Bears and Cards Square-off at Soldier Field

In some statistical categories, the Chicago Bears and the Arizona Cardinals are almost identical. Both teams have a record of 4-3, both defenses have given up 11 passing touchdowns, as well as intercepted seven passes, and both Jay Cutler and Kurt Warner have 11 touchdown passes each. There are other things that aren’t identical, but are very similar. Cutler’s QB rating of 80.8 and Warner’s QB rating of 81.5 is one similarity. Others are both quarterbacks’ completion percentages (Cutler 64.0%; Warner 65.4%), the number of sacks both offensive lines have given up (Bears 15; Cardinals 14), the average number of points both teams are giving up per game (Bears 21.4; Cardinals 20.4), and the average number of points both teams are averaging (Bears 22.7; Cardinals 22.4).

With all of these similarities, this game just might be the one to watch this week. On paper, it has all of the makings of being an offensive shootout, and a potential sudden death overtime game. Looking at both offenses a little further, Chicago and Arizona are in the far bottom half of the league when it comes to running the ball. This is a sure sign that the game will be put on the shoulders of Cutler and Warner. Both quarterbacks could possibly be without key receivers. The Bears’ Devin Hester and the Cardinals’ Anquan Bolden are both nursing ankle injuries, and are listed as questionable for this game. If Hester plays, he will more than likely surrender his punt returning duties to either rookie Johnny Knox or Danieal Manning. Warner might not miss Bolden as much as Cutler might miss Hester, because Arizona still has Pro Bowler Larry Fitzgerald and Steve Breaston still in the line-up. Not to mention, Arizona’s receiving corps has three receivers that surpassed the 1,000-yard receiving mark last season in Bolden, Fitzgerald, and Breaston.

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Bears’ head coach Lovie Smith will have a tough time calling the defensive plays to counter Warner and his passing attack. And once again this season, cornerback Charles Tillman will have the difficult task of covering one of the game’s best receivers in Fitzgerald.

With the season at the halfway mark, the Chicago Bears will try to stay undefeated at home, and the Arizona Cardinals will try to keep their undefeated road record alive. And it at this time of the season that the Bears need to get some momentum and try to stay in contention for the division title or a wildcard spot.

By Clyde Speller
ProFootball-fans.com Chicago Bears Correspondent