Game 13: Bears vs. Jags

The Bears are in a must win mode. They can't afford to drop anymore games this season. It is a good thing they are playing the Jaguars. The Jaguars have lost their last three games and five of their last six games. The Bears have lost three of their last four. In two of those losses, they were killed, with a stomping from the Packers (score was 37-3) and a stomping at the hands of the Vikings (score was 34-14).

The Bears also have games against the New Orleans Saints (6-6), the Green Bay Packers (5-7), and the Houston Texans (5-7). If Chicago has any chance to make the playoffs, it would mean they have to win out (winning the last four games) and finish 10-6. Odds of that happening? Well, I would have to say that it isn't as bad as it could be, since the Saints are the only team right now who has a 500 record or better (and they ARE at 500). Still, to win out the rest of the way is easier said than done. I hope the Bears are simply focusing on one game at a time...

Bears to Watch:

• Kyle Orton: 83.3 QB Rating; 192-327 (58.7%) for 2,195 yards and 13 TDs, 7 Ints, and 4 lost fumbles.
• Matt Forte: 248 carries for 1,012 yards with 6 TDs and one lost fumble.
• Greg Olson: 34 catches for 398 yards with 2 TDs and 2 lost fumbles.
• Rashied Davis: 31 catches for 396 yards and 2 TDs.
• Devin Hester: 34 catches for 442 yards, 3 TDs, and 31 KR for 679 yards.
• Charles Tillman: 64 tackles, 14 deflections and 3 Ints (one for a TD).
• Kevin Payne: 69 tackles, 4 Ints and one sack.
• Lance Briggs: 87 tackles, 1/2 sack and 3 Ints.

I would have to say that those numbers aren't exactly pretty, but it has been good enough to keep them at bay, and on the bubble of a possible playoff spot.

Jags to Watch:

• David Garrard: 82.8 QB Rating; 253-398 (63.6%) for 2,748 yards, 10 TDs, 9 Ints, and 3 lost fumbles.
• Maurice Jones-Drew: 130 carries for 552 yards with 11 TDs and one lost fumble.
• Fred Taylor: 130 carries for 503 yards with a TD and a lost fumble.
• Matt Jones: 62 catches for 727 yards with two TDs and a lost fumble.
• Rashean Mathis: 40 tackles, a sack, 4 Ints (two for TDs) and 9 deflections.

The Jaguars do not have a pass rush that is worth talking about. There are a few who lead the team with 2.5 sacks. They are better at pass coverage, with Mathis having four Ints, Sensabaugh has three, and Brian Williams has two. Forecast: If it was a battle of logos, the Jags would win hands down... that is a pretty cool logo. Still, there is an actually game that is involved and that one will be won by the Bears with a score of 17-13.

Home Field

Game 10: Titans vs. Jags

Well, I don't have to be a genius to figure out this one. The Titans are 9-0 and the Jags are 4-5. Hum, I wonder who is the favorite? The Titans really haven't had it all that hard, but still, 9-0 is 9-0... who wouldn't take that?

Would I call the Titans the best team in football? No. But they still do enough of what it takes to win, including not playing a certain QB.

Maybe Young is gleaning something from this experience? For his sake, I would hope so... but it is always a tough pill to swallow when one day you're the guy and then the next, you're not.

Jacksonville was a good team on paper, but they have gone the way of the Cowboys and not getting the breaks they are supposed to get. Will they make the playoffs? That is depended on the question of will they get it together... which is a big fat NO. Isn't hindsight so much better than the forecast? It's pretty easy to tell what already happened, compared to what will or should happen.

Forecast: Well, the Titans will make it 10-0, although this could be a brilliant upset game... next week seems like the obvious upset game, though, being that it is the Jets whom they will be playing. So, the score will look like this: 24-13, Titans.

Home Plate