It’s official: People are starting to wonder about the Chicago Bears.
Six turnovers against the Cardinals and Dolphins have a way of doing that.
A week ago, the Bears were 7-0 and on top of the world. Now they’re 7-1 with a mistake-prone offense. While it’s certainly not time to panic in Chicago, the word is out on the Bears: Put pressure on Rex Grossman and he’ll crack.
Grossman and the rest of the Bears will be center stage tonight when they play the New York Giants at the Meadowlands. A win by New York/New Jersey and the 6-2 Giants would have the inside track on home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
Elsewhere on the Week 10 docket …
The Colts can become the first team in NFL history to begin back-to-back seasons at 9-0. It could prove to be easier said than done, what with Peyton Manning having a penchant for struggling against Buffalo, the Colts’ opponent at the RCA Dome.
New England, the Colts’ latest victim, will be looking to rebound this week against the New York Jets. If the Patriots don’t git’erdone, it would fly in the face of an awful lot of history. They’ve gone 57 consecutive games without back-to-back losses. The league record is 60, established by the 1995-99 Niners.
Oh, and last but not least, the Pittsburgh Steelers will try to rev up their playoff hopes with a victory over New Orleans at Heinz Field. What’s that? Yeah, you’re right.
They stuck a fork in themselves last week with all those turnovers against the Broncos.
Couch potato heaven
San Diego at Cincinnati
11 a.m., Chargers by 1
Last meeting: Bengals won 34-27 at San Diego on Nov. 23, 2003.
Not that, you know, Bengals have issues, but they’ve lost four out of five. Last three L’s have come by combined nine points. … Cincy 4-1 in past five vs. AFC West. … For a guy who likes to chirp, Chad Johnson hasn’t produced much lately. Dude has 483 receiving yards, two measly TDs. No wonder he’s whining about not gettin’ the rock. … This just in. LaDainian Tomlison has definite potential. L.T. leads league with 14 TDs (12 rushing) and tops club with 38 catches. … Chargers play it a little closer to the vest on the road, where TE Antonio Gates becomes bigger weapon than ever. He has four TD catches in past five away from San Diego.
Prediction: Bengals 24, Chargers 23
Worth the electricity
Buffalo at Indianapolis
11 a.m., Colts by 12
Last meeting: Colts won 17-14 at Buffalo on Nov. 23, 2003.
Bills plan to pull off the upset in this one. Of course, the Republicans planned to kick butt on Tuesday. … Colts plus-10 in turnovers, Bills minus-4. … Buffalo D usually gets up to face that Manning dude. Peyton hasn’t reached 200 passing yards in four of past six vs. Let’s Go, and hasn’t thrown a TD pass in three of the six. … Colts trying to become first team in this man’s league to start back-to-back seasons 9-0. … Colts have won 30 of past 33.
Prediction: Colts 27, Bills 20
New Orleans at Pittsburgh
2:15 p.m., Steelers by 4 1/2
Last meeting: Saints won 32-29 at New Orleans on Oct. 6, 2002.
Steelers by four. What, turnovers? … Big Ben Whatshisname has been renamed Big Bust in Steel City. He leads league with 14 INTs, and didn’t play in season opener. … Steelers abandoned running game vs. Broncos and put fate in Big Ben’s hands. What part of that’s a bad idea doesn’t Bill Cowher get? … Reggie Bush in past five: 47 carries, 82 yards. No really, we’re not making this up. As a TB, he’s looking like one heck of a WR. … Drew Brees 27-13 in past 40 starts. Next thing you know, they’ll name a drink after him on Bourbon St.
Prediction: Steelers 29, Saints 23
St. Louis at Seattle
2:15 p.m., Seahawks by 3 1/2
Last meeting: Seahawks won 30-28 at St. Louis on Oct. 15.
Matt Hasselbeck, who threw three TD passes in W at St. Looie, won’t play in this one. … Pretty good player, Marc Bulger. Rams QB has 13 TD passes, only one pick, and is aiming for fourth straight 300-yarder vs. Seahawks. … Seneca Wallace will start at QB for Seattle. He got first career W on Monday night. OK, so it was the Raiders, so it shouldn’t count. He’s taking it anyway. … ‘Hawks LB Julian Peterson was one of better free-agent signings. He has 8.0 sacks, tied for third in league.
Prediction: Rams 24, Seahawks 23
N.Y. Jets at New England
11 a.m., Patriots by 10 1/2
Last meeting: Patriots won 24-17 at the Meadowlands on Sept. 17.
Pats coming off L vs. Colts. We only mention it because they haven’t lost two straight since Dec. 16-22, 2002. In other words, J-E-T-S are T-O-A-S-T. … Game features matchup of Bill Belichick and former asst. Eric Mangini. Funny how these things work. When Jets were winning, they were calling him Man-genius in N.Y. tabs. Not anymore. … Pats have won seven straight in series. … NE TE Ben Watson has 32 catches, setting career high, with half-a-season to go. … Jets 4-1 when Chad Pennington throws for 285-plus.
Prediction: Patriots 37, Jets 24
Beats washing the car
Cleveland at Atlanta
11 a.m., off the board
Last meeting: Browns won 24-16 at Cleveland on Dec. 29, 2002.
Dirty Birds on pace for NFL record 3,282 rushing yards. … Hot’lanta’s Warrick Dunn (688 yards), Michael Vick (576) on course to become first-ever TB-QB 1,000-yard tandem. … Browns QB Charlie Frye discovered the other day his name is really spelled Charley. OK, so we made that up. Trust is, he isn’t the brightest bulb on the tree among QBs. His 12 INTs rank next-to-last in loop behind Pitt’s Big Bust.
