Cardinals-Bears Preview

 

VIDEO PLAYLIST

• Countdown Daily Recap: Cardinals-Bears

SCOUTING REPORT

Cardinals-Bears: 10 observations After breaking down film of both teams, Scouts Inc. offers 10 things to watch in this week's Cardinals-Bears matchup. 1. Attack the middle of Chicago's defense: This is especially true if Tommie Harris (knee) is unable to play. Arizona uses a lot of double-tight end sets and might choose to play heavy at Chicago and give Beanie Wells plenty of downhill touches. The Bears will be reluctant to bring a safety up to the line of scrimmage considering the Cardinals' weaponry. Also, Chicago has had a tough time limiting opposing running backs as pass-catchers, which could bode well for Tim Hightower.

· Full Scouting Report

Matchup
	W-L	PF	PA	HOME	ROAD	DIV	CONF
ARI	7-3	250	197	2-3	5-0	3-1	5-2
CHI	4-6	206	225	3-2	1-4	1-1	2-5
· Complete Standings

Individual Leaders

Arizona Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Warner 67.5 2718 20 11 Leinar... 68.0 119 0 1

Chicago Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Cutler 61.7 2524 15 18 Hanie 50.0 3 0 0

Arizona Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Wells 100 469 4.7 4 Highto... 102 430 4.2 5

Chicago Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Forte 157 516 3.3 3 Cutler 26 122 4.7 1

Arizona Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Fitzge... 71 792 11.2 9 Boldin 51 612 12.0 2

Chicago Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Hester 52 614 11.8 3 Bennet... 40 511 12.8 0

Full Player Stats: Arizona | Chicago

TEAM AVERAGES & NFL RANKS
TEAM OFFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Total Yards	ARI	364.0
	CHI	329.0
Yards Passing	ARI	270.0
	CHI	240.0
Yards Rushing	ARI	94.1
	CHI	89.3
TEAM DEFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Yards Allowed	ARI	350.4
	CHI	320.1
Pass Yds Allowed	ARI	247.2
	CHI	197.8
Rush Yds Allowed	ARI	103.2
	CHI	122.3

HEAD TO HEAD MATCHUPS (SINCE 2001)
Chicago leads 3-1
Oct 16, 2006	ARI 23, @CHI 24
Nov 30, 2003	ARI 3, CHI 28
Oct 14, 2001	ARI 13, CHI 20

The Arizona Cardinals suffered a stunning, nationally televised collapse in their last matchup with the Chicago Bears, which turned out to be a key victory in Chicago's run to the Super Bowl.

Neither team has looked primed for a lengthy playoff run of late, but the Cardinals return to Soldier Field on Sunday with a one-game lead in the NFC West and looking to win four straight on the road for the first time in 27 years.

The teams last met in a Monday night game in Week 6 of the 2006 season, as the unbeaten Bears visited a struggling Arizona club. The Cardinals, though, led 23-3 early in the fourth quarter as Chicago quarterback Rex Grossman committed six turnovers.

The Bears rallied to win 24-23, getting a pair of defensive touchdowns and Devin Hester's 83-yard punt return for a score with less than three minutes left.

The Cardinals (4-3) made their own run to the Super Bowl last season, but have been inconsistent in 2009 after losing to Pittsburgh in the final minute of the title game.

Arizona had its three-game winning streak snapped last week with a mistake-filled 34-21 loss to visiting Carolina. The Cardinals failed to extend their division lead over San Francisco, which has lost three in a row.

Kurt Warner matched a career high with five interceptions and lost a fumble. The Panthers returned one of the INTs for a touchdown and converted two other turnovers into field goals.

"You always are crossing bridges or facing obstacles as a football team in this league," coach Ken Whisenhunt said. "Obviously, one for us is being able to play consistently after we've had some success."

The Cardinals fell to 1/3 at home, surpassing their loss total there from each of the last two seasons. They have been much better away from Phoenix, matching last season's total of three road victories.

Arizona last won four straight away from home Sept. 12-Dec. 19, 1982. The Cardinals hope to have one of their top receivers available as they look to match that run.

