Looking to End Perfection: Bears host undefeated Titans

The Chicago Bears (5-3) will face their biggest challenge of the year in Week 10 when they face the NFL’s only undefeated team in the Tennessee Titans (8-0). Though the Bears don’t have an unblemished record like the Titans, they do have some momentum coming into the game having won four of their last five games.

The good news for Chicago is that Kyle Orton’s high ankle sprain isn’t as serious as first speculated. The word got out that the fourth-year quarterback out of Purdue was to be out for a month, but that was proven to be wrong. Although he hasn’t practiced thus far this week, Orton says that his ankle is feeling better each day, and that he’ll try to give it a go on Sunday. If unable to play, Rex Grossman will start under center for the first time since Week 13 of last year. Rookie Matt Forte’s career rushing performance last week should give him and the Bears’ offensive line some much needed motivation when they face Albert Haynesworth and a Tennessee defense that is giving up an average of 91.6 rushing yards per game (10 th in the league). After nine weeks into the season, Forte is making his bid for NFL Rookie of the Year by being ranked seventh in the league in rushing with 641 yards. The Bears are hoping that there passing game can be just as affective as their rushing was last week because the Titans’ defense is tied for first in the league with 13 interceptions. Both cornerback Cortland Finnegan and safety Michael Griffin of Tennessee lead the league with four interceptions each, and will look to continue their ball-hawking ways against whom ever the Bears decided to start at quarterback.

Brian Urlacher and company are looking to carry the dominance they displayed in the second half of last week’s victory over the Detroit Lions into Week 10 as they will have the challenge of stopping one of the best running back tandems in the league. Running backs LenDale White and rookie Chris Johnson are great complements to each other. White is a bruising back, who leads the NFL with 10 rushing touchdown, while Johnson is a lighting quick back, who is fourth in the NFL with 715 rushing yards. Hopefully Chicago will play better against the run than their ranking says (81.8 ypg; sixth in NFL). With the return of cornerbacks Charles Tillman and Nathan Vasher to the lineup last week, the secondary started to gel once again. And even though veteran safety Mike Brown injured his calf last week, he is slated to play.

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Simply looking at both defenses, a low-scoring affair could be on the horizon. Whether if it’s Orton or Grossman directing the offense; whether if it’s the Chicago defense stopping White or Johnson; whether if it’s the Titans’ choice to kick to Devin Hester,the Chicago Bears will need to be perfect in all phases in order to beat a perfect team.

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