Forget that the Bears are 7 1/2-point underdogs Sunday in Dallas. I watched the Cowboys offense stumble repeatedly at Washington last weekend. This is a game the Bears can win.
Disregard whatever you thought when you looked at the schedule weeks ago. The Dallas offensive line was worse than Chicago’s was in its opener. It’s so bad, they’re clamoring for the return of Marc Colombo, a Jerry Angelo first-rounder who actually has busted a few NFL grapes — sadly, after the Bears parted company with him.
At the minimum, the outcome should not be decided before the fourth quarter. That’s what I’m rooting for. My dream script would be a second straight week of first and goal from inside the one. Even tastier would be Bears on fourth and goal. Trailing by a point. In the final eight minutes.
I want to see Lovie Smith back his “I’d do it every time” credo and goes for it instead of taking a lead with a chip shot field goal.
I’d like to see if Mike Martz — who fell on his sword Wednesday, saying his team didn’t work enough on short yardage situtations — dials up something that produces 6 points. Let me stuff the suggestion box by offering a good old fashioned quarterback sneak.
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Since the head coach won’t do it, it was refreshing to hear a Bears assistant point the thumb instead of the finger. But it’s maddening considering the Bears did not practice goal line plays at full speed in training camp. If that’s the most difficult yard in football, as Martz suggested, it would stand to reason a few reps of it would be part of an NFL team’s August agenda.
Makes you wonder if the Bears are fit for defending their own end zone. Will anybody get a hand on Marion Barber when he gets low and explodes between guard and tackle? Or maybe offensive coordinator Jason Garrett just has Tony Romo duck his shoulder and do the dirty work himself. It doesn’t always have to be pretty.
While the Bears demonstrated they can move the chains and convert third downs and Julius Peppers, Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs proved they are weapons of destruction, it remains difficult to believe the Bears are going to be good. They beat the Lions in Week 1 more because of a little-known, bad rule than they did because of their ability to finish.
Coupled with a Dallas outfit with an equally questionable O-line and secondary, it makes it tough to call this one. But, I’m required to pick a lane. Cowboys 21, Bears 16.
If you enjoyed watching Detroit rookie defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, isolate on Cowboys nose tackle Jay Ratliff. Coaches just want a pile when a DT is being double teamed. Ratliff, in his sixth season, can stand up both center and guard, shed and make the tackle.
Fox thinks enough of Bears-Cowboys to send its top team of Joe Buck and Troy Aikman, a decidedly much more enjoyable and more honest listen than CBS’ No.1 crew of Jim Nantz and Phil Simms.
Many preseason prognosticastors picked Mike Singletary’s 49ers to win the NFC West. In their blowout loss to Seattle, San Francisco allowed 10 quarterback hits, two sacks, averaged 2.6 yards per carry and was 1-for-15 on third down. Can’t do it.
The Jets, who became America’s newest reality TV darlings because of their “color” in HBO’s “Hard Knocks,” won’t make the playoffs. A pedestrian offense and the loss of nose man Kris Jenkins (knee) in New York’s bed wetter against the Ravens, are a lethal dose for the potty-mouthed, frat-house legend Rex Ryan.
Passing league? Maybe. But those of us who still believe a stout running game can be a recipe for success had our hearts warmed by Texans running back Arian Foster blistering the Indianapolis defense for 231 yards and three TDs in a 34-24 win.
More than 72 hours away from the Monday nighter between New Orleans and San Francisco, I already need a shower from the effusive praise ESPN’s Jon Gruden and Ron Jaworski will heap on Sean Payton and Drew Brees.
Dan McNeil hosts “The Danny Mac Show” weekdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on WSCR-AM 670.