Tony Romo versus CHI DEF

[Ditka311 0]

Pimp...and get this. I already have Romo and TO on my team. I am keeping them in the lineup, no doubt. Gets better yet...I have the BEARS defense. Guess what defense I picked up on the waiver wire....."I wanna be a COWBOY BABY!!!" I am sitting the Bears D in favor of the Cowboy D this week.

 

Wow, and you call yourself a Bears fan. Probably a Cubs fan too.

 

A few things:

 

1) I hope this game is what is being hyped up to be.

2) The Bears' playcalling has been garbage. Rex will beat teams because he takes risks downfield..not on 6 yd slants. Of course he will often miss but when he is on those risky plays turn into Berrian 50 yd td's. Instead the Shoop offense has been installed.

3) I worry about 2 players on Dallas: TO and MB3. MB3 runs as if he will never touch the ball again and is strong and seems to be fast.

4) The Boys' D is crap. The Bears will actually put up points this game

 

 

In addition, the Bears safeties have been pivotal in helping stop the run (Archuleta). They are also prone to giving up the big play. This is where I hope Tillman and Vasher do their job. Oh yeah, and the Bears actually blitz now which should help on passing plays.

 

Again, I hope to see a good game this week. I definitely won't be kissing up to Cowboys fans because Rex had 2 bad weeks. He is due to have a couple good ones before he hits the skids again. I think this will be one of his good ones.

[Ditka311 0]

The only thing Grossman can do is throw the deep ball. The one thing Dallas can't do is stop the deep ball.

 

This could be Grossmans 300 yd game! Maybe I should start him?!

 

It's not the only thing Grossman can do but it is where is he actually a threat.

[jocstrap 8]

I love the home team in these big hype games. Call me crazy. I want to play Romo as much as I want to beat my head in a wall.

 

But then again, never bench your studs

[Pimptaddy 0]

Romo is a stud and will start until his bye week. The Bears will get owned as Grossman is a complete loser.

[Guest _my_2_cents_]

romo performed consistently better than rivers last year, and did so without the benefit of the league's best RB or a top defense. the only area that romo did not exceed rivers is that of INTs, and this is largely because of the late-season defensive breakdown that forced dallas into a one-dimensional attack.

 

I'm going to stop you right here...so Rivers isn't as good as Romo because Rivers had a better RB? Uhm, didn't Rivers also have a WR corps of Gates, Vincent Jackson, and Eric Parker?

 

I think a QB might benefit a little from having a better WR corps, and I think it's fairly obvious that Owens/Glenn/Crayton(Hurd) is better than any trio of WRs that SD threw out at any time last year. And Rivers still had a great season.

 

Sorry - we can argue about projections all we want, but when you play the "but he had LT" card, I'd say the "but he had Owens/Glenn" card trumps it.

[sirensong 111]

Sorry - we can argue about projections all we want, but when you play the "but he had LT" card, I'd say the "but he had Owens/Glenn" card trumps it.

 

i love how you shift your ground every post--this is getting comical. i went to great pains to point out that the dallas WR superiority negated their RB inferiority, and yet you throw that up as if it were your own point. i mean, i admire the spin technique, but seriously...do people usually fall for this kind of evasion?

 

the funny part is that i don't entirely disagree with you about the DAL-CHI game. this will be a very difficult game for us, and i'm expecting maybe 80yds on the ground, and possibly 200yds passing. i think the game will be dictated by the dallas D. if we can hold the bears to 17 or less, i think we win. nor do i buy into all the hype surrounding our offense--we just haven't seen any games against a solid defense.

 

my problem was with your statement that the SD offense was "much better" than the dallas offense, based on...well...nothing. which offense is better? i don't know yet, because we lack sufficient evidence, and i choose not to form opinions without it.

[rdrs4life 0]

I think I'm starting Eli over Romo this week...

[Sweetness_34 0]

The cowgirls are in for a rude shock.....they have no D and the Bears D will hammer the girls at home. Sunday night football, the crowd will be pumped and the Bears D will be all over Mr Cannot Hold the Ball.

