Nonstopdrivel
14 years ago

Bears make statement, loud and clear 

UserPostedImage
Bears coach Lovie Smith waves after his team's win over the Cowboys at Cowboys Stadium. (Nuccio DiNuzzo, Chicago Tribune / September 19, 2010)

David Haugh

ARLINGTON, Texas When Greg Olsen left the huddle late in the first quarter of the Bears' 27-20 victory over the Cowboys on Sunday, the tight end had no clue he was about to change the tone of a game.

Let alone a football city.

Dare anybody suggest the season?

It was first down at the Dallas 39, three plays after Dez Bryant's 62-yard punt return for a touchdown made the Bears' challenge seem even bigger than the giant video scoreboard hanging inside Cowboys Stadium.

Register with Chicago Tribune and receive free newsletters and alerts >>

Olsen noticed both linebackers showing blitz at the line of scrimmage and prepared to adjust his drag route. On the snap, not a soul touched Olsen. By his third step, he instinctively expected a quick throw from quarterback Jay Cutler.

Not long after Olsen looked back for the ball, the Bears began a comeback that turned heads all around the league.

"I obviously didn't expect to be that open," said Olsen, who outran safety Alan Ball on the decisive touchdown catch. "That settled us down. After that play, we could say we're good, we weathered their storm early and the excitement of an opening home game."

Talk about a sight adjustment.

Don't look now, but the Bears are 2-0 and a Monday night victory over the Packers from being the surprise team of the NFC. Since 1978, 65 percent of teams that started 2-0 made the playoffs, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Who in Chicago ever thought they'd start wondering what the odds were for 3-0 teams?

"We were reeling a bit early, and it just takes one play," Cutler said. "That was the one."

They say everything is bigger down here, and based on what the Bears did after that Olsen touchdown, the trick for Lovie Smith will be not to let his team exaggerate the importance of one win.

Admittedly it sure looked impressive enough to be construed as more. For the Bears, it felt like a victory over the doubt and cynicism that were among their toughest early opponents.

No word yet on what time crow is being served Monday to guests arriving at Halas Hall.

"There's been a group trying to tell us what type of team we are," Smith said. "We've been saying exactly what type we are, and that's a good football team. But you have to get wins to validate that. This win will make us a little closer to people believing in us."

Winning so convincingly on the road resembled Bears victories at Indianapolis in 2008 and Seattle in 2009, and neither of those led to anything but frustration. Sunday's win suggested the Bears are better than many critics present company included thought. But it's premature to know how much better.

Most significantly, it confirmed what Jerry Angelo has been saying all along about the additions of offensive coordinator Mike Martz and line coach Mike Tice as the team's biggest offseason additions.

Sure, the Bears beat the Cowboys because they had the best player on the field in Cutler, who was 21 of 29 for 277 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. But Cutler played like the franchise quarterback he is because of the way Martz adjusted his game plan and Tice switched his personnel.

To compensate for the Cowboys' early all-out attacking defense, Martz interspersed passes with quick releases and assigned extra blockers on plays with deeper routes. He mixed in just enough screens and new formations Earl Bennett in the backfield? to keep the Cowboys guessing. For the second week in a row, Martz took advantage of a Matt Forte mismatch that resulted in a touchdown pass.

Not to be outdone, after starter Chris Williams left with a hamstring injury, Tice pulled off the rare in-game position switch by flipping Frank Omiyale to left tackle and Kevin Shaffer to right after one series the other way around. Whether it was scheme or skill, the line protected Cutler better in the final three quarters than it had since training camp started.

When Plan C works, that's coaching.

General manager Jerry Angelo called this a "statement game" on WBBM-AM 780 before kickoff. If so, this is what the Bears ultimately said: We're right. You're wrong. Deal with it.

The Bears also did what good teams do in overcoming injuries to two of their most highly regarded young players, Williams and rookie safety Major Wright. The way free safety Chris Harris hit playing full-time, Wright might want to heal quickly.

It's hard to measure on the stat sheet, but the Bears' swarming defense contributed to Tony Romo throwing behind his receivers as much as Romo's erratic arm. More vindication came for Smith when his pet project at nickel back, D.J. Moore, intercepted two passes and was involved in a Roy Williams fumble.

But given the chance to say I-told-you-so about Moore or anything else after beating the team he grew up cheering in Big Sandy, Texas, Smith wisely passed. He owns a calendar.

"Whenever you come back home, you want to do well in front of a lot of people who care about you," Smith said.

Something tells me a lot more people care about the Bears now.