Anquan Boldin re-aggravated a right ankle sprain last week and is day-to-day. He caught three passes against the Panthers to became the franchise's all-time leader with 537 receptions.

"If I'm able to run, I'm going to play football," Boldin said.

The Bears (4-3) will attempt to win four in a row at home for the first time since 2006, but they hardly looked dominant last week as they avoided a third straight loss by defeating woeful Cleveland 30-6.

Despite changes to the offensive line, Jay Cutler was sacked a season-high four times and a late hit to the chin in the second quarter left him with a bloody tongue.

Cutler was 17 of 30 for 225 yards but failed to throw a touchdown for the first time in seven games with the team. He was also intercepted for the sixth time in three games.

The Bears failed to score a touchdown until late in the first half despite driving inside the Browns' 15-yard line four times.

"We've got a lot of work to do. It's good to get a win at home but offensively we've got to get to work," Cutler said.

Chicago did have its best rushing performance of the season with 170 yards, with Matt Forte picking up 90 of those and scoring twice. After rushing for 1,238 yards as a rookie, Forte has 408 nearly midway through this year.

The Bears defense also allowed a season-low 191 yards but has one sack over its last three contests.

"Even though Cleveland's struggling on offense, it felt good to go out there and execute defensively," linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer said. "I'm sure when we watch the tape, we'll realize that we didn't play perfect football, but especially with some of the teams we've got coming up in the next month, we need something to build on. This is definitely a good start."

The Bears have won five of six meetings since the Cardinals moved to Arizona in 1988. Chicago lost 10-7 at Soldier Field on Dec. 19, 1982, during the Cardinals' four-game road win streak.

Isaacson: Is Cutler who we thought he was?

Is Jay Cutler who we thought he was? Take a look at the unvarnished truth.

Cards' Warner to have tests to determine status

Coach Ken Whisenhunt says he had a long talk with Kurt Warner on the flight home, and the quarterback was alert and upbeat following a blow to the head in Sunday's' victory over the Rams.

FBO: Week 11 Quick Reads

Football Outsiders apply their metrics to Week 11. Findings: Even when Wes Welker doesn't find the end zone, he's historic; Mark Sanchez isn't ready; DeAngelo Williams needs the rock more; and T.J. Houshmandzadeh may have saved Minny's season.

Isaacson: Bears' defense comes up short

The Bears' defense came up short when the team needed it most.

Sendlein played through pain in '08

It was surprising this off-season when the Cardinals opted not to try and upgrade their center position, given the occasional struggles of starter Lyle Sendlein in 2008.

Breaston blooms in Boldin's absence

Cardinals receiver Steve Breaston, seen here in action against the 49ers last season, is taking advantage of Anquan Boldin's absence in summer workouts.

The Risk Remains

Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald breaks the huddle during 11-on-11 drills Monday after coming down awkwardly on a catch earlier in the workout.

Fitzgerald OK after awkward catch

For a minute or two, it looked as if the first day of June would bring gloom to the Cardinals.

Boldin hires Condon as agent

Receiver Anquan Boldin has hired Tom Condon as his agent, replacing Drew Rosenhaus, who was fired last week.

Former coach sings praises of new Bears LB

Former St. Louis Rams defensive coordinator and Northwestern head coach Rick Venturi never questioned Pisa Tinoisamoa's toughness, but Venturi may have doubted the linebacker's sanity at one point.

Bear facts

LAKE FOREST, Ill. Bears coach Lovie Smith answers email questions from fans: I was so happy to see you thinking out of the box and taking over play-calling duties on defense.

Tinoisamoa signs deal; Bears look at punters

The latest addition in Jerry Angelo's busy offseason arrived Monday at Halas Hall.

Call it signings of the times

In a frenetic day of wheeling and dealing at Halas Hall, the Bears signed a likely starter for their defense, locked up a versatile lineman for two seasons and secured almost all of their draft picks.

Bears hoping Cutler can help get running game in gear

Fact or fiction? Jay Cutler had no running game last season in Denver. Reading through comments left here over the last few days, it looks like the widely held opinion is that the Broncos were running in the slow lane in 2008, you know, when Cutler wasn't chucking it.