 

Also, Rex is very good at throwing deep and this cowgirl defense cannot stop the pass to save their lives....while they got lucky to get ints last week, they gave up a lot of yards to Trent Green (even Chambers showed up and got 100+ yards). Eli and Plaxico absolutely carved up this Dallas D in game 1. Bears will easily score > 20 and with the Bears D and ST, will win the game. Only a lucky bounce will help the girls.

 

The last time an over-hyped, over-rated NFC team came to play the Bears in a National game, they got hammered 36-7 (See Seahawks last year in week 4). Then the Saints in the playoff game got hammered to the tune of 30+ points.

 

Some people will never learn.....cow girl fans be ready to be disappointed.

[TheBlade 3]

If Dallas doesn't get it going on offense fairly quickly, it's going to be a long day for them. And if that happens, Hester may singlehandedly outscore Dallas. That guy is freakin' phenominal and very fun to watch.

[Jarvis Basnight 119]

The cowgirls are in for a rude shock.....they have no D and the Bears D will hammer the girls at home. Sunday night football, the crowd will be pumped and the Bears D will be all over Mr Cannot Hold the Ball.

 

Also, Rex is very good at throwing deep and this cowgirl defense cannot stop the pass to save their lives....while they got lucky to get ints last week, they gave up a lot of yards to Trent Green (even Chambers showed up and got 100+ yards). Eli and Plaxico absolutely carved up this Dallas D in game 1. Bears will easily score > 20 and with the Bears D and ST, will win the game. Only a lucky bounce will help the girls.

 

The last time an over-hyped, over-rated NFC team came to play the Bears in a National game, they got hammered 36-7 (See Seahawks last year in week 4). Then the Saints in the playoff game got hammered to the tune of 30+ points.

 

Some people will never learn.....cow girl fans be ready to be disappointed.

 

homer alert!

 

last i heard "mr cannot hold the ball" was rex grossman. why are you slamming your own team like that?

 

i haven't seen rex be "good" at anything this year. i'm sorry, he's just not an nfl QB. the bears may score more than 20 points but i doubt it will all be points from that anemic offense.

 

i'm not a cowboy fan but i am a romo owner and i'm starting him with confidence.

[Guest _my_2_cents_]

the funny part is that i don't entirely disagree with you about the DAL-CHI game. this will be a very difficult game for us, and i'm expecting maybe 80yds on the ground, and possibly 200yds passing. i think the game will be dictated by the dallas D. if we can hold the bears to 17 or less, i think we win. nor do i buy into all the hype surrounding our offense--we just haven't seen any games against a solid defense.

 

Ah - so you're a homer. That explains your defensive nature and inability to maintain a civil philisophical debate without getting your panties in a twist.

 

Out of curiosity, what position do you play & what number do you wear? I'd like to watch for you on Sunday when you take the field.

 

 

I gave you "evidence" - 31 points per game average in 2006 with this same SD offense. That you choose to (again) ignore that "evidence" is just you being a homer an putting on blinders.

[Guest _my_2_cents_]

homer alert!

 

last i heard "mr cannot hold the ball" was rex grossman. why are you slamming your own team like that?

 

i haven't seen rex be "good" at anything this year. i'm sorry, he's just not an nfl QB. the bears may score more than 20 points but i doubt it will all be points from that anemic offense.

 

i'm not a cowboy fan but i am a romo owner and i'm starting him with confidence.

 

While I agree that Sweatiness is a homer, I agree with him 100%. I wouldn't start Romo unles syour backup is someone awful. 200/2/2 is the best I think you can hope for. Romo doesn't match up well against the Bears D. His whole game will be off.

 

Sorry dude.

[Jarvis Basnight 119]

While I agree that Sweatiness is a homer, I agree with him 100%. I wouldn't start Romo unles syour backup is someone awful. 200/2/2 is the best I think you can hope for. Romo doesn't match up well against the Bears D. His whole game will be off.

 

Sorry dude.