UserPostedImage
Orygunfan76
14 years ago
Good read, they still haven't established an identity because it's too early for that where as Green bay established theirs with last seasons success. Bears look pointed in the right direction and they know nobody is picking them to be contenders which might be the chip on their shoulder they need in trying to win and prove they are for real. I think the Lions are also heading that direction, they also could just as easily be 2-0 and should be at least 1-1.
blank
gbpfan
14 years ago
i think they will give us headache but still like our chances,think they may be better than vikes.
Cheesey
14 years ago
Well.....hopefully we can let the air out of their baloon Monday Night!
UserPostedImage
Fan Shout
beast (2h) : In other news, the Green Bay Packers have signed Zero2Cool to update their website 😋 jk
beast (5h) : Might just re-sign the kicker we got
beast (5h) : Are there any kickers worth drafting next year?
Zero2Cool (5h) : Preston Smith for Malik Willis
Mucky Tundra (6h) : Getting a 7th rounder from the Stillers
Zero2Cool (6h) : At least we get 7th round pick now!! HELLO NEW KICKER
Mucky Tundra (6h) : Steelers getting a premier lockdown corner!
Zero2Cool (6h) : Packers are trading edge rusher Preston Smith to the Pittsburgh Steelers, per sources.
Mucky Tundra (6h) : Preston Smith traded to the Steelers!!!!
Zero2Cool (7h) : CB Marshon Lattimore to Commanders
Zero2Cool (12h) : Bears are sending RB Khalil Herbert to the Bengals, per sources.
Zero2Cool (12h) : ZaDarius Smith continues his "north" tour.
Zero2Cool (13h) : Let the Chiefs trade a 5th for him
Zero2Cool (13h) : Nearing 30, large contract, nope.
Martha Careful (5-Nov) : any interest in Marshon Lattimore?
Zero2Cool (4-Nov) : What does NFL do if they're over cap?
Mucky Tundra (4-Nov) : They've been able to constantly push it out through extensions, void years etc but they're in the hole by 72 million next year I believe
hardrocker950 (4-Nov) : Seems the Saints are always in cap hell
Mucky Tundra (4-Nov) : Saints HC job is not an envious one; gonna be in cap hell for 3 years
Mucky Tundra (4-Nov) : Dennis Allen has now been fired twice mid-season with Derek Carr as his starting QB
Zero2Cool (4-Nov) : Kuhn let go
beast (4-Nov) : I wonder if the Packers would have any interest in Z. Smith, probably not
Zero2Cool (4-Nov) : Shefter says Browns and Lions will figure out how to get a deal done for Za'Darius Smith..
Zero2Cool (4-Nov) : Packers are more likely to have 1,000 yard rusher than 4,000 yard passer
Zero2Cool (3-Nov) : It's raining hard.
Zero2Cool (3-Nov) : Packers inactives vs. Lions: CB Jaire Alexander S Evan Williams C Josh Myers Non-injury inactives: WR Malik Heath OL Travis Glover DE Bren
packerfanoutwest (3-Nov) : Malik Willis: My focus is helping the Packers win, not proving I can start elsewhere. But he could
Zero2Cool (1-Nov) : I had Texans, but the loss of another WR flipped me
wpr (1-Nov) : I thought about taking the Jets but they've been a disaster. Losing to the Pats last week
Zero2Cool (1-Nov) : Surprised more didn't pick Jets in Pick'em.
Please sign in to use Fan Shout
2024 Packers Schedule
Friday, Sep 6 @ 7:15 PM
Eagles
Sunday, Sep 15 @ 12:00 PM
COLTS
Sunday, Sep 22 @ 12:00 PM
Titans
Sunday, Sep 29 @ 12:00 PM
VIKINGS
Sunday, Oct 6 @ 3:25 PM
Rams
Sunday, Oct 13 @ 12:00 PM
CARDINALS
Sunday, Oct 20 @ 12:00 PM
TEXANS
Sunday, Oct 27 @ 12:00 PM
Jaguars
Sunday, Nov 3 @ 3:25 PM
LIONS
Sunday, Nov 17 @ 12:00 PM
Bears
Sunday, Nov 24 @ 3:25 PM
49ERS
Thursday, Nov 28 @ 7:20 PM
DOLPHINS
Thursday, Dec 5 @ 7:15 PM
Lions
Sunday, Dec 15 @ 7:20 PM
Seahawks
Monday, Dec 23 @ 7:15 PM
SAINTS
Sunday, Dec 29 @ 12:00 PM
Vikings
Saturday, Jan 4 @ 11:00 PM
BEARS
Recent Topics
18m / Green Bay Packers Talk / Martha Careful

30m / Green Bay Packers Talk / Martha Careful

5h / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

9h / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

12h / Featured Content / Zero2Cool

15h / Around The NFL / Mucky Tundra

5-Nov / Green Bay Packers Talk / Cheesey

5-Nov / Green Bay Packers Talk / Martha Careful

5-Nov / Green Bay Packers Talk / Martha Careful

5-Nov / Green Bay Packers Talk / Martha Careful

4-Nov / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

4-Nov / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

2-Nov / Around The NFL / wpr

1-Nov / Green Bay Packers Talk / bboystyle

1-Nov / Around The NFL / beast

Copyright © 2006 - 2024 PackersHome.com™. All Rights Reserved.