The Big Payback: Bears top Colts 29-13 in Week #1

No Vince Lombardi Trophy was awarded to the Chicago Bears Sunday night, but starting the 2008 season with a 29-13 victory over the Indianapolis Colts, the team that beat them in Super Bowl XLI, was a good consolation prize. Staying true to their word, the Bears turned up the intensity for the entire game, looking like a totally different team that was playing in the preseason. The offense ran the ball effectively, and the defense put constant pressure on Colts QB Peyton Manning all game; almost a total role reversal of what happened nearly a year and a half ago when these two teams last met.

Bears QB Kyle Orton did as expected and manned the controls of a conservative passing attack by completing 13 out of 21 pass attempts for 150 yards. Although Orton’s numbers weren’t eye-popping, he did manage to convert on the majority of the Bears’ 10 third-down conversions. The huge surprise was the performance of the offensive line and rookie RB Matt Forte. The second-round draft pick out of Tulane finished the game with 123 yards on 23 carries and one touchdown; 100 of those yards came in the first half. This performance by the rookie was the most successful debut for a Chicago Bears running back in team history; even better than Walter Payton, who had zero yards on eight carries in his debut. Forte displayed some skills that defiantly wouldn’t have been seen if former Bears RB Cedric Benson had been in the backfield.

The defensive unit looked to be in mid-season form, holding the Colts’ offense to under 300 total net yards. The Bears defensive front took full advantage of a banged up Colts offensive line by sacking Manning twice, and holding the Colts’ ground attack to only 53 yards. One of those run-stopping moments was a safety scored by DE Adewale Ogunleye in the second quarter when he stopped Colts RB Joseph Addai, which was preceded by a Bears sack courtesy of rookie DT Marcus Harrison. Another shinning moment was in the third quarter when CB Charles Tillman stripped the ball from WR Marvin Harrison deep in Colts territory, and Pro Bowl LB Lance Briggs scooped up the ball and ran it in for a 21-yard touchdown, which pretty much sealed the game.

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Despite an ill-advised run back by Devin Hester, who caught the ball deep in the end zone and decided to run after playing possum for three seconds, only to be tackled on the three-yard line, the special teams unit did a solid job on keeping the Colts’ kick returners in check. In addition, K Robbie Gould connected on both of his field goal attempts of 41 yards and 25 yards. As for P Brad Maynard, three of his five punts landed inside the 20-yard line, with his longest punt of the night being 55 yards.

This victory for the Bears is defiantly a step in the direction of once again being a Super Bowl contender. As stated in the 2008 preview, if the Bears can avoid serious injuries throughout the season, and play on offense, defense and special teams like they did against the Colts Sunday night, they will be, without a doubt, a dominant force in the NFL this season. This will have to be proven once again next week when they go on the road and meet up against former teammate WR Muhsin Muhammad and the Carolina Panthers.

By Clyde A. Speller
ProFootball-fans.com Chicago Bears Correspondent