CBSSportsline.com : Doomsday for Dallas -- unless Rex factor kicks in

[Big Country]

By Clark Judge
CBSSports.com Senior Writer
Sep. 21, 2007

Game of the week

The line: Chicago by 2½

The injuries: The Cowboys are without wide receiver Terry Glenn (knee) and linebacker Greg Ellis (ankle), while cornerback Terence Newman continues to struggle with a foot injury. Chicago's Alex Brown (ankle), Ruben Brown (shoulder), Olin Kreutz (ankle) and Ricky Manning Jr. (back) were held out of Wednesday's practice but returned a day later. All are expected to play.

The story: This reminds me of that Seattle-Chicago Sunday night game at about the same time last year, with the Bears ripping their opponent. Dallas thinks it might be the best team in the NFC; Chicago was the best -- and still might be. Which means this is a chance to determine who rules the conference ... at least for now.

The Cowboys have been overwhelming -- scoring 82 points, averaging a league-best 6.1 yards per play and leading the conference with six takeaways. But their opponents were dreadful, with Miami committing five turnovers a week ago and Tony Romo dissecting the Giants the week before for 23 yards per completion.

If there's a break here it's with the Chicago offense, sputtering along under the uneasy hand of Rex Grossman. The club ranks 30th in total offense, has two touchdowns in two games and is tied for last in turnovers with seven. Plus, Grossman has been, well, Rex Grossman -- and that's not good. He ranks ahead of only Tavaris Jackson in the league's passer ratings.

The Bears will try to control the ball with running back Cedric Benson, but your best bet to beat the Cowboys is with the pass. They rank 26th in pass defense and are 25th in sacks per pass play. Put those numbers together, and here's what you have: an opportunity for Rex. Uh-oh. Only two of Chicago's 24 drives this season have covered more than 35 yards, and tell me you trust Grossman in a game of this magnitude to rectify that.

A scout I trust doesn't see how the Bears score here, and maybe he's right. But I look at that Chicago defense and wonder how Romo can be as successful as he was his first two weeks. More, I wonder how the Cowboys' rushing attack does anything. Remember, in successive weeks the Bears held LaDainian Tomlinson and Larry Johnson to 80 yards rushing combined. Then there's the home-field advantage: The Bears have won 15 of their past 18 at Soldier Field, including the playoffs. Maybe Tank Johnson can offer inside help to beating Chicago. He can't play, but he can advise.

The pick: Chicago. It's time the Bears started acting like Monsters of the Midway.

LINK

 

[Cowboys22]

Pretty fair assessment. This is the type of game that will tell us where the team is. On the road against the defending NFC champs who have a great defense. Any team trying to ascend to the top after many years of being merely average have to at some point beat some teams they were not supposed to. This is one of those opportunities for Dallas. If they get blown out, then we are still a ways away. If they are competive but lose a close one, then there is hope that if they improve as the season goes on, they could evolve into serious contenders. If they win, even by 1 point, they will be instant serious contenders. We will see Sunday night!

 

[sago1]

Our defense is playing purely due to injuries which might/might not effect Phillips ability to play his 34 as it should be played. Even if we lose, I believe (hope) as the season goes along our defense will continue to improve with (hopefully) the addition of Newman (sooner rather then later), Ellis & eventually Tank Johnson.

We will also need to see how our offense plays against the best defense it has ever played. We can't forget that for all his really good play Romo only has around 12-14 starts under his belt.

 

[theebs]

I feel like if we win its a big plus, but if we lose its not the end of the world.

No one knows who the best teams in the nfc are, we are in the third week. Long way to go.

I do think this is a big game for grossman because since he is playing in a nationally televised game against Dallas who everyone is an expert on....anyway if he plays well he will start to get credit if he plays poorly he will be buried.

If romo has a big day and we win, grossman might want to find a realtor.

 

[FLcowboy]

Pretty fair assessment. ..... Any team trying to ascend to the top after many years of being merely average have to at some point beat some teams they were not supposed to. This is one of those opportunities for Dallas.

