KEYS TO THE GAME
CHICAGO BEARS @ CINCINNATI BENGALS
Offense: Red Zone Rebound
Three teams in the NFL have (4) red zone turnovers this season---unfortunately the Bears join Jacksonville and St. Louis with the most in the NFL. With only (9) touchdowns on 18 drives inside the 20, the Bears need to take advantage of premium scoring opportunities.
Improved ball security, better decision-making, and the elimination of mental errors is a key against the Bengals. One rebound game in this area should get the Bears back on the right track. Before the Atlanta game the Bears scored points on 12 of their 14 red zone trips.
Defense: Don’t’ Be Deceived
This Bengals team may not be an offensive juggernaut through five games, but they do challenge a defense with deception. Veteran quarterback Carson Palmer is smart and manipulates the line of scrimmage as well as anybody in the league.
Palmer is a play-action threat again because Cedric Benson is third in the league in rushing yardage and is averaging 4.2 yards-per-carry. He also leads the league in carries. The Bengals will use an unbalanced line at times. They even have their tight ends deliberately fall down at the line of scrimmage, only to get up and catch a pass.
Defensive discipline is part of the theme this week.
Special Teams: Field Position Pressure
The benefits of a great return game continue to provide the Bears offense with outstanding field position. The Bears are number one in the NFL for the second straight week averaging the 33-yard line after kickoffs.
Only five of Shayne Graham’s 23 kickoffs have reached the end zone. The Bengals kicker has only two touchbacks. In turn, teams are averaging their own 30 against the Bengals, which is 30th in the league.
In terms of coverage, the Bengal’s are in the bottom half of the league on both kickoffs and punts.
Intangibles: Avoid the distraction of Ochocinco
It started Monday, and carried the week. The entertainer Chad Ochocinco is an attention seeker trying to lure the Bears into his world. He is only having fun.
Just don’t take the bait on the field or off.
There is plenty to worry about given his speed and ability. He leads the Bengals with 29 catches 455 yards and 3 touchdowns.
He will be a sideshow, but the Bears must prevent him from becoming the star of the show.
E-Mail Story
Print Story
