JOHN MULLIN FOR THE MAJORITY
More at stake for Bears
This is not an easy pick. On one hand, the Bears have lost to only one team (Green Bay) that had a losing record at the time of the game. On the other hand, they have self-destructed in too many defining games this season to trust their ability to rise to the moment, and this is THE moment.
Still, the Bears won the last two games, in overtime, despite not playing their best and that ultimately is a critical piece of being a winner. What was so noteworthy about Monday’s win over the Packers, and why the Bears will prevail in Houston, is that:
It was a game that mattered, and they did not choke;
When they had brain-lock moments, like Adrian Peterson’s late horse-collar tackle, the Bears answered with season-saving plays, like Alex Brown’s field goal block;
When Matt Forte had just 20 yards through three quarters, coaches turned to him more, not less. Putting the ball in his hands on seven of the eight plays on the tying touchdown drive may have been this coaching staff’s finest moment; and
On a dismally cold night, the Bears didn’t quit when trailing 14-3 at halftime and 17-10 halfway through the fourth quarter.
It won’t be easy. In their two previous seasons under Gary Kubiak, the Texans have finished with W’s in final games that didn’t matter, meaning they don’t quit. But neither do the Bears, and this time that should be just enough.
THE DECISION: BEARS WILL WIN
John Mullin 17-16
Terry Bannon 23-20
David Haugh 24-23
Rick Morrissey 21-20
Vaughn McClure 28-24
Fred Mitchell 27-23
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DAN POMPEI FOR THE MINORITY
Texans will score
Look, the Texans are going to move the ball on the Bears.
They move it on everyone, and the Bears often have allowed opponents to zip up and down the field. The Texans rank fourth in the NFL in passing offense, whereas the Bears’ pass defense ranks 28th.
But some of that advantage should be diminished against the Bears because of red-zone performance and turnovers.
The Texans rank 28th in the NFL in touchdown percentage in the red zone (43.9 percent), whereas the Bears rank 18th in stopping touchdowns in the red zone (52.9 percent). The Bears are tied for the league lead in takeaways with 31, and the Texans have the second-highest amount of giveaways in the league with 31.
Still, the Bears might have trouble matching points with this team on their turf. The Texans have won four of five and have a December home record of 7-1 under Gary Kubiak.
There were signs in the Texans’ 27-16 loss to the Raiders last week that this team might have packed it in for the year. If that’s the case, the Bears will win. If not, it could be a very disappointing day for the Bears.
THE DISSENT
Melissa Isaacson 21-17
Dan Pompei 28-26
WILD CARD: Shannon Ryan 26-20
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