 

I'm not expecting huge stats but I think he has a chance for success since I believe in the Dallas offense much more than the Bears offense. I believe the Bears offense is weak enough that Dallas will have a stranglehold on the time of possession. Although the Bears D is superior to the Dallas D, they're going to get tired. I think Romo does his damage in the 2nd half. I'm still giving him 240 and 2 td's and I'd be happy with that. My league doesn't penalize for int's.

 

My other option is Roeth. I don't envision him doing all that well against the 49ers. I don't think he's going to throw for more than 2 td's and he's rarely a big yardage guy so I don't see a good enough reason to start him over Romo.

[doctorlw 0]

I think Romo will put up serviceable stats. 200 yard and a 1-2TD's with 2 picks. If he doesn't put up these numbers, they will be guaranteed worse... not better.

 

However, I think that the Bears will completely destroy the cowboys 41-17.

 

There isn't any team in the NFC on the same level as the Bears. That is a fact. People have some strange hatred for the Bears for some reason and continue to doubt them, despite the fact that every time they answer those doubts.

 

Rex this rex that, it doesnt matter. I guarantee you that the Bears will crush the Cowboys. What elite, or even DECENT, team have the Cowboys played to prove otherwise.

 

FYI I am a Romo owner and I benched him for Jason Campell this week.

[Jarvis Basnight 119]

I think Romo will put up serviceable stats. 200 yard and a 1-2TD's with 2 picks. If he doesn't put up these numbers, they will be guaranteed worse... not better.

 

However, I think that the Bears will completely destroy the cowboys 41-17.

 

There isn't any team in the NFC on the same level as the Bears. That is a fact. People have some strange hatred for the Bears for some reason and continue to doubt them, despite the fact that every time they answer those doubts.

 

Rex this rex that, it doesnt matter. I guarantee you that the Bears will crush the Cowboys. What elite, or even DECENT, team have the Cowboys played to prove otherwise.

 

FYI I am a Romo owner and I benched him for Jason Campell this week.

 

 

tagging this post for Monday.

[Guest _my_2_cents_]

I'm not expecting huge stats but I think he has a chance for success since I believe in the Dallas offense much more than the Bears offense. I believe the Bears offense is weak enough that Dallas will have a stranglehold on the time of possession. Although the Bears D is superior to the Dallas D, they're going to get tired. I think Romo does his damage in the 2nd half. I'm still giving him 240 and 2 td's and I'd be happy with that. My league doesn't penalize for int's.

 

My other option is Roeth. I don't envision him doing all that well against the 49ers. I don't think he's going to throw for more than 2 td's and he's rarely a big yardage guy so I don't see a good enough reason to start him over Romo.

 

I think you're thinking too much. Manny Lawson is out for the season with a torn ACL, and he represented a significant part of the Niners pass rush. Granted the Niners secondary is stout right now, but the Bears will be pressuring Romo all day. Romo's strength (per Phillips) is the roll-out, buy time, find the open receiver. With the Bears those will become sacks, throwing the ball away and possibly worse (ints & FLs)

 

I wouldn't start Romo this week. Defense wins football games. The Bears aren't an offensive juggernaught, but against the porous Cowbows secondary they won't have to be. They'll run and pass enough to get it going this week. I think Moose is a sneaky sleepy play in this game.

[sirensong 111]

Ah - so you're a homer. That explains your defensive nature and inability to maintain a civil philisophical debate without getting your panties in a twist.

 

Out of curiosity, what position do you play & what number do you wear? I'd like to watch for you on Sunday when you take the field.

I gave you "evidence" - 31 points per game average in 2006 with this same SD offense. That you choose to (again) ignore that "evidence" is just you being a homer an putting on blinders.

 

another shift. at least you're consistent. i'm reminded of the movie "thank you for smoking", which is a personal favorite.

 

[Guest _my_2_cents_]

another shift. at least you're consistent. i'm reminded of the movie "thank you for smoking", which is a personal favorite.

 

 

What "shift"? You asked for "evidence" and I gave it to you - I've said the same focking thing in 3 posts: the Chargers averaged 31 points a game last year.

