Week 1: Bears vs. Colts Preview

It's less than one hour to kick-off between the Indianapolis Colts and the Chicago Bears. Most Bears fans would agree that this is one of the most anticipated season openers in a long time. Here are our predictions for week one.

Darren: Colts receiver Austin Collie is out this week, leaving the Colts thin at the wide receiver position. Donnie Avery steps in opposite Reggie Wayne. For the Bears, Brian Urlacher is playing in today's game and while we're not sure how injured his knee is, he can probably still be effective at 70 percent due to the Colts needing to game plan for him.

On display today will be the Colts' new 3-4 defense as well as the Jay Cutler-to-Brandon Marshall connection. I think the Bears are able to run the ball today while mixing in some big play-action passing plays to ensure a victory.

AFC East Preview and Predictions

By Matt Gentile 

Football season is finally underway, and you know what that means. It’s time to make predictions that never pan out. 

Darren Zaitlen gave you his insight on the NFC East. So, let's take a look at the AFC East. 

The New England Patriots ran away with the AFC East in 2011, making a deep run into the playoffs. The New York Jets, Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills all failed to make it into the post season. But those three teams did make some key acquisitions this offseason that they hope will close a very large gap.

New England Patriots (13-3)

The Patriots cruised through the regular season on their way to Super Bowl XLVI, where they lost yet again to the New York Giants. Quarterback Tom Brady led another high powered offense that finished third in points (512) and second in total yards. Most of the yards came through the air, with Brady throwing for 39 touchdowns and a career-high 5,084 yards.

Tom Brady is on a mission for his fourth ring in 2012.
(credit: Jeffrey Beall/Wiki Commons fair use)

Perhaps the biggest accomplishment came from tight end RobGronkowski. The Gronker had over 1,300 yards receiving and caught an astonishing 17 touchdown receptions, a record for tight ends. It appears this offensive juggernaut is poised for another explosion in 2012. The acquisition of Brandon Lloyd provides Brady with a weapon on the outside to go along with Gronkowski, Aaron Hernandez and the reliable Wes Welker.   

If there is one weakness, it’s on defense. This unit wasn’t as bad as many analysts thought. They were 15th in total yards allowed and hauled in the second most interceptions in the NFL. However, their weakness was on third down, where they allowed opposing offenses to convert about 43 percent of the time (fifth most in NFL). The defense also was 31st in total yards allowed.

But Bill Belichick, who made his bones as a defensive guru, didn’t sit back this offseason and let that side of the ball go untouched. He drafted pass rushing specialist Chandler Jones, linebacker Dont’a Hightower and safety Tavon Williams to shore up the defense.

They might not be a dominant unit, but they can certainly do enough not to lose games. Belichick and Brady just might have enough to win their fourth Lombardi Trophy this year.

Prediction: 12-4

Should the Chicago Bears look at Bryant McKinnie?

By Matt Gentile

[UPDATE: Bryant McKinnie agrees to a restructured contract with the Baltimore Ravens, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.]

Veteran left tackle Bryant McKinnie could be released today after failing to restructure his contract with the Baltimore Ravens.

McKinnie was supposed to earn $3.2 million this season but was willing to take a pay cut. It appears the Ravens wanted to shed a bit more than he hoped. The one-time pro bowler told The Baltimore Sun’s Aaron Wilson that he was no longer with the team, but there has been no official announcement.

However, he also told the NFL Network’s Albert Breer that things are “not officially over yet” after getting another phone call from the Ravens.

NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport listed the New York Jets, Arizona Cardinals, San Diego Chargers and Chicago Bears as possible destinations for McKinnie if he’s in fact cut.

Of course, Bears fans have already taken their voice to Twitter about getting McKinnie. It seems like a lot of fans would support the move given the lackluster preseason from J’Marcus Webb and Chris Williams.

Brian Urlacher's Arrow to the Knee

By Darren Zaitlen

Every Chicago Bears fan who watched the week 17 season finale last year between the Bears and the Minnesota Vikings remembers one thing distinctly.


Brian Urlacher jumping up in the end zone, Major Wright coming over the top and Urlacher coming down awkwardly injuring both his MCL and PCL in his left knee.

To our amazement, sources said that Urlacher would not require surgery to repair the ligaments and that he would be good to go at the start of the 2012 season.

With week three of the preseason set to go tomorrow against the New York Giants, Urlacher's status for the season opener is still up in the air. So is how he treated his knee this off-season.

Jay Cutler’s First Goal: Beat the Pack

By Matt Gentile

When the Chicago Bears acquired Jay Cutler in 2009, it was clear from the get-go the team was finally turning a page by getting a franchise caliber quarterback.

There have been some hiccups since his arrival, including 26 interceptions in his first season with Chicago. But even his biggest doubters have to acknowledge that Cutler does fit the bill as a franchise quarterback. He’s overcome a sub par receiving core, questionable play calling and an offensive line that has gotten him sacked 110 times since 2009.

Cutler has a 24-17 record as the Bears starter and took them to the NFC Championship game in the 2010 season. He also was playing his best football as a signal caller last year, leading the team to a 7-3 start before heading to the injured reserve with a broken thumb. Without him, the Bears stumbled to a 1-5 finish.

With Cutler healthy and some new weapons in tow, that classic Dave Wannstedt line about the pieces being in place might actually apply.

It’s time for Cutler and the Bears to put it all together. But the biggest stepping stone to achieving elite status and winning the Super Bowl are those pesky neighbors to the north.

The Green BayPackers.