Injury Report vs. ChicagoHere is the Broncos’ Week 14 injury report:
David Bruton — Probable (Achilles)
Ryan Clady — Probable (Knee)
Willis McGahee — Questionable (Knee)
Eddie Royal — Questionable (Concussion)
Von Miller — Probable (Thumb)
Quinton Carter — Probable (Heat Cramps)
Jeremiah Johnson — Probable (Ankle)
Mitch Unrein — Probable (Back)
And here is the injury report for the Chicago Bears:
Jay Cutler — Out (Right Thumb)
Matt Forte — Out (Knee)
Major Wright — Out (Shoulder)
Series History: Broncos vs. Bears
On Sunday, Denver and Chicago will meet for just the 14th time in the teams’ histories. The Bears own a 7-6 advantage overall, however the Broncos lead the series 4-3 in Denver.
The Bears have won the past two meetings – the only two times the teams met in the past decade. The last time Denver and Chicago met was November 25, 2007 when the Bears won an overtime decision by a score of 37-34 at Solider Field in Chicago.
Click to continue reading “Series History: Broncos vs. Bears”
Containing Hester
Chicago Bears wide receiver/returner Devin Hester is, to put it mildly, dangerous.
The sixth-year pro is second in NFL history with 18 total return touchdowns, including 12 punt returns, 5 kickoff returns and one missed field goal return.
Champ Bailey is plenty familiar with the way Hester can change a game, as Hester returned a punt and kickoff for touchdowns en route to a 37-34 Bears victory in Denver the last time the two teams faced off.
“We know what type of player he is,” Bailey said, adding that he wouldn’t kick to Hester “in a million years.” “You don’t take any chances with the guy. He’s the best in the game, the best ever in my book.”
Opponent Rewind: Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears fell to the Kansas City Chiefs in a defensive battle that saw just 13 total points scored between the two teams. The Chiefs managed the game’s lone touchdown on their way to a 10-3 victory.
Chicago got on the board first with a 32-yard field goal from Robbie Gould early in the second quarter. The Chiefs responded with a touchdown on a 38-yard Hail Mary pass from Tyler Palko that was deflected into the arms of Dexter McCluster as time expired in the first half.
Ryan Succop tacked on a 21-yard field goal in the third quarter to wrap up the scoring.
The Bears suffered major blow in the first quarter when running back Matt Forte left the game with a knee injury. Marion Barber filled in for Forte and finished with 44 yards on 14 carries. Caleb Hanie, playing in place of injured quarterback Jay Cutler, completed 11-of-24 passes, was sacked seven times and threw three interceptions.
-Stuart Zaas
Bears Coach Smith Praises Tebow
Bears Head Coach Lovie Smith doesn’t bother concerning himself with the future.
In a conference call earlier today, he said he prefers to stay focused on the here and now.
This Sunday, Smith’s team travels to Denver to take on the Broncos and quarterback Tim Tebow, who’s helped string together five straight victories.
And at the moment, Smith has been impressed with what Tebow’s brought to the Denver offense.
“He’s leading his team to victories,” Smith said of Tebow. “When you’re the starting quarterback in the NFL and you’ve led your team to five wins in a row, you’re doing something pretty good. From what I’ve seen, people tend to keep looking a year down the way, two years down the way. They ought to just live in the moment.”
“I see someone that is getting it right now.”
Opponent Rewind: Chargers at Bears
In Week 11, the Chargers traveled to Chicago, where they fell to the Bears by a score of 31-20. The loss marked the fifth in a row for San Diego, and dropped the Chargers to 4-6 on the season.
The game was close early as the teams traded field goals then touchdowns before Jay Cutler found Kellen Davis for a 4-yard touchdown in the final seconds of the first half to give the Bears a 17-10 lead at halftime.
San Diego tied the game at 17 when Philip Rivers hit Vincent Jackson for a 5-yard score early in the third quarter, but the Bears answered with back-to-back scores of their own.
Click to continue reading “Opponent Rewind: Chargers at Bears”
Wait and SeeAfter three preseason games, the only certainty surrounding the Broncos is that there is none.
They have shown good things. They have things upon which to improve. They have played well at times. They have played poorly at times.
Perhaps the most certain thing with the Broncos is that they are losing key players to injury.
Quarterback Kyle Orton hurt his finger against the Bears. Guard Chris Kuper came out of that game with a leg injury. Wide receiver Jabar Gaffney didn’t play against Chicago because of what some reports are calling a thumb injury. Back-up quarterback Chris Simms is trying to recover from an ankle injury. Running back Knowshon Moreno is getting his banged up knee back to full strength.
This sounds like a great time to take a deep breath. Then we simply must wait and see.
Bears Game ReviewSo I walked around the office asking folks what they thought of the game. It was quite the mix of reviews.
From, boy are we in trouble to I think Head Coach Josh McDaniels isn’t showing us what we’ll see this season.
Very mixed. My thoughts were, I was watching a team that hasn’t found it’s identity yet. What I’m about to say shouldn’t be new or even a revelation of any sort.
New Team, New coach, New Defense, New Scheme, really NEW everything. We haven’t really established the run or the pass yet and we’ve seen a lot of mixing it up which I really like because if you have read this or I’ve heard you right, we were predictable in the past and I’d agree.
Bears vs. Broncos – Second Half Live BlogQ3 – 15:00: Bears receive the kick to start the second half. From one yard deep in the end zone, Wolfe takes it out to the 20-yard line before being stopped by Spencer Larsen. Bears long snapper Darrell McClover is called for holding, backing his team up to their own 6-yard line.
Q3 – 14:36: Caleb Hanie in at quarterback for the Bears. His first pass is good but for no gain to Aromashodu. Kevin Joens carries for one yard, before being stopped by Andre’ Goodman. Facing a 3rd and 5, the Bears run with Wolfe, but D.J. Williams and Kenny Peterson combine to stop him just short of the marker. Brad Maynard is in to punt.
Q3 – 12:37: Alphonso Smith takes the punt for a 1-yard return to his own 37-yard line. Tom Brandstater will start the second half at quarterback, with the rest of the first-team offense. Eddie Royal and Chad Jackson are at wide receiver while Daniel Graham and Tony Scheffler are in at tight end. Peyton Hillis runs forward for two yards, setting up a 2nd and 8 from the 39-yard line.
Click to continue reading “Bears vs. Broncos – Second Half Live Blog”
Bears vs. Broncos: First Half Live BlogCoin toss: Jay Cutler called tails for the Bears, but it lands on heads. The Broncos will receive.
The inactives for tonight’s game on the Bears side: CB Charles Tillman, CB Zackary Bowman, S/KR Danieal Manning, LB Jamar Williams, LB Nick Roach, DE Henry Melton, and DT Dusty Dvoracek. No Broncos names are on the list of players not expected to participate.
Q1 – 15:00:Scheffler returns the kick to the 27-yard line. 1st and 10 Broncos.
Click to continue reading “Bears vs. Broncos: First Half Live Blog”