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© Oak Park Journal photo of the Chicago Bears
Dan Peters Sports Editor
Oak Park Journal
| Bears Defeat Bills 10-3 in
Preseason Game Bears hold on to beat Buffalo. Start the new season on a winning note.. 10-3 It wasn’t pretty, but a win is a win. The Bears started 2011 as they finished last year…But again, this is only the first pre-season game. Shades of 2010 Jay Cutler only played one series, but it sure did look like last year. Sacked a league-leading 52 times a year ago, there wasn’t much he could do Saturday with the Buffalo defense rushing him. All Cutler managed behind a revamped line that no longer includes departed center Olin Kreutz was a shovel pass to Matt Forte on the Bears’ second play from scrimmage for no gain He did manage to escape for a 10 yard run, the longest of the first quarter. Then he got sacked by Marcell Dareus on a third down at the 35 before Chicago punted. Exit Jay Cutler. And he escaped without injury and attacks on his toughness. Unlike his previous appearance at Soldier Field—the NFC championship loss to Green Bay in January “They were good. They were fine,” Cutler said. “It took a little bit to get settled down. Some of those young guys are still jelling a little bit.” The Bears offensive starters were gone after only one series, the linemen staying put for the first half. On the defensive side, the first stringers lasted two series, while the Buffalo lifted their starters on both sides after two series. There were a few bright spots for the Bears… Marion Barber made a good impression, running for 45 yards and leading the Bears to a second-quarter touchdown. He carried six times for 37 yards on that drive, setting up a 4-yard run by backup quarterback Caleb Hanie. Hanie got a rude welcome on the previous possession when he was sacked on consecutive plays by Merriman. That forced Chicago to punt after an impressive punt return by Johnny Knox. Go Johnny Go.. When Johnny Knox lost his starting job to newcomer Roy Williams for the exhibition opener against the Bills, Knox vowed to do whatever it took to regain his role. And he did. "Been a while since I've been back there. It felt kind of weird at first,'' Knox said. "Once I got going, it felt pretty good.'' Devin Hester sure took notice. "It was a great return," Hester said. "We know Johnny is great returner. He has showed us that since Day One. He is capable of taking it the house any time." And he almost did. Knox was asked why he didn't on this play. "I tripped on the 50-yard line,'' he joked. "You didn't see it?'' Offensively, Knox caught one pass for 11 yards on a quick slant from Hanie, running a perfect route. Knox entered Saturday's game fresh off controversy as talked swirled of him desiring a trade. He said he never had any intentions to ask for a trade and vowed to be a Bear for life. "I didn't pay attention to what was going on,'' Knox said. "I know what I have to do is handle my business on the field, and that's what I came to do.'' On the first five combined drop backs for Cutler, and backup Caleb Hanie, there were three sacks, and Cutler was flushed out of the pocket on a scramble. The starting line settled down then, playing the entire first half as offensive coordinator Mike Martz said the team would need to seek rhythm. The Bears had only 78 total yards at halftime and when they got rolling with help from some hard running by new back Marion Barber, and the Bills starters on the sideline. A fourth sack came just before halftime. Lovie Smith knows where the problem is, it’s the same as we saw last season “Too much pressure on the quarterback,” Smith said. “We have to tighten that up a little bit. But besides that offensively I thought we accomplished what we wanted to the first game. We have so far to go.” Time to fix it. On defensive side of the ball, Amobi Okoye made an immediate impression with two sacks and teammate Henry Melton made some plays early. Second-year safety Major Wright was also part of the stout play. This Bears defense could be significantly better on the inside line this season , now that they've moved past the Tommie Harris era. "We need to get better," middle linebacker Brian Urlacher said. "That's all there is to it. We're a defensive team and we'll get better every week. "After a long layoff it's fun to get back out there and play football again." Running back Kahlil Bell also ran well with a 27-yard run in the fourth quarter, helping set up a 45-yard field goal by Robbie Gould with 5:52 remaining. Bell finished with 73 yards on 13 carries. Gould missed two field goals, including a 34-yarder. That