 

Do I need to post it 20 times?

 

the Chargers averaged 31 points a game last year.

 

the Chargers averaged 31 points a game last year.

 

the Chargers averaged 31 points a game last year.

 

the Chargers averaged 31 points a game last year.

 

the Chargers averaged 31 points a game last year.

 

the Chargers averaged 31 points a game last year.

 

the Chargers averaged 31 points a game last year.

 

the Chargers averaged 31 points a game last year.

 

the Chargers averaged 31 points a game last year.

 

the Chargers averaged 31 points a game last year.

 

the Chargers averaged 31 points a game last year.

 

the Chargers averaged 31 points a game last year.

 

the Chargers averaged 31 points a game last year.

 

the Chargers averaged 31 points a game last year.

 

the Chargers averaged 31 points a game last year.

 

the Chargers averaged 31 points a game last year.

 

the Chargers averaged 31 points a game last year.

 

the Chargers averaged 31 points a game last year.

 

the Chargers averaged 31 points a game last year.

 

the Chargers averaged 31 points a game last year.

 

the Chargers averaged 31 points a game last year.

 

Get it? EVIDENCE - right there. How many points have the Cowboys averaged since opening day, 2006 - less than 31, I guaranfockingtee it.

 

shift this, cowboys homer.

 

So again - what jersey number do you wear? None? Then stop saying "our" and "we" because you sound like a retard. itsatip.

[Jarvis Basnight 119]

I think you're thinking too much. Manny Lawson is out for the season with a torn ACL, and he represented a significant part of the Niners pass rush. Granted the Niners secondary is stout right now, but the Bears will be pressuring Romo all day. Romo's strength (per Phillips) is the roll-out, buy time, find the open receiver. With the Bears those will become sacks, throwing the ball away and possibly worse (ints & FLs)

 

I wouldn't start Romo this week. Defense wins football games. The Bears aren't an offensive juggernaught, but against the porous Cowbows secondary they won't have to be. They'll run and pass enough to get it going this week. I think Moose is a sneaky sleepy play in this game.

 

I agree I over-analyze, over-coach my teams sometimes.

 

When in doubt stick with the guy I drafted to be my #1, and the guy that's gotten me to 2 and 0 in Romo.

[ric0 23]

if romo only had a decent game against miami (with their mediocre defense), how much can you expect from the chicago d?

[bgard72 10]

While I agree that Sweatiness is a homer, I agree with him 100%. I wouldn't start Romo unles syour backup is someone awful. 200/2/2 is the best I think you can hope for. Romo doesn't match up well against the Bears D. His whole game will be off.

 

Sorry dude.

 

I don't know how you can say that Romo doesn't matchup well against the Bears D. Can you tell me a QB who does matchup good against the Bears D then?

 

All I can say is if you've seen Tony Romo play...he can move out of the pocket and has probably the quickest release in the game right now. Two nice things to have against a good D that can put pressure on you. Also, keep in mind the Bears played 2 games against GARBARGE WR's (Vincent Jackson?!?! Dwayne Bowe?!?!). Now they have to cover TO as well.

[sirensong 111]

the Chargers averaged 31 points a game last year.

 

hate to break it to you, but we're talking about this year.

 

you know...2007...when SD and the jets are nearly identical.

 

performance vs. NE, 2007:

 

SD, Tomlinson: 43yds, 2.4ypc, 0TD

NYJ, T Jones: 42yds, 3.0ypc, 0TD

 

SD, Rivers: 19/30, 179yds, 2TD, 2INT

NYJ, Pennington/Clemens: 21/31, 202yds, 2TD, 2INT

 

so they are slightly less fearsome than the jersey/B offense, but still top 5 according to you. let's look at how they fared compared to that other torrid performance machine, the unstoppable chiefs...