I agree, and at the same time, any championship team that is on the decline loses games they are not supposed to lose. I think this is may be one of them. I don"t think the pundits are giving the Bears' offense enough credit for being as poor as it it. There is a reason it is so bad, and it is being ignored. I think the cowboys will exploit that.

We will also need to see how our offense plays against the best defense it has ever played. We can't forget that for all his really good play Romo only has around 12-14 starts under his belt.

Romo adjusted well against Miami, on the road. Miami's defense was considered on a par with Chicago. And, it isn't just Romo. The coaches are going to adjust also. Last week we saw T.O. adjust to the coverage, resulting in a touchdown. We then saw Romo and Hurd adjust for a TD. I look for the game to be won in the fourth quarter.

 

[big dog cowboy]

A scout I trust doesn't see how the Bears score here

That is why we will win.

 

[theogt]

Interesting that the line has shifted from 3.5 opening to 2.5.

 

[TwoCentPlain]

Chicago has played two teams that don't have a passing game. SD has no WRs, none, and only Gates was open all day. KC may very well drafting 1st next year. KC has neither a QB or any WRs and Gonzalez is over the hill. Chicago didn't have to respect the pass. They sold out against stopping the run. Both SD and KC are one-dimensional, run only. Now the Bears have to play the pass and run this week. We shall see.

And by the way, SD, a very pedestrian SD, beat the Bears. SD's offense AND defense are mediocre at best this year.

If the Cowboys can minimize the turnovers, keep Hester in check, and stay away from the injury bug, the Cowboys can win easily.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

The Bears have won 15 of their past 18 at Soldier Field, including the playoffs.

This is pretty much why I don't expect us to win. But if we do, it'll be so huge for us. Saw a stat on NFL Channel yesterday that Something like 75% or 80% of teams that start 3-0 make the playoffs.

 

[CaptainQuint]

Once again, Clark Judge has oversimplified a complex question.
Example:

"in successive weeks the Bears held LaDainian Tomlinson and Larry Johnson to 80 yards rushing combined"

If LT and LJ had no running lanes, their O lines were limited in their execution.
He should have told us how Dielman and McNeill and Goff and Olivea and Hardwick played, or just what's gone wrong with KC's O line, period.
I expect tough running for us, too, and the real unknown for me is Deon Anderson. who may get snaps at FB.
(another interest for me will be Olsen, because Urlancher said he was the 'best tight end I've ever seen'.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Once again, Clark Judge has oversimplified a complex question.
Example:

"in successive weeks the Bears held LaDainian Tomlinson and Larry Johnson to 80 yards rushing combined"

If LT and LJ had no running lanes, their O lines were limited in their execution.
He should have told us how Dielman and McNeill and Goff and Olivea and Hardwick played, or just what's gone wrong with KC's O line, period.
I expect tough running for us, too, and the real unknown for me is Deon Anderson. who may get snaps at FB.
(another interest for me will be Olsen, because Urlancher said he was the 'best tight end I've ever seen'.

Dielman was having issues with Harris.

 

[AtlCB]

Once again, Clark Judge has oversimplified a complex question.
Example:

"in successive weeks the Bears held LaDainian Tomlinson and Larry Johnson to 80 yards rushing combined"

If LT and LJ had no running lanes, their O lines were limited in their execution.
He should have told us how Dielman and McNeill and Goff and Olivea and Hardwick played, or just what's gone wrong with KC's O line, period.
I expect tough running for us, too, and the real unknown for me is Deon Anderson. who may get snaps at FB.
(another interest for me will be Olsen, because Urlancher said he was the 'best tight end I've ever seen'.

A fact that nobody has mentioned is that LaDainian Tomlinson and Larry Johnson combined for 86 rushing yards in their games against New England and Houston. I believe their rushing yards are more a result of offensive line problems than Chicago's defense.

 

[blindzebra]

A fact that nobody has mentioned is that LaDainian Tomlinson and Larry Johnson combined for 86 rushing yards in their games against New England and Houston. I believe their rushing yards are more a result of offensive line problems than Chicago's defense.

And the fact that both teams QBs have sucked.

Also of note is LJ and LT had 3 carries in preseason between them, neither was in game shape against the Bears.