was all the scoring for this game. Shawne Merriman impressive for Buffalo Buffalo head coach Chan Gailey was quick to praise Merriman on his return to form. “The understatement of the evening I thought Merriman was impressive on his return,” he said. They never got the spark they were seeking from Merriman late last season because the three-time Pro Bowler injured his Achilles’ tendon about 15 minutes into his first practice with Buffalo after being waived by San Diego. He missed the rest of the season. “I’m still getting a feel for the game again, so going out there and making certain moves, getting back in football shape is going to be a long process, but you are never going to take the athleticism and the ability to go out and want make plays for somebody,” Merriman said. “I’ve been away for a year and half still just getting into the groove of things.” The Bears will not travel for the next two games, heading to the Meadowlands to play the NY Giants and then to Tennessee to take on the Titans before returning home for a final pre season tune-up against Cleveland on Thursday September 1st. The 2010 NFC North Champion Chicago Bears (0-0) will open their 2011 NFL preseason slate when they host the Buffalo Bills (0-0) at Soldier Field on Saturday, August 13. Chicago is 14-15 in preseason contests under head coach Lovie Smith, including a 500 or better mark in fi ve of his seven seasons. Overall, the Bears own an all-time preseason mark of 223-161-8. At the start of the preseason, the Bears added eight new veteran faces on offense (RB Marion Barber, WR Sam Hurd, TE Matt Spaeth, C Chris Spencer and WR Roy Williams), defense (DL Vernon Gholston and DT Amobi Okoye) and special teams (P Adam Podlesh), building on their third division crown under Smith since 2004, most in the NFC North during that span. Chicago has won 11 of the 14 all-time preseason meetings with the Bills dating back to a 23-16 victory in 1969. Buffalo won the last such meeting in 2009, 27-20, at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, NY. Following Saturday’s contest, the Bears will travel to New York to take on the Giants to start a string of three preseason games in 11 days. Last week was full of news.. the most noteable was when the defending Super Bowl Champs paid a vist to the Oval Office. President Obama had probably the most fun he has had in quite some time this past Friday.. Even if the longtime Bears fan did have to welcome the Green Bay Packers to the White House. “I’m just going to come out and say it,” Obama said, chuckling. “This hurts a little bit.” The president involked the name of legendary Bears coach Mike Ditka, and somewhat sadly, acknowledged that the Packers advanced to the Super Bowl with a win over ..da Bears. “This is a hard thing for a Bears fan to do,” Obama said at the White House ceremony. “It doesn’t hurt as much as the NFC Championship game hurt – but it still hurts – you guys coming to my house to rub it in. What are you going to do – go to Ditka’s house next?” The President also got to poke fun at congressional Republicans, likening the recently settled NFL dispute to the debt ceiling standoff. “Like every football fan, I was thrilled to have the lockout ended.” Obama said. “Nobody likes long, frustrating negotiations… with rigid opposition, taking it to the brink.” Obama also talked about the Packers star defensive back Charles Woodson, who mocked the president for deciding against the attending Super Bowl after the Packers dispatched the Bears. “After the Packers beat the Bears, Charles addressed the team – everybody on ESPN saw it: I saw it while I was working out in the morning – and Charles said ‘If the President doesn’t want to come to watch us at the Super Bowl, then we’re going to him.” The Green Bay Packers earned the White House trip by defeating the Pittsburg Steelers in the Super Bowl. Indeed, Woodson attending and spoke on behalf of the Team. Noting that the team is publicly owned. Woodson presented Obama with a single share of Packers stock, inspiring more Bear-Packer banter. “What I’m thinking is I think we should initiate a trade to send (quarterback Aaron) Rodgers down to the Bears,” Obama said. “A minority owner, thank you,” Woodson quickly interjected. Congratulating the Packers, Obama added: “Enjoy it while it lasts.” Because Bears fans have two dates circled on our calendars..” he added. “September 25th and Sunday Night Football on Christmas Day.” “And,” the president added, “if you guys are on a roll by then, just keep in mind that there’s only one person here who can ground all planes in and out of Green Bay – if he has to.” |