 

performance vs. CHI, 2007:

 

SD, Tomlinson: 25yds, 1.5ypc, 1TD

KC, Johnson: 55yds, 3.4ypc, 0TD

 

SD, Rivers: 22/31, 190yds, 0TD, 1INT

KC, Huard/Croyle: 23/32, 230yds, 1TD, 1INT

 

hmmm...versus common opponents in 2007, the SD offense performed worse than the jets and the chiefs. is SD really that bad? probably not, but the intelligent mind operates upon observable evidence, not gut feelings and stale data. and until more data comes in, claiming that the SD offense is a top-5 unit is absurd.

 

i mean, you can always run back to last year's results (which seems to be the only thing in your vocabulary), because we all know that last year's success equals this years success, right? that's why every super bowl champ repeats the following year, right?

 

you know, i hadn't even looked at the SD numbers until tonight, but i now see why you dodged the quantification issue so diligently--this year's numbers make your statements look laughable.

 

but feel free to keep talking about last year.

[Walter34 3]

The Bears have given up 2.4 yds per rush on 60 carries against LT and LJ. That is a stunning stat.

 

There will be no run game for Dallas, but I think Romo has to put the ball up 40 times and TO has a big day. The Bears may win and the D may dominate, but Romo and Owens are still good starts. No one else is on Dallas however.

 

For Chi, you'd have to be desperate to start Rex, but he may have a huge day, especially with Newman out.

[flooredyas 0]

The Bears have given up 2.4 yds per rush on 60 carries against LT and LJ. That is a stunning stat.

 

There will be no run game for Dallas, but I think Romo has to put the ball up 40 times and TO has a big day. The Bears may win and the D may dominate, but Romo and Owens are still good starts. No one else is on Dallas however.

 

For Chi, you'd have to be desperate to start Rex, but he may have a huge day, especially with Newman out.

 

Well.........color me desperate. Grossman gets the start for me over Leinart. Oh yeah, I benched Romo (My starter in another league) for FA acquisition Campbell this week as well.

Much as I'd pray for Romo to have a solid game, alas I cannot. Just don't see it vs. Chicago. With Dallas being in such bad shape in the defensive backfield, Grossman will put up some numbers conjuring up memories of early '06. Bears win 31-13.

Bears rule

[sirensong 111]

Well.........color me desperate. Grossman gets the start for me over Leinart. Oh yeah, I benched Romo (My starter in another league) for FA acquisition Campbell this week as well.

Much as I'd pray for Romo to have a solid game, alas I cannot. Just don't see it vs. Chicago. With Dallas being in such bad shape in the defensive backfield, Grossman will put up some numbers conjuring up memories of early '06. Bears win 31-13.

Bears rule

 

keep an eye on the ticker on game day--newman is still listed as a GTD, but the word here is that he will play at least on the nickel package, and possibly start. i've heard scuttlebutt that he will accept a cortisone shot rather than sit again, but nothing reliable. if newman starts, the entire complexion of the game changes, with the strong probability of increased posessions and better field position for DAL.

 

so this is a situation to keep abreast of.

[Guest _my_2_cents_]

hate to break it to you, but we're talking about this year.

 

you know...2007...when SD and the jets are nearly identical.

 

performance vs. NE, 2007:

 

SD, Tomlinson: 43yds, 2.4ypc, 0TD

NYJ, T Jones: 42yds, 3.0ypc, 0TD

 

SD, Rivers: 19/30, 179yds, 2TD, 2INT

NYJ, Pennington/Clemens: 21/31, 202yds, 2TD, 2INT

 

so they are slightly less fearsome than the jersey/B offense, but still top 5 according to you. let's look at how they fared compared to that other torrid performance machine, the unstoppable chiefs...

 

performance vs. CHI, 2007:

 

SD, Tomlinson: 25yds, 1.5ypc, 1TD

KC, Johnson: 55yds, 3.4ypc, 0TD

 

SD, Rivers: 22/31, 190yds, 0TD, 1INT

KC, Huard/Croyle: 23/32, 230yds, 1TD, 1INT

 

hmmm...versus common opponents in 2007, the SD offense performed worse than the jets and the chiefs. is SD really that bad? probably not, but the intelligent mind operates upon observable evidence, not gut feelings and stale data. and until more data comes in, claiming that the SD offense is a top-5 unit is absurd.

