Thread: Week 5 Report Card: Bears dominate

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/footb...the-bears.html

GRADING THE BEARS
Chicago Bears wide receiver Brandon Marshall (15) catches a pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, Oct. 7, 2012, in Jacksonville, Fla. Chicago Bears beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 41-3. (AP Photo/Stephen Morton)
QUARTERBACK B 
With a helping hand from Brandon Marshall, Jay Cutler overcame an INT on his first throw to finish 23-for-39 for 292 yards, 2 TDs and an 88.8 passer rating.
RUNNING BACKS B 
Matt Forte netted 107 yards on 22 carries with a consistent effort. Michael Bush (4-26) was more than a complement and No. 3 back Armando Allen capped off the rout with a 46-yard TD.
RECEIVERS B+ 
Brandon Marshall carried the load with 12 receptions for 144 yards and a 24-yard TD. The supporting cast was quiet until Alshon Jeffery and Devin Hester made plays in the fourth quarter.
OFFENSIVE LINE B 
After a slow start, the Bears finished with 501 net yards, including 214 rushing on 33 carries. Cutler was sacked once. Gabe Carimi struggled with a hold and two motion penalties.
DEFENSIVE LINE A 
Bears clearly won this battle as Corey Wootton led another stout effort with two sacks, including one that forced a fumble that Julius Peppers recovered. Bears stymied Maurice Jones-Drew (11-29 in the first half).
LINEBACKERS A 
Lance Briggs returned an INT for a TD for the second consecutive game and had a sack. Brian Urlacher had two tackles, but one was for a loss. Nick Roach added a pass defense.
DEFENSIVE BACKS A- 
Tim Jennings had a missed tackle and got beat on a deep ball — it’s going to happen. But Charles Tillman made the big play again with an INT he returned 36 yards for a TD.
SPECIAL TEAMS C 
Coverage units continued their strong play — Jaguars had no punt returns and a long KO return of 26 yards. But Devin Hester is almost literally running in circles to break a big play.
COACHING A
 Lovie Smith’s decision to have 8 defensive linemen active paid off as the Bears got stronger in the second half. Team struggled early but still won in a rout — that says something.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/201.../week-5/2.html

Fine Fifteen

After Miami, Seattle and Indianapolis won on Sunday, SI.com's Mark Mravic wonders if it's time to start believing in these surprise teams.
1. Houston (4-0). Acid test won't come tonight against the outmanned Jets in New Jersey. It'll come next Sunday night against Green Bay, on a short week, followed by the Ravens the following Sunday -- both at home.
2. San Francisco (4-1). Last two weeks: Niners 79, Foes 3. I thought seriously of putting them No. 1.
3. Atlanta (5-0). The Falcons, born in 1966, were never 5-0 until yesterday.
4. Chicago (4-1). Zooming up the Fine Fifteen, thanks to the three-game win streak with an average margin of victory of 24 points.
5. Minnesota (4-1). Never thought I'd put the Vikes here, but they're legit. Things don't really get real for the Vikes until Thanksgiving weekend, when, in a span of 15 days, Minnesota plays the Bears, Packers and Bears. By the way, how good is Percy Harvin?
6. Baltimore (4-1). A meh game in Kansas City, but a win's a win.
7. New England (3-2). Remember when Wes Welker was being phased out? Last three games: 30 catches, 375 yards.
8. New York Giants (3-2). One of the things the Giants do so well is use whoever dresses, and just win. Rueben Randle and Domenik Hixon were Week 1 afterthoughts at wideout. And in Week 5, both were much needed due to injuries, and they came through with 11 catches for 137 yards.
9. Pittsburgh (2-2). "By any means necessary! By any means necessary!'' Mike Tomlin shouted to his players as they hugged their way to the locker room after the win over Philadelphia. The means was a little bit of everything.
10. San Diego (3-2). Wacky, weird finish, obviously, with Jared Gaither's ankle-related ineptitude killing the Chargers on the last series. But this result really was expected, if you ask me. Much bigger game next Monday: Peyton and the Broncos at San Diego.
11. Philadelphia (3-2). When or if you figure out this team, please let me know.
12. Green Bay (2-3). Don't look now, Cheese Nation, but the Packers are two games behind two teams in the NFC North, and we're only in Week 5, and roadies against Houston, Chicago, the Giants, Minnesota and Detroit await.
13. St. Louis (3-2). Used to be an easy day, playing the Rams secondary. Today? Rams are second in the league with a 66.6 defensive passer rating. That's what signing Cortland Finnegan and drafting Janoris Jenkins will do for a team.
14. Arizona (4-1). I can't see how this team makes the playoffs with that offensive line.
15. Seattle (3-2). Bruce Irvin's on pace for a 14.5-sack season. His speed is impossible to handle for almost any tackle in the NFL. What a smart pick -- assuming Irvin can stay on the field.


Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/201...#ixzz28iDpMrNz


I know it's not really a grade, but when everyone else has their rankings, good luck finding Peter Kings MMQB article from earlier this week.

ya he is a top notch coach, I'm not one that wants to see him go. I don't think he's the best coach in the NFL, but this team will struggle to find a better coach then Lovie.

Wow honor role