Special Bears Team

So I'm late this week with this week's review, sorry. So the question is can special teams win a game? Probably not by itself, although in the passed with an anemic offense we just might have. But Sunday's game was a special game for special teams. There's a nice article in the Sun-Times today about Dave Toub. If you look at the box score, we were out gained 398-276, we lost time of possession 36:30 to 23:30, and we were out thrown 308-125. But if your starting field position is the Lions 46 and Lions is their own 18, well you don't need much offense. With the 1st Quarter done the Bears stand 3-1 with me hoping this team eventually find two good halves in a row.

• Again. 21-21 at halftime. Not exactly as planned. The offense and the defense seemed to alternately struggle throughout the 1st half. But the Bears once again weathered the storm and came out strong in the 2nd half. It was nice to know the outcome of the game before the closing minutes.
  
• Punt Return. Devin Hester returned 1 for 24 yards and Earl Bennett filled in nicely to return 4 for 63 yards for an average of 15.8. But Bennett benefited from some extra practice this week. From the Herald, In Bennett's case, it makes one wonder whether Toub sensed Hester would get hurt Sunday. Toub had Bennett do some return work in practice this week. The Lions had a hard time getting the return man down.
• Kick Return. Speaking of return men how bout Johnny Knox's 102 yard return TD. It seemed like that return took the wind out of the Lions sails. While the Bears are good enough to survive a sucker punch and a uneven half the Lions can't, although the showed promise. Anyway I guess the return was a counter, "It was a counter," Knox said. "Set up one way and bounce the other. Coach (Dave) Toub said this was going to be a good return for us coming in from halftime." Also, he did drop the ball before the endzone according to reviews.
• Punts. I'm often most impressed by the most easily overlooked aspect of the game and this week it was definitely Brad Maynard. Maynard, who does most of his work as people are headed to the bathroom or kitchen, hit 4 punts inside the 20 including one on 2 yard line and one on the 6 yard line. I can't even do that in Madden.
• Kicker. Well of course we have to talk about the kicker. Robbie hit 2 FGs including his career long of 52. He finally got that 50 yard barrier monkey off his back.
• Lance Briggs. Another Pro Bowl quality game for Lance with 9 tackles.
• Forte. Finally a running game, but without those 2 long runs, 10 carries for 23 yards? I know you can't "leave those out", but it would be nice to see runs of 5-9 yards more regularly.
• Cutler's hits. Officially the Lions had 2 sacks, but it seemed like Cutler got knocked around, mostly due to his own doing. His first spectacular TD as evidence. Also, Cutler seemed to be okay getting whacked while he was waiting a for a receiver to get open. Just something I'm a bit concerned about.
  
• Progress. 21-21 at halftime, a disappointment. A last minute win, a very question laced bye week. A blowout 48-24, progress.

Around the League

• Saints crash Jets flight. Well it had to happen eventually. I guess I'm just surprised it was against the Saints and without any passing TDs (Thanks Drew Brees). But maybe the Saints are for real (Wins over Det, Phi, Buf previously)
• Will someone please stop the Vikings? Will someone please stop the Vikings? Not this week with a trip to St. Louis.
• Titans? Not even going to talk about them this week. Jacksonville? Really?