Prediction: Falcons 31, Browns 16
Houston at Jacksonville
11 a.m., Jaguars by 10 1/2
Last meeting: Texans won 27-7 at Houston on Oct. 22.
You don’t suppose Jags are ready to pounce on Texans after their embarrassing performance in Houston, do you? Nah, didn’t think so. … Jax will go with David Garrard at QB. When asked if move was permanent, Jags coach Jack Del Rio said, “My, what gorgeous weather we’re having today.” … Jags a different club at home. As in, tons better than the pillow-mints version. They’re 4-0 in Jax and have outscored foes 78-7 in past two. … Texans paying WR Andre Johnson time-and-a-half for rest of season. He has league-leading 65 catches, league-leading 752 receiving yards.
Prediction: Jaguars 34, Texans 9
Kansas City at Miami
11 a.m., Chiefs by 1
Last meeting: Chiefs won 30-20 at Miami on Oct. 21, 2005.
Was that really dog-breath Dolphins playing big, bad Bears last week? … Second-year TB Ronnie Brown has picked up pace of late, breaking loose for 157 yards vs. Bears. … Despite Tiki Barber’s wife’s protests, K.C.’s Larry Johnson has 199 carries at midway point, putting him on pace for almost 400. … Miami DE Jason Taylor had INT return for TD last week. He has six TDs in his career, second-most among D linemen (Giants’ George Martin) since ’70 merger.
Prediction: Chiefs 19, Dolphins 17
Green Bay at Minnesota
11 a.m., Vikings by 5 1/2
Last meeting: Vikings won 20-17 at Green Bay on Nov. 21, 2005.
Talk about a heartbreaker. Vikings won last game at GB when Paul Edinger kicked 56-yard FG as time expired. … Brett Favre doesn’t like domes, but he fares OK in Minnie. He has 14 TD passes, four INTs in past five games vs. Vikes. … True, but strange: Vikings have never had a RB with 300 carries. Chester Taylor has 173 at midway point, putting him on course to smash franchise mark of 295 set by ESPN analyst Robert Smith in 2000.
Prediction: Vikings 30, Packers 20
Washington at Philadelphia
11 a.m., Eagles by 7
Last meeting: Redskins won 31-20 at Philadelphia on Jan. 1.
Eagles hoping this trend continues: They’re 7-0 under Andy Reid in game after bye week. … Donovan McNabb has won eight out of 12 starts vs. ‘Skins. … The good news is McNabb is on pace for franchise-record 4,624 passing yards. The bad news is McNabb is on pace for franchise-record 4,624 passing yards. Iggles have to get running game going to chew up some clock. … ‘Skins will need to put heat on Big Mac in this one. They’re 28th in the bid’ness with 13 sacks. … Eagles have lost three straight to blow two-game division lead.
Prediction: Eagles 27, Redskins 16
Baltimore at Tennessee
11 a.m., Ravens by 7
Last meeting: Titans won 25-10 at Tennessee on Sept. 18, 2005.
Titans QB Vince Young attended Ravens QB Steve McNair’s FB camp as a high school soph. … Ravens numero uno in turnovers at plus-14. … McNair played 11 seasons for Titans franchise, with three Pro Bowl trips, one gun-possession charge. … Young struggling in rookie season: 69 for 150, 7 INTs. … Tenn coach Jeff Fisher 8-8 career vs. Ravens. … Not that Young has noticed, but Baltimore D leads Not For Long with 17 INTs.
Prediction: Ravens 25, Titans 13
Tampa Bay at Carolina
6:30 p.m. Monday, Panthers by 9 1/2
Last meeting: Panthers won 26-24 at Tampa on Sept. 24.
Panthers hoping to redeem themselves for prime-time embarrassment vs. Cowboys. … Carolina QB Jake Delhomme stinks on third down. Come to think of it, the other three aren’t all that hot, either. … Panthers have won six of past seven in series and hope to sweep Bucs for third time in past four seasons. … Bucs’ Joey Galloway has five TD catches in seven meetings vs. Panthers. … Go figure. TB rookie QB Bruce Gradkowski has thrown one INT in 186 attempts.
Prediction: Panthers 30, Bucs 13
Get a life, Bubba
San Francisco at Detroit
11 a.m., Lions by 6
Last meeting: Niners won 24-17 at San Francisco on Oct. 5, 2003.
You mean to tell us somebody is favored in this thing? We were tempted to predict 2-0 in OT. … Clubs haven’t met in Motown since ’95, Matt Millen’s first year as Lions GM. What’s that? OK, so it just seems that way. … My oh my, how stats can lie. To wit: Lions’ Jon Kitna on pace for 4,348 passing yards, 63.2 completion pct. Both would be club records. … Niners were allowing almost 35 points per before holding Vikes to three last week. Hey, don’t ask us. … Niners would rather have Gore (Frank) than Bush (Reggie). TB Frank Gore has run for 672 yards and leads club with 31 catches.
Prediction: Lions 37, Niners 26
Dallas at Arizona
2:15 p.m., Cowboys by 7
Last meeting: Cowboys won 34-13 at Dallas on Oct. 30, 2005.
Cowboys so focused after bizarre loss at Washington that T.O. has fallen asleep in only two meetings. … Tony Romo the man with the plan in Big D. Now if he just had a loudmouth WR who could catch the ball. T.O. dropped would-be TD pass vs. ‘Skins, setting stage for crazy ending. … TB Edgerrin James running faster to bank than end zone. Edge averagin’ 2.8 per in Dennis Green’s lousy offense. … Cards selling out new digs left and right, which could enable team to set unofficial league record for fans with bags over their heads.
Prediction: Cowboys 34, Cardinals 20
Read Jim Armstrong’s Opening Shots on Sundays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays in The Denver Post sports section and on Mondays in NFL Monday. His previous columns are available online at www.denverpost.com
