Thread: Up next for Bears: Washington Redskins

WHEN THE BEARS HAVE THE BALL

ON THE GROUND
After the Bears rushed 42 times (218 yards) against Carolina two weeks ago but only 14 times (61 yards) last week against Seattle, Mike Martz said it was because the Seahawks weren’t the Panthers. He’ll have no such excuse this week. The Skins’ run defense is 24th in the NFL (122 ypg). The Packers’ Brandon Jackson had the best game of his career against the Skins (10 carries, 117 yards, 71-yard run). The Colts’ Joseph Addai had his best rushing game in three years against the Skins (17-128). The three teams that have beaten the Skins have rushed 24, 37 and 29 times. Matt Forte (80-322, 3 TDs) is well-rested after eight carries for 11 yards last week.
KEY MATCHUP: Bears WR Johnny Knox vs. Redskins CB DeAngelo Hall
Knox has been a consistent, if not prolific, threat; he’s had a reception of 26 yards or longer in five of six games, including a 67-yarder last week. He’s averaging 21.8 yards per catch but has yet to catch a TD pass. Hall is a two-time Pro Bowler but has been picked on this season and has only one pass breakup.

IN THE AIR
The Redskins’ pass defense has dropped from eighth in the NFL last year to 31st (298 ypg) in 2010 since defensive coordinator Greg Blache retired. There are only two minor questions regarding the Bears’ ability to take advantage of that: Can they protect Jay Cutler, and can Cutler throw downfield with better accuracy than he did last week? Cutler was 17-for-39 against the Seahawks, the third-worst percentage (43.6) in his 58-game NFL career. Is that a lingering effect of the concussion he suffered against the Giants? Tight end Greg Olsen has zero receptions in the last two games. He had 15 for 179 yards and two touchdowns in the first four.

WHEN THE REDSKINS HAVE THE BALL

ON THE GROUND
The Bears have been solid against the run, but that might not hold up. Though Brian Iwuh played well last week, the Bears still missed Lance Briggs. Justin Forsett (10 yards, 67 carries) and Marshawn Lynch (17-44) each scored a rushing touchdown last week. If Brian Urlacher and Briggs are less than full speed, the Redskins have the capability to do some damage and a head coach smart enough to let them seize on any opportunity. Clinton Portis is out with a groin pull, but Ryan Torain had 100 yards on 20 carries with two TDs against the Colts. Keep an eye on quarterback Donovan McNabb, who has 92 yards on 14 carries (6.6 yards per carry) this season.

KEY MATCHUP: Bears DE Julius Peppers vs. Redskins LT Trent Williams
After a big game against the Panthers, Peppers was silent against the Seahawks and rookie tackle Russell Okung. This time he gets another standout rookie tackle in Williams, the fourth pick in the draft, who already has held his own against DeMarcus Ware, Mario Williams and Dwight Freeney.

IN THE AIR
McNabb, who is 4-1 against the Bears in his hometown, including a playoff victory in 2002, has been inconsistent since being traded to the Redskins — he has thrown a TD pass in each of his last five games but five interceptions in his last four games. Per usual, McNabb doesn’t have the best receiving corps. But Santana Moss, like McNabb, still has something left. Moss (37 catches, 485 yards) is on pace for 99 receptions and 1,293 yards but has just one TD catch. Even Joey Galloway, who turns 39 next month, is still dangerous; he had a 62-yard catch against the Texans — his longest in three years — and has eight catches for 139 yards (17.4 per catch) in 2010.

X-FACTOR
Mike Martz has gone from hero to goat faster than any Bears coordinator since Gary Crowton. Martz was all but knighted for making adjustments in the passing game in Dallas that ignited a big road victory after the Cowboys’ pass rush threatened to obliterate Jay Cutler. Now he’s being castigated for being inflexible and hanging Cutler out to dry. It’s likely this week he got the message that the most important thing to remember is ‘‘protect your quarterback.’’

SPECIAL TEAMS
The Bears’ return game is on such a roll that Devin Hester had two wide-open lanes on his 89-yard punt return for a touchdown. Danieal Manning had a kickoff return for a TD that was called back by a borderline holding call. The Redskins, though, have upgraded all units of their special teams under Mike Shanahan. Rookie Brandon Banks is second in the NFL in punt returns (19.4). And even after cutting Devin Thomas (28.0-yard average), the Redskins are eighth in kickoff returns (24.0).