 

i mean, you can always run back to last year's results (which seems to be the only thing in your vocabulary), because we all know that last year's success equals this years success, right? that's why every super bowl champ repeats the following year, right?

 

you know, i hadn't even looked at the SD numbers until tonight, but i now see why you dodged the quantification issue so diligently--this year's numbers make your statements look laughable.

 

but feel free to keep talking about last year.

 

feel free to continue myopically viewing that 2 game bubble of yours and leaping to conclusions from it.

[FlaHawker 24]

The last time an over-hyped, over-rated NFC team came to play the Bears in a National game, they got hammered 36-7 (See Seahawks last year in week 4). Then the Saints in the playoff game got hammered to the tune of 30+ points.

Hmmm yet that same overhyped Seahawk team had your balls in your throat when they took the "mighty" Bears to OT in the playoffs.

[pee-diddy 27]

I want to go on record as saying that I think Dallas will cram the ball down the CHI DEF's throat. Everyone is expecting the DAL offense/running game to back down and I hope they don't. MBIII is a MONSTER. I think the '07 CHI DEF is overrated. They have not faced an offense like the Cowboys this year. Phillip Rivers is no Romo and the KC offense is a joke. Dallas is clicking on all cylinders. This game could be a blowout with Dallas making a huge statement. We shall see

[redtodd 7]

I think he will throw more INT's than TD's.........yet I am still playing him.

[Pimptaddy 0]

I own Romo is three leagues and will start him in all of them. No reservations or regrets.

[49ers_suck 0]

There is a part of me that is rooting for Rex to throw three picks by halftime. I am just sick of looking at the guy. He is a mental midget. Sooner or later Lovie has to throw in the towel on the Rex Grossman experience and put in a guy who can take a snap from a probowl center. But I will tell you this much, if the Bears go 1-2 and are looking up at the rest of the NFC North, Rex won't make it to his car that night much less a huddle the following Sunday.

well said. he aint' the sharpest tool in the shed. Romo has his ups and downs, but he is far and away a better QB than rexy poo.

 

Cowboys 24

Bears 14

[FrankRizzo 0]

I have same situation ... Romo or Roeth.

 

Previous posters said they want to play Romo because of bad CHI offense giving more opportunities for DAL O ... but what about SF Offense?? I think Steelers D at home will be all OVER ASmith GIVING Roeth and the now wide open Steelers Offense even more opportunities than said DAL.

 

But for some reason I still can't freaking pull the trigger and take Romo off the pedestal that he now sits upon. Roeth in past (except for Week1) has NEVA been a fantasy man ... I know what to expect from him, 200/1-2. But with Romo it looks like minimum of 200/1 with 1or2 INT/FUM.

 

So the upside is with Romo ...

[Counterfit 0]

I'm not expecting huge stats but I think he has a chance for success since I believe in the Dallas offense much more than the Bears offense. I believe the Bears offense is weak enough that Dallas will have a stranglehold on the time of possession. Although the Bears D is superior to the Dallas D, they're going to get tired. I think Romo does his damage in the 2nd half. I'm still giving him 240 and 2 td's and I'd be happy with that. My league doesn't penalize for int's.

 

My other option is Roeth. I don't envision him doing all that well against the 49ers. I don't think he's going to throw for more than 2 td's and he's rarely a big yardage guy so I don't see a good enough reason to start him over Romo.

 

 

I'm in the same boat, I benched Romo last week due to matchup and decided at the end of that game I wouldnt do that again, then I look at this weeks mathups, I dont like the Bears matchup for Romo, and I dont like the 49ers mathcup for Ben, and I have Campbell sitting on the wire waving at me , it's enough to make me .

 

I dont like to get too cutesy with matchup plays but man look at how bad that Giants secondary is.

[Sweetness_34 0]

 

Romo about to face his stiffest test of year

 

Bears' defense likely the best he has seen

 

 

September 22, 2007

 

 

In Tony Romo's first 13 NFL starts, he has faced one top-10 defense. His 14th Sunday at Soldier Field will come against the Bears' fifth-ranked unit.

