Why am I telling you this?
Because the best Second City alums have always been masters of improvisation, and the Panthers will have to do exactly the same thing in Chicago Sunday to come away with an upset victory.
There will be a moment or two that all hinges on improv -- what Cam Newton while being chased on the full run by Julius Peppers, or what Jay Cutler does when he sees a small window that might open for a 50-yard pass or might close for an interception.
I think these teams have similar talent levels, so a couple of snap decisions will make the difference.
-- The Panthers got creamed by Bears running back Matt Forte a year ago, as he had touchdown runs of 18 and 68 yards in the game's first eight minutes. The Bears throw the ball to Forte a lot, too. I think containing him is even more important that containing Cutler.
-- Bears coach Lovie Smith can try to spin this decision all he wants to, but Chicago letting a talent like Greg Olsen go to Carolina for a third-round pick was quite a mistake. I don't care what offensive system you are playing. You don't let a guy who can catch the ball like that get away.
-- It's fitting that Steve Smith should surpass Muhsin Muhammad Sunday as Carolina's all-time leader in receiving yards. The best game I've ever seen Smith play came in Chicago in the 2005 playoffs, when he decimated the Bears with a 218-yard receiving game. Afterward, Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher called Smith the NFL's best offensive player.
-- I'm 15-3 over the last 18 games picking the Panthers' outcome, and today I'm going out on a limb. I think the Panthers will improvise just well enough to win: Carolina 24, Chicago 22.
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30 comments:
Dream on!
Go Scott! Nice to see you break away from the safe picks and go with an upset for a change. Hope you're right. My pick is Bears 24 Panthers 17.
Panthers will def be upset Sunday in Chicago after its over.
Somebody tell your Scam guy or whatever his name is that Urlacher eats QBs for a light snack and if he tries to scoot he makes a big target for a big kill meal.
Chicago wins by 25.
Um....Steve Smith's best game was in 2003 in St. Louis. Hello!!!
HOMER!!! Marge wants you home soon.
Haha! Did someone really say Bears by 25?????? How dillusional are people that "think" they know anything about football? I'm not saying the Panthers will win, but it def won't be a blow out by either team. The Panthers can play with anyone on any given day this year, unlike last year.
Ur"lack"er is so overrated.
Not sure the Panthers can win on the road with a team that has not proven to be able to recover from the expected mistakes of a rookie QB. If the Panthers protect the ball, and can get a turnover or two from the Bears... could make Scott look like a prognosticating genius.
More than anything the true clues on how the game will be on Sunday is from the last year preseason game Bears had in San Diego. Ron Revera was the defensive coordinator for the chargers and he blitzed and blitzed until he was full. All the other teams took note of it and the result was Cutler getting sacked record times. I don't believe Ron Revera would have forgotten that game.
You're stealing my thunder Scott! I said Panthers 21-17 3 days ago, nothing about them is scary aside from a few studs on D who we can neutralize if Cam can get rid of the ball quickly and precisely. If we could run the ball we'll have a much better chance, I say go with Stewart who is hard, physical runner and keep them guessing which will set up a big play down field to #89 with a play action pass. Sounds crazy but if they can do those things and not turn the ball over, they could make easy work of the Bears. GO PANTHERS!!!!
Hopefully, this went away with John Fox but I'm always nervous when the media picks the Panthers to win. When Fox was here, every time the Panthers were favorites, they managed to find a way to lose. On the other hand, the Bears looked very beatable last Sunday. I raise my glass to a more consistent future under Coach Rivera. And I hope you are right about Sunday Scott.
Hope McDermott will bring the heat, over and over again and confuse Cutler even more than he already is. Guys got an arm, but once rattled, he's capable of pulling a Jake and that could be huge for the Panthers. Of course you gotta tie Forte up first.
Would love to see Stew blast through #90 repeatedly also!!!
Stranger things happen in the NFL. Reality is if Cam plays with limited mistakes, doesn't get his bell rung by Pep or Urlach, we can stay in this one. Cutler has shown tremendous inconsistencies and the ability to throw an INT or two. With our needed run game back on track and an above average performance from Cam, we walk out 20-17 with the W, or limp out but either way we get the W!
We have to get down to basics in this game. We cannot have 34 bouncing around trying to fight for 4yds. Start Stewart, lots of play action bubble screens and dumps. Keep the game simple and high percentage success for Cam. Let his confidence grow and then throw the the unexpected-(wildcat, reverse to 89, option pass from 34..etc). We're going to have to do some odd things in this game to bring it home.
I too believe we will win. I was one of the only standing in the rain last week, and Cam didn't fumble - didn't get rattled -- and JStew almost scored. I think they are ready for just about anything and don't see how the Bears will make everyone turn into rookies -- GO PANTHERS!
Let his confidence grow and then throw the the unexpected-(wildcat, reverse to 89, option pass from 34..etc).
I agree, but throw armanti in the mix for the wildcat...
Predicting a 6 point dog to win is pretty bold for a CO writer. Green and Sorenstam just go with the flow. Good luck around the water cooler next week.
Predicting a 6 point dog to win is pretty bold for a CO writer. Green and Sorenstam just go with the flow. Good luck around the water cooler next week.
Could you see JStew throwing a stiffarm on #90...to the ground?
28-21 Panthers. Book it. Bears Suck!
Wow....it would be awesome if we do it...I think we can....Olsen will score 2tds!!!
The whole Carolina team consists of 2 big experienced well known TEs named Olsen and Shockey who have allowed some unknown lankey uncoordinated high school QB who scammed his way into the pros.
These 2 TEs are catching 90% of the short dump passes while destroying run game.
There is a circus side show named Smith who is irrelevant.
Whoever thought of hiring and running these double TEs for blocking and recieving for this lacky overhyped scam half illiterate QB who will fail ultimately needs to be given a raise.
Bears will dominate both sides of the ball and walk away with an easy victory. Urlacher and Peppers will contain the TE threat and dare the rookie to risk injury running.
Fantasy Football Paper
This isn't your daddy's Bears defense. The panthers winning will not be an upset. Carolina has a better offense and our D is no worse than the one in the Windy City (they blow)
To the person that wanted to put Armanti in to run the wildcat. Teams bring in mobile quarterbacks to run the wildcat only when their starting quarterbacks can't run. In this case our starter not only can pass but is one of the biggest quarterbacks ever, and one of the most mobile in the league right now. How do we gain an advantage by taking Cam out and bringing Armanti in to run the wildcat?
ENOUGH ALREADY with the goddamned julius peppers articles and pictures ---
Lets just hope peppers doesnt kill newton, think it will be a low scoring game bears by 6.
"Bears coach Lovie Smith can try to spin this decision all he wants to, but Chicago letting a talent like Greg Olsen go to Carolina for a third-round pick was quite a mistake. I don't care what offensive system you are playing. You don't let a guy who can catch the ball like that get away."
Rhetorical. Obv Smith was trying to help a rookie bro out. Theres no other explanation and fans are not fooled. Its too obvious. Kind of like watching union NFL players fall at the same time faking injury.
WWE and NFL sports entertainment at its best.
Its all relative.
it was not a mistake
r u kidding? who would make a mistake like that?
HAHA.Scott's either a dummy or a homer.Hmmm....perhaps dummy lol!
Wow that's cool. Go on with it. I must say you are doing great job
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