By: Mike Rose
8/11/2006 12:51:16 PM
Tricky spot for the NFC North division champs as they trek halfway across the country for a primetime affair with their biological clocks telling them its time for beddy-bye.
On top of that, the Niners went a perfect 4-0 ATS in pre-season games last season under then new Head Coach Mike Nolan, and they won and covered both of their games on their home turf. The pre-season has been very heartbreaking for Bears fans the last few years. Most recently, QB Rex Grossman went down with a serious knee injury in the first quarter of their second NFLX game last year.
HC Lovie Smith likes to play his starters for at least a quarter in the first game, but you can be sure he'll be keeping an eye on several of his key contributors. On the other hand, San Francisco will be playing a majority of its starters for the first half. They have a solid staple of backs in their RB corps, and the #1 slot is wide open. The Bears will be resting a number of guys defensively from the get go, and this could lead to major success for the Niner backs fighting for a job. SF also pays a visit to Chicago in October, so I don't expect the Bears to be showing much of their hand if any to the Niners coaching staff. That game will be much more important to the Bears, and this is just a chance for them to hit some other guys wearing different colored uniforms.
Let's face it, the Bears are clearly the better overall team, but the Niners should be the more hungrier unit this evening. This will most likely be one of the few occasions they can give their fans something to cheer about, and I believe they'll take advantage of it.
8/11/2006 12:51:16 PM
Tricky spot for the NFC North division champs as they trek halfway across the country for a primetime affair with their biological clocks telling them its time for beddy-bye.
On top of that, the Niners went a perfect 4-0 ATS in pre-season games last season under then new Head Coach Mike Nolan, and they won and covered both of their games on their home turf. The pre-season has been very heartbreaking for Bears fans the last few years. Most recently, QB Rex Grossman went down with a serious knee injury in the first quarter of their second NFLX game last year.
HC Lovie Smith likes to play his starters for at least a quarter in the first game, but you can be sure he'll be keeping an eye on several of his key contributors. On the other hand, San Francisco will be playing a majority of its starters for the first half. They have a solid staple of backs in their RB corps, and the #1 slot is wide open. The Bears will be resting a number of guys defensively from the get go, and this could lead to major success for the Niner backs fighting for a job. SF also pays a visit to Chicago in October, so I don't expect the Bears to be showing much of their hand if any to the Niners coaching staff. That game will be much more important to the Bears, and this is just a chance for them to hit some other guys wearing different colored uniforms.
Let's face it, the Bears are clearly the better overall team, but the Niners should be the more hungrier unit this evening. This will most likely be one of the few occasions they can give their fans something to cheer about, and I believe they'll take advantage of it.