You don’t have to be Dennis Green to know who the Chicago Bears are this year – at least offensively. And even Chicago head coach Lovie Smith wants that to change.
Promising to add more balance to their struggling offensive game-planning, the Bears host the Washington Redskins on Sunday.
After a surprising start, Chicago (4-2) has lost two of its last three games and quarterback Jay Cutler has been sacked 15 times in the losses.
Smith wants offensive coordinator Mike Martz to reel things in. Chicago’s Matt Forte ran the ball just eight times last week for 11 yards as the Seattle defense flooded through the Chicago line, sending Cutler to the turf six times.
While Seattle posted a 23-20 decision at the Windy City, the game wasn’t that close. Only an 89-yard punt return for a touchdown late in the contest by Devin Hester made the score respectable.
The Redskins, who have won nine of the past 11 games in the series, lost 27-24 at home to the Indianapolis Colts last week.
Although that score also seemed a bit misleading, Washington (3-3) had the ball twice in the final two minutes with a chance to at least tie the score on a field goal. The Redskins, however, turned the ball over on both occasions, once on downs and the other on an interception.
Donovan McNabb’s first season with the Redskins has been uneven. He led Washington to wins over Philadelphia, Dallas and Green Bay but ranks 24th in passer rating (78.6) while throwing for 1,561 and five touchdowns.
The Redskins got a boost from backup tailback Ryan Torain last week. Filling in for the sidelined Clinton Portis, Torain ran for a career-high 100 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Santana Moss has been the most effective receiver with 37 catches for 485 yards and a touchdown. Tight end Chris Cooley has grabbed 28 balls and has scored twice.
Meanwhile, the Bears’ offense is in shambles. Cutler was sacked nine times in the first half of a game against the New York Giants three weeks ago.
Cutler suffered a concussion on the final takedown by the Giants and missed the team’s next start against Carolina. Then, forced to play journeyman Todd Collins at quarterback the Bears ran the ball and Forte responded with his best game of the year, gaining 166 yards on the ground and a pair of touchdowns.
But Cutler came back last week and Martz went back to the air. Chicago ran the ball 12 times last week while throwing it 39.
Smith may want balance but what he needs is an offensive line. Chicago’s four wins have come against Detroit, Dallas, Carolina and Green Bay – teams with a combined five wins on the season – and Cutler has been sacked an NFL-high 23 times this season.
Forte leads the team with 21 catches for 271 yards but has gained only 311 yards in six games on the ground. Wide receiver Johnny Knox had a career day last week, hauling in five receptions for 120 yards.
Defensively, Chicago has been strong. Paced by Julius Peppers and Brian Urlacher, the Bears are third in NFL in scoring defense. Washington’s problems have been on the defensive side of the ball. The Redskins allow a league-worst 420 yards per game.
Portis will miss the game. Cooley is questionable with a head injury, while Urlacher is questionable with a groin injury.