Before the season, it was going to be very difficult for the Bears to contend in the NFC North Division, especially after the injury to quarterback Rex Grossman. At halftime, it will be very difficult for them to lose the division title.
The fortunes of the Bears, who are favored by 13 1/2 points Sunday against San Francisco, continue to rise, while those of the Vikings, Packers and Lions continue to sink.
The Vikings and Packers are both 9 1/2-point underdogs Sunday in road trips to the New York Giants and Atlanta Falcons, respectively. The Lions are four-point favorites at home against Arizona but remain in disarray.
With tiebreakers, the Bears have a three-game lead on the Vikings and Lions and a four-game lead on the Packers.
The Vikings are the only team with a realistic chance of catching them and are hoping to be within striking distance for the season finale against the Bears on Jan. 1 at the Metrodome.
But after Sunday, the Vikings should be four games behind with only seven to play. The Giants are the Vikings’ nemesis. They have beaten the Vikings in three consecutive seasons, all at the Metrodome. On Sunday, the Vikings go to the Meadowlands, where they were humiliated 41-0 in the 2000 NFC championship game in their last trip.
The Vikings were 6-0 in 2003 when the Giants beat them 29-17 at the Metrodome. Last year the Vikings were 5-1 when they lost to the Giants 34-13 at the Metrodome. Both losses resulted in 3-7 finishes.
With Brad Johnson replacing injured quarterback Daunte Culpepper for the rest of the season, the Vikings beat the Lions last week but play three of their next four on the road–at the Giants, at Green Bay and at Detroit, with a home game against Cleveland.
The Bears’ Lovie Smith, like many other coaches, breaks the season into four quarters. After a perfect second quarter, the Bears enter the third quarter with three of their four games at home–San Francisco, Carolina and Green Bay, with their lone trip to Tampa Bay.
If they beat the 49ers for their fifth victory in a row, their next five games pose their biggest test of the season–Carolina, at Tampa Bay, Green Bay, at Pittsburgh, Atlanta. They might be favored only once, maybe twice.
The Bears need to maintain their three-game lead because they play three of their final four on the road while the Vikings are home three times. By then, the Bears hope it will be too late to matter.
The 1-7 Packers don’t face the Bears until December, but with a roster decimated by injury and games at Atlanta, at Philadelphia and at Baltimore, plus a season finale against Seattle, it’s farfetched to see them recovering.
The Lions are making life miserable for only themselves and all future wide receivers. After picking receivers in the top 10 of the draft for each of the last three seasons–Charles Rogers, Roy Williams and Mike Williams–the Lions remain 28th in offense, worst in the NFC North.
The three top-10 picks have caught 36 passes for 488 yards and two touchdowns combined. Cleveland’s Antonio Bryant (drafted 63rd overall in 2002 by Dallas) has caught 33 passes for 481 yards and two touchdowns (both against the Bears).
No wonder Bears general manager Jerry Angelo waited until the second round to draft receiver Mark Bradley.
Another accomplished receiver in the news lately was a third-rounder, Terrell Owens.
Midseason adjustments
Playoff predictions:
– NFC North–Bears. Nobody else capable.
– NFC East–Redskins. Will go to wire with Giants and Eagles. Cowboys schedule too tough.
– NFC West–Seahawks. Could be their year.
– NFC South–Panthers. Must finish at Atlanta.
– Wild cards–Falcons, Eagles. Edge out Giants.
– AFC North–Steelers. Already beat Bengals and get them at home.
– AFC East–Patriots. Schedule gets easier. Health can’t get worse.
– AFC West–Broncos. Chargers will need to run table.
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– AFC South–Colts. Won’t go undefeated.
– Wild cards–Bengals, Jaguars. Chargers, Chiefs left out.
– Super Bowl–Colts over Panthers. Same as preseason pick.
Limited options
Owens’ next stop won’t be with the league’s worst team. Said Houston Texans owner Bob McNair:
“He has almost dismantled the Eagles. Why would you wish that on us? I’ve already got enough problems. Some things can overcome talent, and he has figured out how to do that. Football’s a team sport, and when a player thinks he’s more important than the team, it’s just not going to work.
“We’re going through tough times right now, but we’re going to work through it. We have players who are committed to helping us get through this. We don’t need a disruptive influence like that.”
Offensive minds
Do you think players make a difference?
Arizona coach Dennis Green coached the 1998 Vikings, who set an NFL record for most points scored in a season with 556. His Cardinals are 20th in scoring and last in touchdown percentage in the red zone, three in 21 attempts (14.3 percent).
The offensive coordinator for the 1998 Vikings was Brian Billick, now head coach of the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens are last in the league in scoring with only 97 points.
Did Green and Billick forget how to coach?
Coaching friends
The Patriots-Dolphins game is the first meeting between Bill Belichick and Nick Saban and should prove they are not the same person.
Belichick’s father, Steve, recently told the Palm Beach Post: “Bill isn’t looking forward to this, I know. We just wish Nick went to the NFC West or something. I watch Nick on TV and I see Bill. They’re very similar in their demeanor and their priorities. Nick was never one to have a whole lot of laughs. He’s not a stick in the mud or anything. He’s a very impressive person.”
Saban coached with Steve Belichick at Navy in 1982 and was Bill’s defensive coordinator in Cleveland. Belichick made a yearly trip to Baton Rouge, La., to talk football with Saban and review film and exchange defensive philosophies and changes.
The Jets-Panthers game is the first between former San Diego State teammates Herman Edwards and John Fox.
Edwards was a cornerback and Fox was a strong safety, helping the Aztecs to a 28-5 record over three seasons under coach Don Coryell.
Edwards revealed Fox’s college nickname: “Crash.”
“If you were around the pile, it didn’t matter what jersey you were wearing,” Edwards said. “He was going to hit it.”
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