Top Ten Bears surprises

With Chicago off next week and no football for the next 13 days, what better way to start this break than by discussing the Bears so far this season. Their fourth win of the year matches my season prediction. And while many went into the campaign with similar thoughts, few could have expected these results. They have done nothing but surprise; to the point where they could very well be 7-0. Below are ten particular surprises to the season thus far.


10. The punt team
While the special teams has always been very solid, this year's punt return team has been sensational. Three touchdowns have resulted in special teams, two against the Vikings yesterday. Rookie Zach Bowman looked awesome and made one of the most heads-up plays when he knocked the returner into the ball then pounced on it for six.

9. Devin Hester
I used to feel that when punting to the Bears it was the most entertaining 15 seconds in sports. I don't feel that way anymore. Hester seems to have lost that fifth gear that used to leave defenders in his wake. In his defense, the blocking has not always been there but what was so unique about Hester in the past was that it seemed like his elusiveness allowed him to not even need great blocking. He is catching passes now though and talking trash after doing so. No one can try and tell me that doesn't somewhat make up for it.

8. Front seven
Last year's front seven gave up a lot of yards based solely on Babich's play calling. But he seemed to have taken a page out of Ron Rivera's playbook, mainly by keeping Urlacher in coverage as oppose to blitzing. When Urlacher blitzes, the Bears lose. The front seven has locked up runners and with an exception of this week, no tailback has run for over 100 yards. (Without Peterson's 57-yard scamper, his numbers would have been modest.)

7. Corners
For as good as the line and linebackers have looked, there have definitely been holes with the corners of late. Tillman looked good but has been hurt, And his replacements have given up a lot of big plays. McBride and Graham had picks yesterday but they have been continuously burned, and I do not even want to get into Hamilton. Vasher and/or Peanut need to come back (at least one of them) soon, or this could get ugly.

6. Mike Brown
With an exception of 2006, Mike Brown's health has symbolized the Bear's success throughout his career. When healthy, the team can't be stopped. When hurt though, the team plays as if they're hurt. You have to love a safety who would rather knock a guy's head off than get a pick.

5. Three losses
As stated earlier, the Bears could and should be 7-0. But the losses that occurred happened in heart-breaking fashion. While I praised Babich's play calling, inside of 2:00 in the fourth quarter, everything becomes suspect. The corners bend but don't break, often giving up unnecessarily huge gains.

4. O-line
Who would have thought Orton would continuously have five seconds to throw the ball against a front four that included Jared Allen and Pat and Kevin Williams? Not to mention they are doing so without first-round pick Chris Williams. But the old group of men are looking ten years younger and giving Orton all the time he needs as well as Forte the gaps he needs on a continuous basis.

3. Matt Forte
Everyone had high expectations for the rookie out of Tulane, but after a subpar preseason, many began to doubt they were going to get much out of the running game. But Forte has more yards rushing than LT and Steven Jackson (ranks 5th overall). The line has looked good yes, but Forte has vision beyond his years.

2. Receiving
There were so many question marks going into the season, and the receivers were one of them. I personally feel that receivers are the least important people on the field because so many people, at any level of football, can catch passes. Whether you believe in that or not is up to you, but this corp of wideouts have proven that there isn't a need for a star receiver. No receiver on the Bears has more than 20 catches, yet five guys on the team have at least 14, and all but one has scored. Orton's ability to use any of his guys has led to the team's success.

1. Kyle Orton
No doubt about it, Orton is not only the biggest surprise of the Bears but of the NFL. He ranks eighth in the league in yards, 85 more than Peyton Manning. He has eight touchdowns to four interceptions and has done far more than just control the game. He has attacked the secondary, threaded needles and played with confidence.



From the archives: Top Ten Things We Know About the Bears & Top Ten Keys to a Bears Playoff Run