Chicago Bears @ Indianapolis Colts Week #1 Preview
The time has finally come! Week one of the NFL season is upon us, and after a dismal preseason, the Chicago Bears are planning to start their 2008 campaign by getting revenge Sunday night against the team that defeated them in Super Bowl XLI, the Indianapolis Colts. Not only will the Bears have the difficult task of starting the season on the road in front of a nationally televised audience, but they will have to play against a loud crowd that will be helping the Colts christen their new home turf, Lucas Oil Stadium.
Leading the way for the Bears will be newly appointed team captain Kyle Orton. This will be the first time Orton has started the opening game of the regular season since his rookie year in 2005; only this time, it is not by default. Orton and the Bears offense will be facing a stingy Colts defense, which is anchored by reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year Bob Sanders. This defense allowed an NFL best 262 points last season and also ranked third and second in total yards allowed and passing yards allowed respectively. The Bears game plan is to keep the ball out of the hands of Peyton Manning. In order to do so, Chicago must run the ball effectively throughout the course of the game and win the time of possession battle. C Olin Kreutz and the rest of the offensive line will have to set the tone early and often for rookie RB Matt Forte. But the biggest responsibility falls on LT John St. Clair, who will be facing all-pro DE Dwight Freeney while trying to protect Orton’s blind-side. Orton isn’t known for throwing the long ball too often, so fortunately, the O-line won’t have block too long on passing plays. As for the receivers, there is no clear-cut go-to man in the passing game. It is expected to see the ball evenly distributed among WRs Devin Hester, Brandon Lloyd, Rashied Davis, Mark Bradley, Earl Bennett, and Marty Booker, along with TEs Desmond Clark and Greg Olsen.
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Coming into the game, the Bears defense is eager to prove that they are still a defense that should be feared in the NFL. After a couple of disappointing showings in the preseason, Brian Urlacher and company seem to be ready to turn up the intensity and show everyone why they are the Monsters of the Midway. Although ailing from a sore knee, Pro Bowl DT Tommie Harris should shine with the expected absence of Colts C Jeff Saturday, who could possibly miss the first six weeks of the season. Urlacher, Lance Briggs, and Hunter Hillenmeyer will have to contain RBs Joseph Addai and Dominic Rhodes; the same backfield that carved up the Bears defense in Super Bowl XLI. The secondary is hoping that Manning’s hiatus from the preseason will have an ill-effect on the Indianapolis passing game. Having a healthy Mike Brown in the secondary to accompany CBs Nathan Vasher and Charles Tillman will be much needed when defending one of the best receiving corps in the league in WRs Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne, and TE Dallas Clark.
Forget about the 1-3 preseason record. This is where it really counts. And what a way for the Chicago Bears to make a statement to the entire league that they are ready to return back to the top as one of the elite teams in the NFL by beating one of the league’s most all-around dominant teams. We’ll just have to wait for Sunday night to see if turning up the intensity is easier said than done for the Bears.
By Clyde A. Speller
ProFootball-fans.com Chicago Bears Correspondent