The Bengals were a 4pt dog and now they are 3. Does that sound right to everyone?

 

No. If you subscribe to the 'home team gets a FG' science of line-setting, what they are saying is on a neutral field these teams are even. Hogwash.

 

This matchup is a worst case scenario for the Bears due to a point that Bengal Maniac made. You have perhaps the best front-four in the NFL against a porous o-line and a QB who will make mistakes when pressured. Mix in that the Bengals are getting a road game versus a northern team early in the year, and it should be a fairly comfortable setting. I think the Bengals win by 4-10 and I'm shocked it isn't a pick-em (at worst) in Vegas.

I think it's about an even game. I like Cutler-Marshall-Forte combo more than Dalton-Green-Lawfirm/or other RB combo.

 

 

I think it comes down to the 4th quarter but I'm taking the Bears 21-17

No. If you subscribe to the 'home team gets a FG' science of line-setting, what they are saying is on a neutral field these teams are even. Hogwash.

 

This matchup is a worst case scenario for the Bears due to a point that Bengal Maniac made. You have perhaps the best front-four in the NFL against a porous o-line and a QB who will make mistakes when pressured. Mix in that the Bengals are getting a road game versus a northern team early in the year, and it should be a fairly comfortable setting. I think the Bengals win by 4-10 and I'm shocked it isn't a pick-em (at worst) in Vegas.

 

That was my thinking. I thought the game would be anywhere from a pick to the Bengals being slightly favored.

 

Makes me wonder what the odds makers know that we don't know...

I like Cutler-Marshall-Forte combo more than Dalton-Green-Lawfirm/or other RB combo.

 

Me too, but I like the Bengals' O-Line and defensive units much more than the Bears. If the Bears' o-line can give Cutler time to throw, the Bears could easily win this game. I just don't think that will be the case, Cutler will be pressured / knocked down / sacked, and that will lead to errant throws and potential turnovers. If I'm the Bears, I have a steady dose of running the ball and mixing in play-action, but they never seem to stick with that long enough and always end up asking Cutler to just drop back and wing it around.

 

The Bears linebackers are in a state of flux, watch for the TE's and the backs catching it on swing routes to be a big problem for the Bears.

Bengals by 10

Me too, but I like the Bengals' O-Line and defensive units much more than the Bears. If the Bears' o-line can give Cutler time to throw, the Bears could easily win this game. I just don't think that will be the case, Cutler will be pressured / knocked down / sacked, and that will lead to errant throws and potential turnovers. If I'm the Bears, I have a steady dose of running the ball and mixing in play-action, but they never seem to stick with that long enough and always end up asking Cutler to just drop back and wing it around.

 

The Bears linebackers are in a state of flux, watch for the TE's and the backs catching it on swing routes to be a big problem for the Bears.

 

I agree with the o-line. They are very dependent on it and if Cutler has time to throw then that offense is gonna be really good.

Who do the Bears have at TE?

Who do the Bears have at TE?

 

Martellus Bennett

No way Collins is better even against athletic rushers. He is a very good backup. But if he is so good why hasn't he walked. He is a backup for a reason. Maybe teams have tried to trade for him, but I haven't heard of any, though. It is a luxury to have good one to fill in for a few games. Left tackles are hard to find and team will pay big $$ to get one. Peppers is a beast just don't let him disrupt everything. With either Whit or Collins, Gresham will have to help.

 

They didn't give much help to Collins his rookie year against top pass rushers. They rarely give Andrew much help against top pass rushers. They saw Harrison and terrell twice a year and rarely gave help. So why would they more so now against peppers?

Chicago is great at turning their opponent over, they also have one of the most generous QBs in the league. If the Bengals can get to Cutler with their front four they should walk away with a week one win.

Bengals are bringing Roland back.

They didn't give much help to Collins his rookie year against top pass rushers. They rarely give Andrew much help against top pass rushers. They saw Harrison and terrell twice a year and rarely gave help. So why would they more so now against peppers?

 

The reason they kept Kelly at TE was to help Collins.

Brandon Marshall vs. Bengals' secondary scares me. One big key to game will be Bernard. He sure looked good in pre-season. I'd like to see him get more than 100 rushing and receiving. Been a while since Bengals had RB who could turn the corner.

Martellus Bennett

 

He's a guy that could have a breakout season. Bengals have strugggled with good TEs. Will they get smart and put a safety on him, or continue to let LBs get torched?

He's a guy that could have a breakout season. Bengals have strugggled with good TEs. Will they get smart and put a safety on him, or continue to let LBs get torched?

 

With them moving Taylor Mays to LB (Lemur position), he would make sense as that LB / S hybrid to put on opposing team's pass-catching TE's.