 

Romo will encounter the quickest, meanest group of men who ever have chased him around a professional football field. Romo's college degree might be from Eastern Illinois University, but he could get an NFL education in crisis management from the Bears defense.

 

 

Nothing against Romo, the hottest Cowboy since Tim McGraw, but his rapid inclusion in conversations about the league's quarterbacking elite ignores the shoddy defensive teams that have helped Romo's blue star rise.

 

He has started against 13 defenses whose average rank is No. 22. Six of those defenses were ranked 25th or lower.

 

Numbers often lie, and Romo indeed possesses the moxie, mobility and accuracy that makes it easy to understand why Cowboys owner Jerry Jones eventually will keep Texas' most eligible bachelor one of its richest.

 

Romo grew up in Wisconsin idolizing Brett Favre, and early on as an NFL starter he has emulated the Green Bay legend with impressive improvisational skills. As Charles Tillman said of Romo, "He definitely can sling it in the hole."

 

But can he slay a giant as fierce as the Bears' defense?

 

Tackle Tommie Harris, coming off a two-sack game, looks as dominant as ever thanks in large part to the Cowboys' team physician, Daniel Cooper, who performed Harris' hamstring surgery. Linebacker Lance Briggs has started off this season playing like the $20 million player he wants to be next winter. So far, wide receivers have needed GPS to find a clear path in the Bears secondary. And Brian Urlacher has performed like, well, Brian Urlacher.

 

Pro Bowl or no Pro Bowl, until Romo stars against a defense ranked in the top half of the league—11 of 13 opponents haven't been—a big question will remain. It's no more unfair than raising doubts about Rex Grossman last season because his oft-referenced seven games above a 100 passer rating came against defenses with an average rank of 22.

 

Those doubts about Grossman so far in 2007 have proved to be legitimate and appropriate. So is caution when it comes to comparing Romo to a modern-day Roger Staubach before he has overcome a defense as aggressive and sound as that of the Bears.

 

Defensive coordinator Bob Babich's impact has been more obvious than expected in the first two games as the Bears have blitzed more with linebackers and safeties. That approach made sense given the Chargers and Chiefs similarly had All-Pro running backs that posed the biggest threats and wide receivers known only to fantasy-football geeks.

 

"[babich] frees us up [and] gives us a chance to rush more because we're not playing as much Cover-2," said Urlacher, who has benefited from the change by getting his first sack in two years. "We stacked the box and tried to stop the run and make the quarterback beat us."

 

Stopping the Cowboys' underrated rushing tandem of Julius Jones and Marion Barber remains the Bears' first priority. Slowing down Terrell Owens by having Tillman shadow him all over the field could work the way the strategy did the last time a big, physical wide receiver threatened to take over a game at Soldier Field.

 

That was during the NFC championship game when Tillman, except for one slip on wet turf, removed Marques Colston from the equation by locking in on the rookie wherever he went. Tillman never has guarded Owens, but his success against rangy receivers such as Colston and Randy Moss, among others, has earned him a reputation as a guy who can neutralize bigger, physical receivers like Owens.

 

"If you want to say so, I guess, but I think I match up OK against big receivers and small receivers," said Tillman, paid well to do so.

 

How will Romo react if Owens can't get open? Or—a better question—how will Owens react if Romo cannot find him because of pressure in the pocket unlike any he has experienced?

 

One school of thought among Bears players wonders if the talent around Romo has inflated the perception he has All-Pro ability.

 

That was the implication from Bears defensive end Alex Brown when he refused to agree that Romo was a "superstar" quarterback. It also came through in the assessment of defensive captain Adewale Ogunleye.

 

"He is a good quarterback, he does things well, but he has some weapons that make him look really, really good with T.O. and those running backs and the tight end (Jason Witten)," Ogunleye said. "He has some weapons with him that make him look really good."

