In the unpredictable NFL, the 2-0 New York Giants come into Soldier Field on Sunday as slight underdogs to the 0-2 Bears.
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Question–How can that be?
Answer–Same reason the 2-0 Minnesota Vikings go to New England as slight underdogs to the 0-2 Patriots.
Q–But what’s the reason?
A–Desperation factor. If a team falls to 0-3, it is virtually guaranteed to be home for the holidays. If a team gets to 3-0, it is virtually guaranteed to advance to the playoffs. In the NFL that’s called No Fun for the next 14 games. The only other winless-vs.-unbeaten matchup this week is San Francisco at St. Louis, where the 49ers are given no chance.
Q–But the Giants must be a pretty decent team, aren’t they?
A–Probably not as decent as the 2-0 Buccaneers were last week, but they lead the league in rushing, and their defense stuffed Duce Staley in Philadelphia last week.
Q–So why wouldn’t they be favorites to get to 3-0 against a team that hasn’t run or stopped the run very well?
A–There is also the Redskins factor. The Giants have a big game next Sunday night in the Meadowlands against the Redskins. After beating the Cardinals and Eagles, the Giants are 2-0 in the NFC East with a chance to go to 3-0 in their division next week. Losing to the Bears would be only a minor blip compared with losing to the Redskins.
Q–You mean they will be looking ahead?
A–The Bears certainly hope so. The oddsmakers certainly think so. That’s called the Ambush Factor.
Q–Is this Kerry Collins guy the same quarterback who used to play at Carolina and New Orleans?
A–Apparently not. This looks more like the Kerry Collins who was a No. 1 draft choice out of Penn State. He looks focused, confident and, most of all, sober.
Q–Is there something ominous about being drafted No. 1 out of Penn State?
A–Apparently so, although Courtney Brown and LaVar Arrington are doing OK for rookies. Others seem to take years to mature into productive, consistent pros.
Q–How is Ron Dayne doing?
A–Running backs from the Big Ten often take years to fit into some systems, but Dayne has become the Giants’ feature back as a rookie and looks very promising.
Q–So when does Tiki Barber play?
A–Often enough to lead the league in rushing. Giants offensive coordinator Sean Payton does a good job alternating Dayne and Barber and combining them on occasion, the way the Bears say they’d like to do with Curtis Enis and James Allen or Enis and Glyn Milburn.
Q–Don’t the Giants have a veteran offensive line?
A–They have veterans, but they had never played together before this season. So much for cohesion. Four of the five starters are new–tackles Lomas Brown and young Luke Petitgout, guard Glenn Parker and center Dusty Ziegler. Brown, Parker and Ziegler came from Cleveland, Kansas City and Buffalo, respectively.
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Q–What does the Giants’ defense expect from the Bears?
A–They don’t really know. That’s another factor that might have influenced oddsmakers. When the Giants opened up video to study last week’s Bears offense, there was nothing to watch. The Giants had to guess at how to prepare. They have heard the Bears can be explosive, but the smoke hasn’t cleared yet from last week’s bomb.