Bears Impress with Win Over Raiders
The Chicago Bears looked good in their win over the Oakland Raiders on Friday night. The final score was 34-26 but most of Oakland’s points came late in the game after the first stringers had called it a night. Jay Cutler and the Bears offense had five first half scoring drives as they took a 27-3 lead into the halftime break. Former Raider Michael Bush ran for two touchdowns while Matt Forte caught a 32-yard touchdown pass from Cutler as well. Alshon Jeffery caught seven passes for 77 yards in the first half as the Bears look ready for the season to start.
Matt Flynn struggles against the Bears defense, throwing two interceptions in only six attempts. Oakland may have a full blown quarterback controversy with Terrelle Pryor coming in last in the first half and putting 20 points on the board while he was in the game. Flynn lost out a starting job to Russell Wilson of the Seattle Seahawks in last year’s preseason after he went to camp as the number one. After this game, it looks as if he may have to go through it again. Pryor was 7 of 9 for 93 yards and also had 37 yards rushing for the Raiders.
In other NFC North action, the Green Bay Packers lost to the Seahawks 17-10 at home on Thursday night. This game was ugly as the teams were hit with a combined 22 penalties. Both first string offenses put together good opening drives, both resulting in field goals, Aaron Rodgers and the first string offense was pulled early in the second quarter as the Packers wanted a long look at the backups. Vince Young played well in his turn, going 6 of 7 for 41 yards and rushing three times for 31 yards ans he led the Pack to a tying touchdown in the third quarter.
Perhaps the most impressive team in the NFC North thus far has been the Detroit Lions, who walloped the New England Patriots 40-9 on Thursday. The Lions defense forced four first half turnovers, against the first string Patriots offense led by Tom Brady. New England managed only three first half points on the Lions defense as they took a 16-3 lead into the locker room. They extended that lead to 26-3 by the end of the third quarter. Reggie Bush looked good for Detroit with 5 catches for 103 yards including one for 67 yards. Matthew Stafford had 166 yards on 12 for 25 while his back-up Kellen Moore was 9 of 12 for 150 yards.
The Minnesota Vikings will be on national television tonight as they visit the San Francisco 49ers at 8:00 on NBC. The big story in this game will be which quarterback plays better for the Vikings, McLeod Bethel-Thompson or Christian Ponder as that starter’s job appears to be up for grabs. So far this preseason, Bethel-Thompson has played better than the incumbent Ponder. If that happens again tonight, he will probably nail down the starting job as the fourth preseason game is usually played by the bottom of the depth chart players trying to make the final roster.
