lad, someone made fun of the Ditka name. One time.
by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Oct 1, 2010 4:26 PM CDT up reply actions
For a moment, Lester...
I thought you were agreeing with my comment… Then reality set in. :) “The Predator” it is.
... rockin' the "Bill Cowher Bandwagon" since late 2008.
by 5yardhookon3&8 on Oct 1, 2010 5:05 PM CDT up reply actions
I liked your comment too
well done!
One time while a young lad, someone made fun of the Ditka name. One time.
by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Oct 2, 2010 1:32 PM CDT up reply actions
I like it but
it conflicts with my personal Mark “Assault” Anderson nickname.
"More cowbell" - Bruce Dickinson; "More bell cow" - Lovie Smith
our dline is called
The Predator Assault? that is pretty intense dude.
by GtM on Oct 1, 2010 5:26 PM CDT up reply actions
my nickname for MA is "false start"
because he leads the league in pointing out false starts
"I'd rather have an ugly win than an ugly loss. Yeah, they had a lot of yards, but yards don't mean crap. Points do." -Brian Urlacher
by BearNecessities on Oct 1, 2010 7:32 PM CDT up reply actions
After last week...
…that honor goes to Predator. He forced at least 4 false starts from what I saw, and jumped on all of them. Most dominant 0-stat day I’ve ever seen.
not causing...i'm saying pointing out
"I'd rather have an ugly win than an ugly loss. Yeah, they had a lot of yards, but yards don't mean crap. Points do." -Brian Urlacher
by BearNecessities on Oct 2, 2010 10:55 AM CDT up reply actions
The Giants lack an identity...
I see them searching like the Bears of last season. There is talent on that team, but the execution is iffy and in need of a sense of purpose. The offense is oddly bad and the defense is weak through the middle. If the Bears can pass to the sides and run through the middle, the Bears can make this is quality statement game!
IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO TRADE TOMMY!...
they ned this game
if our bears win it will shut up a lot of skeptics out there.. the Giants will play hard for they too have to have a statement game as well.. bear down 4 and 0
the bears defeated a 'struggling giants' team
and the meme continues.
fine with me.
Five foot three seems to thrive on his misery...
Bears Receivers will need to fight off the jam from the Giants corners.
The Giants defensive backs are going to try to jam at the line of scrimmage to throw off the timing. If the receivers can fight off the jam while the line holds up in protection, big plays can be made on this defense.
by Dominique Blanton on Oct 1, 2010 7:48 PM CDT reply actions
But what if it's a jelly?
Or a marmalade?
If I did what I love for a living, what would I do in my free time?
Writer at windycitygridiron.com {-/-} http://www.twitter.com/kdoggers
Once again
Everyone says the Giants cant go 1-3 so this means the bears have to come in and lay down.
If the bears hold onto the ball and can run it they got it. I do see us getting to eli, We have been able to contain Jennings, Austin, Johnson i think we can handle the giants wideouts
oh, they CAN go 1-3
anyway, I see this as being a Lines game.
If our O-Line wins, Eli has time to pass effectively and we can balance with run. No reason to believe our O-Line WILL, they’ve had an awful start and have a backup center. If your D-Line wins, Eli is gonna throw INTs and our offense will be anemic.
If Our D-line wins, likewise Cutler throws INTs. If not, he will eventually pick our secondary apart.
Line play.
You play to win the game!
by Simms-McConkey on Oct 1, 2010 11:18 PM CDT up reply actions
I agree the game will be one in the trenches
Last year it wasnt till week 4 when matt forte got started on the ground hopefully the same happens. I hate seeing Cutler take shot after shot
by Bear Lovin 21 on Oct 1, 2010 11:35 PM CDT up reply actions
Stand-by the Shop_Vac!
I’ve been sayin all year, … unless this line keeps from givin up 4 sacks and a half dozen hits per game, they are going to be takin Cutler off with a Shop-Vac by Turkey Day!! :(
pbanachi
But you can say that about any game.
The Giants D isn’t so hot, but our run defense is. Both Offenses could blow hot or cold. The difference is in ST and discipline. That’s where I think the Bears have the edge.
Judging by the injury reports the Bears O-line absolutely has the edge.
Don't worry Boys, we'll weather this storm of approval, and come out as hated as ever.
that says something.
Five foot three seems to thrive on his misery...
by awfullyquiet on Oct 2, 2010 11:52 AM CDT up reply actions
what a damning indictment of the G-men's D-line
I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren
by lookingdeadred on Oct 3, 2010 10:23 AM CDT up reply actions
J'Marcus Webb.
Love to see us get him some time at his preferred LT spot. OMG is not a run-blocker, our biggest Bear is. Leave Shaffer at RT and move Webb to LT and let’s run this thing against a poor run defense that is injury plagued. The Giants will be game-planning for Cutler, let’s surprise them and run it down their throats. All. Day. Long. Hit them on the play action deep when we’ve established the run. Sweet.
Hmm.
Generally speaking, you want your best pass blockers on your QB’s blind side. At this point, I’d say Omi is the best chance for pass blocking at LT. Unless you want to telegraph your run plays with the presence of Webb, I’d say at this point, it’s probably better to keep him on a rotation with Kev. (Not Me. The other one)
If I did what I love for a living, what would I do in my free time?
Writer at windycitygridiron.com {-/-} http://www.twitter.com/kdoggers
Omi has been one of our best blockers
And you want to see a rookie 7th round draft pick start at the most important position along the line? Maybe next season, but not this year.
"How do you know somebody is great? When you see how they respond to adversity. Anybody can man a ship when the waters are calm." - Jerry Angelo
Seriously???
I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren
by lookingdeadred on Oct 3, 2010 10:23 AM CDT up reply actions
EXPECT A WIN VERSUS THE GIANTS!
Our real “trap” game is in two weeks against a much better Seattle team. Although since it is here I’ll take us in a close one.
----2010 STANLEY CUP CHAMPS, CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS!----
Rose-Boozer-Noah
We have a HORSE named Horsa.
Just lock up Seabs now!
Bear Down, Chicago Bears, our D is our victory
Rams 20, Seahawks 3
You play to win the game!
by Simms-McConkey on Oct 4, 2010 8:49 AM CDT up reply actions
I am way not positive
about tomorrow night. We got a good team, and Giants are teh suck, but man, no way is 4-0 going to be this easy. Unless it is. And then, well, I’ll go back to being a typical Bear fan. Dreading, hoping, then dreading … but, in any case, BEAR DOWN!!!!!
I'm not so mean. I wouldn't ever go out to hurt anybody deliberately - unless it was, you know, important, like a league game or something. - Dick Butkus
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