The Fat lady is warming up. Chicago scored the first 16 points of the game, the Saints scored the next 14 and had the ball, but the Bears have now scored 16 straight again following Drew Brees' safety.

The Bears defense and special teams have made the biggest plays in this game. They forced four turnovers, and the safety because of their pressure on Drew Brees. Adewale Ogunleye is having a big day. Chris Harris and Mark Anderson, two lesser known Bears, have wreaked havoc.

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 05:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

All of America knows Fred Thomas a whole lot better today than they did a few weeks ago. If the Saints lose, he will be the goat.

But shouldn't the coaching staff take some blame? Thomas was benched during last week's game, but the Saints went right back to him this week. Anyone who has watched the Saints this year can tell you what a liability Thomas has been.

I heard a stat that opposing offenses gained over 1,500 yards throwing to Thomas' side this season. They only gained 500 throwing to Mike McKenzie's side. At some point in the year, you have to look for other alternatives.

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 05:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A couple times today, Rex Grossman hasn't seemed to be aware of the clock, where he is on the field, or other "game management" skills.

But Grossman did nothing as costly as Drew Brees' intentional grounding in the endzone. Maybe he didn't have a choice. Brees has to be aware, though, that he just can't give the Bears offense two free points and the ball. With the way the Chicago offense is playing, turnovers and plays like that are tough to swallow.

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 05:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Having a 74-year-old kicker came back to bit the Saints to open the second half. John Carney no longer attempts anything over 45 yards, so the Saints tried kickoff specialist Billy Cundiff from 47 yards out on a freezing day. He came up short.

This game turned so fast. Now the Saints are loading up to stop the run and trying to make Rex Grossman beat them. He's just missing plays down the field and now is 5-for-19 on the day. If that keeps up, the Saints should win this game.

This game looked very close to dead before the Saints took the ball down 16-0 late in the first half. The Saints simply couldn't stop the run, a bad recipe down three scores.

Like Tom Brady's drive at the end of the first half against the Chargers, Drew Brees' effort to end the first half against the Bears changed the complexion of the game. His third-and-ten throw to the back shoulder of Devery Henderson could be a turning point...

At least until Reggie Bush's 88-yard touchdown. I like the idea of Rex Grossman starting the second half aggresive, but I'd let the Saints prove they can stop the run first.

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 05:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Apologies to all 30 people following along on Sunday afternoon. My internet, for the first time in memory, completely cut out at my apartment. Maybe it's the sub-arctic weather.

After spending 20 minutes trying to fix it, I just scooted across the East Village to my friend Sara's. For now, things look good here. Don't say I never took one for the team.

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 04:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Both offenses are struggling to start this game. We've had eight possessions and five first downs.

Cedric Benson, perhaps because of the sloppy conditions, continues to get the call in the backfield for the Bears. We wonder if Deuce McAllister, New Orleans' version of a 'mudder', will see more action.

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 03:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This Chicago defense's trademark is not stopping teams cold. It's ripping out the ball and making opportunistic big plays.

The Bears just forced their third fumble in the first quarter, this time on a Saints kickoff. They seem to be thinking about turnover first, and tackling next. It's working. If the Chicago offense can convert a touchdown off this turnover, they will have control of this game early.

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 03:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Rex Grossman tried to call a timeout when he didn't have one. Then he missed a wide open Desmond Clark in the end zone on first down. He was falling away from his throw on first down and third down while on the goal line.

I'm not surprised that the Bears turned to Cedric Benson instead of Thomas Jones so early in the game. The real question is why the Bears would throw twice from the three-yard line. Grossman is 1-for-7 early but the Bears score first. 3-0.

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 03:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Through four drives, both teams are doing a good job disguising their blitzes.

Rex Grossman never saw Jason Craft coming in the first drive. The Saints are going all out, and Grossman has started 0-for-4. It's a dangerous strategy for the Saints with their lack of speed, but it's paying off so far.

Both Deuce McAllister and Jammal Brown have missed assignments on successive drives, forcing Drew Brees to get hammered. If Adewale Ogunleye had just fallen on Brees' fumble, the Bears would likely be ahead 3-0.

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 03:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)