Behind Enemy Lines: Chatting Chicago-Carolina With a Bears Blogger

As we get ready for week one matchup of the Cowboys and Panthers, I exchanged e-mails with Jeff from DaBearsBlog. Jeff was nice enough to offer some insights on Chicago for this week's Behind Enemy Lines feature.

Sportz Assassin: Where you shocked to see your Bears dominate the Indianapolis Colts Sunday night? Is this what you thought you'd see from Chicago in '08?

Jeff: I thought the Bears would win Sunday night but maybe not by a margin that wide. Listen, this is a good football team only nineteen months from playing in the Super Bowl. They had question marks all over the offense but the answers were simpler than people believed. They play great defense. They play great on specials. If they don't turn it over on offense, they'll be in every game this year.

Sportz: Matt Forte just stepped into the spotlight. With all the running back drama over the past few years, how gratifying is it to seemingly have some sort of answer there?

Jeff: It's refreshing as much as it's gratifying. The team had no business trading Thomas Jones and that mistake, along with defensive injuries, cost them the whole of the 2007 season. Forte has about as good a debut as a rookie running back can have. It's exciting moving forward.

Sportz: How will Chicago attack a lesser offense like Carolina's ... but one that is healthier and confident?

Jeff: I think the approach won't be vastly different than what you saw Sunday night. They know they have to stop the run and if they do, they'll win. Our corners can play with the Panthers wides so the outside matchups don't worry me. It's about the trenches and the Bears defensive line will go into Carolina with tremendous confidence.

Sportz: What advantage do the Bears have over the Panthers on Sunday?

Jeff: Well playing the Panthers without Steve Smith is always an advantage since he's humiliated us in the past, including the 2005 postseason. Other than that, these two teams match-up pretty well, I think. The thing about the Bears is...they have Devin Hester and Devin Hester is pretty damn great. He influences field position in a way I've never seen in the sport. Teams have to make a difficult decision, especially in tight games late. Put the ball in his hands or give the offense a short field?

Sportz: Hester is such a great offensive weapon ... even if he isn't playing offense. Just the fact that teams won't kick to him gives your offense that great field position. So, what advantage do the Panthers have on the Bears?

Jeff: John St. Clair and John Tait are going to have a tough day on the edges of the offensive line, especially with Julius Peppers. The Bears will be forced to use a lot of the underneath routes in order to compensate for Orton's lack of time in the pocket.

Sportz: Alright, prediction?

Jeff: I do like the Bears this week but strangely I could see this one going either way. I'll say 16-10 Bears.

Sportz: I can see that. I agree that the game will shift towards the defensive side of things ... but defenses score too. You know that. Even though the Panthers aren't a great home team, I'm going with Jake Delhomme fever and picking Carolina 23-20.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

9-11-2008 @ 9:39PM

greg said...

Chicago may be a great town, but they have a tendency of letting experienced players go on to bigger and better things. The last memory I have of the Panthers coming to Chicago didn't go so well for Da Bears. Besides, I hear Dante Culpepper is still looking for a starting QB job in the NFL. After our defensive line get through with you guys Sunday, I bet his phone rings.
Carolina 37, Chicago 13. Money in the bank.

9-11-2008 @ 10:34PM

Chicago will not be happy on the flight back home. Take the Panthers and the spread.

9-11-2008 @ 11:51PM

FG said...

Carolina? I thought that was a college Basketball town, they have a football team?

Never, EVER count out the MONSTERS of the midway from the City of Big Shoulders..

Bears win and knock the snot out of the tar Heals or whatever they r....

9-11-2008 @ 11:50PM

9-12-2008 @ 6:54AM

briankeith said...

our Panther defense will determinethis game.. The d is a different team from last year , and our coaches have to be complimented on getting them back on track..Peppers trained in the offseason like he was a boxer going into a title match , and being on his dominant side again will get him the stats back we are use to seeing..The lbs are about as good as any , and our secondary will hold its ground..The d will make or break the season , but with a good turnover margin Carolina will play with anyone.. I just cant believe none of these "sports writers" see the potential this year .Yoou heard it here first , carolina vs pittsburgh in the super bowl....

9-12-2008 @ 12:13PM

Bob said...

The Bears shocked me last week. If they play any where near that good again they will win. I take the Bears and 3.
17-14 Chicago on a last seconds field goal

9-12-2008 @ 2:15PM

marcking said...

If Carolina has 1 turnover or less, Chicago will lose.

9-13-2008 @ 1:18PM

Jrt730 said...

Jake, meet Tommie Harris. And Ogunleye. And Harrison (our new rookie) and Dvorcheck, and Alex Brown. For fun, Urlacher and Briggs in a sandwich. Feel like throwing? Mike Brown likes to catch and return for 6. So does Peanut and Vasher for that matter. Better pay your health insurance premium, long day in the Carolina heat laying prone on the grass.

9-14-2008 @ 4:10AM

grm2489 said...

I honestly don't think Jake QB for Carolina will be laying on the grass prone looking up at those carolina blue skies on Sunday once. The Panthers have dominated the bears before and can still do it with out Smith. I think we are looking at a refreshed, new team this year after a few years of drought from the Cardiac Cats". So don't think Chicago should go in to Carolina feeling to confident. With this Carolina team ...one never knows. They get very little praise from any one(upon which I think they get the drive to win) but I believe with a healthy team this year and new faces there are going to be a lot of surprises. Time will tell.