The week 7 NFL schedule isn’t as exciting as in past weeks, but one game that could prove interesting is the Redskins vs. Bears. It’s hard to believe that the Bears are tied for the best record in the NFC so far in 2010, and could emerge from their week 7 game with a 5-2 record. If Chicago can hold on at home, they would be setting themselves up for the perfect way to head into a bye week. It would also be a good way for the team to rebound after they lost at home to the Seattle Seahawks last week. Let’s be honest here; the Seahawks embarrassed them in front of the home crowd.
According to the Chicago Bears team page, the Bears still sport the third best rushing defense in football, giving up only 84 yards per game on the ground. As a team they are only give up an average of 304 yards per game total on defense, so that could bode well against the Redskins on Sunday. The problem for Chicago has been their output on offense, which is one of the worst in the NFL at just 285 yards per game. Giving up more yards than your offense can muster is not a good way to win ball games, but somehow the Bears have managed to put together a nice string of games in the first six weeks of the season.
The Washington vs. Chicago game is one of the earlier matches on Sunday, Oct. 24, starting at 10 a.m. PT (1 p.m. ET), with many viewers getting the chance to watch it on Fox. Washington comes in with a 3-3 record, hoping that they can get back above .500 with a strong showing this weekend. Donovan McNabb is also hoping to pad his statistics, having thrown for 1,561 passing yards this season, but only connecting for five touchdowns so far. He will need to increase that number by a lot, because the Washington running game hasn’t been doing much to help him spread out the offense or put points on the board.
The NFC seems to be a lot more open than it did at the beginning of the season, and with teams like the Dallas Cowboys struggling a lot early on, it has opened the door for teams like the Bears and Redskins to try and make a run at the 2010 NFL Playoffs. Chicago might even have the added benefit of the Green Bay Packers coming back down to earth in the NFC North, giving them an even better chance at the division. There is of course a lot of football still yet to be played in 2010, but with only 9 more games after this one, the Washington vs. Chicago game might just be an extremely important one later in the season for both teams.
Sources:
Week_7_NFL_Schedule
Chicago_Bears_Team_Page