Broncos @ Bears Preview – Around the Web

Taking a look around the Internet, on what the experts, beat writers, soothsayers, and your grandpa are saying about the upcoming game. We’ll give you a snippet, then you can jump through the links provided and read everything they had to say.

“Blitz the left side of the Bears’ offensive line. Left tackle John Tait is banged up and having one of his worst seasons. With the loss of left guard Reuben Brown and the insertion of Terrence Metcalf into the lineup, the Broncos should be relentless in attacking Tait and Metcalf. The Broncos should blitz speedy linebacker Ian Gold and/or safety Hamza Abdullah. This would force Metcalf to kick out wide to block hard-charging Elvis Dumervil, a mismatch for the Broncos. This also might force the Bears to keep tight end Desmond Clark and/or Greg Olsen in to block and allow the Broncos to have an extra defender in coverage to help defend wide receiver Bernard Berrian.” [The War Room – Sporting News]

“With so much turmoil at the running back position, the Broncos will give Jay Cutler many chances to make plays. Cutler is coming off a very good game in which he threw two long touchdowns and had no interceptions. Defensively, the Broncos will try to put the Bears in a spot where they have to challenge Denver’s cornerbacks in the passing game. The Broncos are significantly better when they force even one interception, and the Bears have thrown many this season. [Inside Slant – USA Today]

“Of Jay Cutler, Mike Shanahan has always thought the guy that has shown up the last couple of weeks is the guy that he is going to be. It was just a matter of time because he can move and throw on the move. He is a big guy and has a very very strong arm. The only thing is does he have enough receivers? He doesn’t have them at every position and Shanahan is still looking to add something to that offense but having said that he is doing a very good coaching job in that it looked like they were out of it and now you look and they are tied with the San Diego Chargers who aren’t doing anything either. Someone has to win that division and winning the division means you are in the playoffs and once you are in anything can happen.” [John Madden – NBC Sports]

“Following its bye week and two straight road games, Chicago returns home for the first time since losing to Detroit 16-7 on Oct. 28. Soldier Field hasn’t provided the Bears with much home-field advantage, though, as they’ve dropped three straight there since beating Kansas City 20-10 in their home opener on Sept. 16. Chicago, which won 13 of 16 at home over the last two seasons, has not lost four straight at Soldier Field since Sept. 17-Oct. 15, 2000.” [Fox Sports (AP)]

“If punter Todd Sauerbrun is to be believed, the Broncos will kick to Devin Hester on Sunday. Chicago’s Hester is perhaps the best returner in the NFL. But the Broncos are improving on special teams, and Sauerbrun said they’re ready for the challenge. Aside from perhaps giving the Bears good field position by kicking away from Hester out of bounds or kicking it short, Sauerbrun said he didn’t think it would set a good tone.” [Scout.com]

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