Quick Bears-Panthers Preview
The Bears, coming off the great Indy upset, travel to Carolina this Sunday. Carolina is also coming off a great road win against the San Diego Chargers. Should be a great game.
It seems like half of Carolina's roster is former Bears. Muhsin Muhammad, he of the "receivers go to die" statement, is the most prominent. He's spent an awful lot of time trashing the Bears lately. The Bears have been taking the high road in regards to Moose's comments. Till Sunday, that is. Expect him to get leveled over the middle by Mike Brown.
Chris Harris is another prominent former Bear. He had a decent rookie season, mediocre second, and a terrible blown coverage in the Super Bowl before the Bears traded him to the Panthers. Since then, of course, superstud. He's got something like nine fumble recoveries which is, by my count, about nine more than he had with the Bears. He's grown a nose for the football since leaving the city "where third string safeties end up starting." Bad move by Angelo to let him go, though I must admit the current unit is shaping up to be pretty solid. (until they get hurt, that is.)
As for the rest of the Panthers, the Bears are again facing a team at the right time. Steve Smith is serving a team-ordered suspension (for beating up a CB). Plus, I heard today that Carolina's record in home openers is abysmal. Something like 4-13 in their (mostly good) history. Odd.
If the Bears can somehow win this game and go 2-0, then we'll know last Sunday was legit and we can start talking "Super Bowl, Super Bears." Well, no, not really. But we can start believing that a repeat of 2005 will be in reach. Unfortunately, I don't think lightning is going to strike twice. Panthers 20, Bears 10. You know, I'll take the 1-1. Still better than I figured.
Oh, I almost forgot. Fred Miller is back. Fred, we didn't miss ye. At all. Actually, I think this isn't a bad move by the team. If St. Clair or Tait get hurt, the Bears would be beyond dead. At least Fred knows the system, and supposedly he was playing hurt last year. If he's back to 2005-2006 form, this deal is great. If he's back to 2007 form, well, not so much.