 

To make Romo look bad, the Bears have to get to him early. The only bad tendency obvious from a statistical analysis of Romo's brief NFL career might be that six of his 13 interceptions last year came before his 10th passing attempt, according to Stats, Inc. The Bears can't let a guy who relies so heavily on confidence to build any, especially on the road.

 

If Romo leaves the pocket to make a play, the Bears have to show him that the only lanes to close quickly in Chicago aren't just on the Dan Ryan.

 

"We have 11 guys on defense who can pretty much run with anyone in this league, I think, especially a quarterback," Urlacher said. "We have a lot of guys who are pretty athletic, take good angles and get to the football. We swarm."

 

The Bears have shown their defense is good enough to win games even if they get a shaky performance out of their quarterback.

 

The Cowboys cannot say the same thing yet. That represents the Bears' best chance to win a game in September they would regret losing come January.

 

dhaugh@tribune.com

 

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sp...-home-headlines

[FrankRizzo 0]

Yeah, I know I know ... freaking CHICAGO D.

 

But there is also something else that nobody is talking about ..... Romo might be running plays that will get him killed like "60 Stretch Far Luuuuuu" .

 

I'm sold, Big Ben it is!!!

[NAn 39]

feel free to continue myopically viewing that 2 game bubble of yours and leaping to conclusions from it.

 

LOL, and you keep looking at last year's stats and applying them to this year...b/c that is definitely more telling.

 

Here's a hint and like to see you back pedal this one: you say several times 'it's same offense'.

 

Um, no.

 

Last year Shotty was the HC and this year Turner is the HC...even if similarities in offense, it ultimately is still a different offense.

[doctorlw 0]

tagging this post for Monday.

 

Please do, because I have yet to be wrong in the realm of fantasy advice. Obviously there is always a first time, given my track record I trust myself despite what the percentages would tell me.

 

Look, any team outside the Bears (and a fading Seattle) in the NFC is garbage. Every year I hear bullshit about the saints, cowboys, or Carolina panthers. These teams are not good.

 

The Cowboys will be blown out. That is a fact. Romo MAY put up serivicable numbers in this process, and I hope he does since my season relies on it, but why take the risk? The Cowboys are not even close to the same level of the Bears. Anyone who denies is just listens to too many pundits and can't think for themselves.

 

Chargers Bears was one game where predicting a winner was hard.

 

Cowboys Bears is a completely different animal. Bears by at least a touch and a field goal. Probably 2 TD's or more.

[rallo 136]

as a cowboy fan i'm a little apprehensive about this game... everyone is really confident, but that first win vs the giants was unimpressive... the offense has rolled all season, but the D is a major ?

 

plus with ferguson out they will have problems stopping the run... can't defend the run or pass??? smells bad to me.. call me crazy but i'm worried about the bears going up a score or two early... then romo having to inch the cowboys back into the game...

 

if we roll it'd be great... but everyone just seems overconfident here... how about the under though 42... seems like a good bet to me

[cowboyz 2]

as a cowboy fan i'm a little apprehensive about this game... everyone is really confident, but that first win vs the giants was unimpressive... the offense has rolled all season, but the D is a major ?

 

plus with ferguson out they will have problems stopping the run... can't defend the run or pass??? smells bad to me.. call me crazy but i'm worried about the bears going up a score or two early... then romo having to inch the cowboys back into the game...

 

if we roll it'd be great... but everyone just seems overconfident here... how about the under though 42... seems like a good bet to me

yeah, i think the bears have too much speed for the cowboys. other than TO and MB3, i'm sitting my guys.

 

only chance is if dallas can run the ball. don't really see any way romo gets huge stats unless TO goes SS on them, which was a fluke anyway.

[Walter34 3]

The Bears front four over match the Cowboys line. The Boys have huge players that cant handle speed very well. They play a power game. The Bears have a fast front seven.

 

Expect at least 5 sacks, lots of holding penaltys for Dallas and Tommie Harris to abuse the interior line.

 

This will cause Romo to be flushed out often and necessitate his big plays be on rollouts and broken plays. The Bears need to ensure the cover two leans to Owens side so they protect against the long one.