Championships cannot be won in September or October, although they most assuredly can be lost in the early months of the NFL season.
The Bears have avoided the pitfalls of the season’s first two months. Now their path gets even more treacherous.
“To me the season really doesn’t begin until November,” coach Lovie Smith said. “You get yourself in position before that, but that big push has to happen in November.”
The Bears put themselves in position with seven straight wins and can close out Smith’s second quarter of the season with a win over the lightly regarded Miami Dolphins. They did well last November, going 4-0.
The Bears allowed no more than 17 points in any of their November games last season. The Dolphins have topped 17 points only once this season: the 24 they scored in a 34-24 loss to Green Bay last Sunday.
“But if we don’t play our `A’ game and if we make mistakes, they will beat us,” said defensive end Adewale Ogunleye, a former Dolphin. “The thing we have to understand is since we’re undefeated, every team is going to give us their best shot.
“We definitely have to be ready.”
TEAM STATISTICS
YARDS PER GAME
Bears–7-0, 1st in NFC North, Dolphins–1-6, 4th in AFC East (NFL rank)
OFFENSE
RUSHING
BEARS: 104.4 (19th)
DOLPHINS: 88.1 (27th)
PASSING
BEARS: 231.6 (9th)
DOLPHINS: 235.3 (6th)
TOTAL
BEARS: 336.0 (12th)
DOLPHINS: 323.4 (16th)
DEFENSE
RUSHING
BEARS: 74.5 (5th)
DOLPHINS: 102.1 (13th)
PASSING
BEARS: 168.7 (9th)
DOLPHINS: 174.4 (4th)
TOTAL
BEARS: 243.2 (12th)
DOLPHINS: 276.6 (5th)
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
Mike Downey
Save the dolphins! (Or wait, maybe that’s whales.) I like Miami to score a safety in this one. Maybe bury a punt on the Bears’ 1. Otherwise, don’t expect a lot from Joey Harrington and his smelly friends from the sea. Devin Hester takes another punt for a Bears TD and that’s that, the ‘Fins sleep with the fishes.
BEARS 28 DOLPHINS 2
David Haugh
Put that champagne bottle away, Bob Kuechenberg. It will have to chill for at least another week–and possibly longer–because no way this Dolphins team ruins the Bears’ unbeaten season. The defense will make Joey Harrington nostalgic for Detroit. Expect a score lopsided enough to see backup quarterback Brian Griese finish a game that will make his dad’s former Dolphin teammates on that perfect ’72 team pretty nervous.
BEARS 30 DOLPHINS 6
Melissa Isaacson
The Dolphins may not be quite as horrid their record indicates, but they are not all that smart, either, judging from some of their comments about the “almighty Bears” this week. That’s all the Bears need is another convenient excuse to prove themselves. Cranky Bob Kuechenberg and his ’72 mates can keep the Dom chillin’.
BEARS 28 DOLPHINS 6
Fred Mitchell
The Dolphins’ stubborn defense could dictate a more conservative offensive approach by the Bears, who might plan to attack with short passes and a more determined running game to control the time of possession. Miami quarterback Joey Harrington might succeed with quick, short passes, but it will be difficult for him to penetrate the end zone and avoid turnovers.
BEARS 23 DOLPHINS 9
Rick Morrissey
The Dolphins talk a good game but don’t know how to play a good game. Bad combination. The Bears surely have had their fill of Miami’s pregame woofing, and that means an in-game butt-whupping Sunday. Rex Grossman needs to have another good game for confidence purposes. You don’t just forget the Arizona disaster with one decent outing.
BEARS 28 DOLPHINS 3
John Mullin
The Dolphins are in a snit over perceived slights by fans, media and even former Dolphins. But road rage won’t help a team that is 0-4 on the road this season and has repeatedly self-destructed, giving up 47 points off turnovers.
BEARS 23 DOLPHINS 10
Don Pierson
This is the end of the so-called easy season and unless the Dolphins can do what they haven’t done all season, it shouldn’t be this close. They play pretty good defense, but the Bears are simply better and would need to contribute to an upset.
BEARS 28 DOLPHINS 10
SOUTH FLORIDA SUN-SENTINEL
Ethan Skolnick
This game should be closer than expected, if only because the Dolphins are coming off an open date and should be focused and ornery after fending off attacks from outsiders and alums for two weeks. Still, the offensive line remains shaky and the plan to spread the field is likely to be abandoned quickly if the pressure becomes too great.
BEARS 24 DOLPHINS 16
Skolnick covers the Dolphins and the NFL for the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
