Chicago Bears Favored for Third Road Game Win in a Row

Last Sunday, the Bears demonstrated they are the premier team of the NFC with the 10-0 win at the Meadowlands, vs. the ridiculous New York Jets. Despite getting just 121 passing yards from Quarterback Rex Grossman, they prevailed. But they must play much better offensively this week in their third road game in a row. I don't know if they will.
The health of key, but injured players -- on both teams -- will likely be the deciding factor this weekend.  That's somewhat typical for winning teams this late in the NFL season.

Injuries a Key

The Bears are indicating that they are all healthy, with Coach Lovie Smith telling reporters yesterday that special-teams players Dante Wesley and Leon Joe may return.

Both were benched against the New York Jets. Joe practiced on his tweaked hamstring last week and Wesley has had close to two weeks to rest a "deep bruise" on his left knee and thigh.
Wide receiver Bernard Berrian, who played hurt last weekend, finished the game without a catch, and Mark Bradley snatched up much of Berrian's playing time.  

Berrian earlier missed one game with a rib injury and still needs to demonstrate he should stay on the field. Berrian dropped a deep pass down the middle that would have propelled the Bears into New York territory in the second quarter.
'''We would like for Bernard to catch that pass," said Coach Smith. "But he made it through the game, took a few shots and he should be fine."

Patriot's Problems

New England (7-3) has had something of a bizarre problem this season. On the road, they are are perfect at 5-0, just like the Bears. But they have truly struggled at home with just a 2-3 record. The Patriots have also had trouble all this year with good opponents, and the Bears are undefeated (5-0) on the road.
Quarterback Tom Brady has been "probable" on the NFL injury report every week the last two seasons but has yet to miss a game. The Bears may, or may not, face the three-time Super Bowl winner this Sunday.

For this season, Brady has passed for 2,296 yards and 19 touchdowns, but his completion percentage of a dismal 59.6 is a career low.

Asked if Brady still looks like a winning quarterback, Bears coach Smith told reporters: ''Of course he does. Every time I see Tom Brady, he looks 100 percent. He looks like a Hall of Fame quarterback. That's where he'll end up once it's all done. You look at his record; it's a big challenge for our defense. We haven't played a guy like this in a while.''
But, the buzz around the NFL says otherwise. The Patriots signed 43-year-old veteran QB Vinny Testaverde last week -- increasing speculation that something is wrong with Brady. 

Testaverde hasn't played much lately -- just six games last season for the New York Jets, throwing one touchdown pass, and six interceptions. But he's a 20-year pro who can fill in as an emergency substitute for Brady. The Patriots have only one other quarterbacks on their roster, Matt Cassel, formerly of the University of Southern California.  
''Vinny would be the third quarterback,'' Patriots coach Bill Belichick told reporters. ''I hope he doesn't play at all, but if something happens, at least we have ourselves protected.''

Brady was 20-for-31 for 244 yards and four touchdowns Sunday as the Patriots (7-3) beat the Green Bay Packers 35-0 at Lambeau Field, increasing their lead in the AFC East to two games. Testaverde came in to run out the clock after the two minute warning on Sunday.

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