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NFL: Chicago Bears wide receiver Johnny Knox done… |
Chicago Bears receiver Johnny Knox was placed on injured reserve and will miss the rest of the season after undergoing back surgery Monday. Knox was taken from the field on a cart early in Sunday’s blowout loss to the Seattle Seahawks and had surgery a day later to stabilize a vertebra in his lower to mid back. The Bears also placed former Cal safety Chris Conte on injured reserve because of a foot injury he suffered in the game and promoted running Armando Allen, defensive end Thaddeus Gibson and receiver Max Komar from the practice squad, signing them through the 2013 season Monday. Knox’s injury is not considered career-threatening, but the team reported on its website that it’s not clear if he’ll be ready in time for training camp. “He’s out, of course, the rest of this year. But just looking to the future, it looks bright for him, of course, to play and to get back out there, so we’re encouraged by that,” coach Lovie Smith said. Knox was injured after he caught a pass. Kam Chancellor poked the ball out of his hands, and as Knox made a diving attempt to retrieve it, he was hit by Anthony Hargrove and bent backward. Smith said it was not a dirty play. “Guy was playing hard,” Smith said. “An unfortunate play. It’s a violent sport, and sometimes. … You don’t see hits like that very often, but I can’t say that it was dirty or anything like that.” Browns: Colt McCoy has improved from his concussion. However, his status for this week, the rest of the season and beyond remains blurred. Browns coach Pat Shurmur said Monday that McCoy has not been medically cleared to practice or play. No decision has been made on who will start at quarterback Saturday when Cleveland visits the Baltimore Ravens. McCoy suffered a concussion on Dec. 8 when he was blasted on an illegal helmet-to-face-mask hit by Pittsburgh linebacker James Harrison, who was suspended for the Steelers’ game in San Francisco as punishment for the devastating shot. Vikings: Minnesota running back Adrian Peterson says he thinks the New Orleans Saints were purposely trying to injure his sprained left ankle in their game Sunday. Peterson had 10 carries for 60 yards against the Saints after missing the previous three weeks with a high ankle sprain. Peterson said after the game he expected the defensive players to target his ankle while trying to bring him down. But he also says he took particular offense to one play when cornerback Jabari Greer twisted his ankle in a pileup. Peterson says he confronted Greer because he thought that “it kind of got overboard.” Buccaneers: Tampa Bay cornerback Aqib Talib has been placed on injured reserve with a sore right hamstring that sidelined him much of the past three games. The team announced the move Monday, two days after Talib was able to play only one series during a 31-15 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Jets: Quarterback Mark Sanchez says he is “feeling good” and did not need follow-up tests after injuring his neck during the team’s game at Philadelphia on Sunday. Falcons: Coach Mike Smith says his heart is fine. Smith said Monday his doctors have a plan to address the discomfort that caused him to be examined in a Charlotte hospital after the Falcons’ win over the Carolina Panthers on Dec. 11. Obituary: Harley Sewell, a Detroit Lions offensive lineman during the championship seasons in the 1950s, has died. He was 80. Leave any suggestions in the comment box. Posted in bears-news | Comments Off
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Bears lead Eagles 17-10 at halftime |
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Marion Barber‘s 2-yard touchdown run after a costly fumble by DeSean Jackson helped the Chicago Bears take a 17-10 lead over the Philadelphia Eagles into halftime on Monday night. Jackson, a Pro Bowl punt returner, was stripped by Corey Graham and the Bears recovered at the Eagles 9 with a minute left in the second quarter. A roughing-the-passer penalty on Jason Babin gave Chicago a first down at the Eagles 2 after Jay Cutler threw an incomplete pass on third down. Barber then ran in from the 2. Eagles linebacker Brian Rolle stripped Matt Forte and returned the fumble 22 yards for a touchdown late in the second quarter to tie it at 10. Cutler threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Matt Spaeth and Robbie Gould kicked a 51-yard field goal to help the Bears build an early 10-0 advantage. Rookie Alex Henery kicked a career-high 47-yard field goal for the Eagles, and the defense made a big play on Chicago’s ensuing series. Forte caught a short pass from Cutler, but Rolle knocked the ball loose. He picked it up and ran untouched into the end zone, avoiding Cutler on his way in. The Bears took the opening kickoff and drove 79 yards on 12 plays, capped by Cutler’s TD toss to Spaeth. Forte had 52 yards rushing on the drive, and the Bears got 60 of the 79 yards on the ground. Cutler completed two passes, including a 14-yard toss to Earl Bennett on third-and-7. After struggling badly against the run the first five weeks, the Eagles improved in the last two games. They allowed just 127 yards rushing combined in wins against Washington and Dallas. Michael Vick, seeking his first win as a starter in four tries against the Bears, had a rough first half. He was 8 of 15 for 84 yards and threw an interception in the red zone. Vick had just 8 yards rushing. LeSean McCoy, who had a career-best 185 yards rushing against Dallas last week, was held to just 33 yards on nine carries. Helped by a pass interference call on Major Wright that kept their second drive going, the Eagles reached the Bears 19 early in the second quarter. But Vick made a poor throw into double coverage that was picked by Wright, who returned it 36 yards to the Bears 48. That set up Gould’s field goal. Cutler threw a 26-yard pass to Bennett on third-and-16 to the Eagles 32. Vick connected with Jeremy Maclin for 31 yards to the Bears 40 on third-and-9. The drive stalled and Henery made his first field goal from beyond 38 yards. Philadelphia safety Nate Allen left the game after sustaining a concussion in the first quarter. Forte had 62 yards rushing at the break. The Eagles are trying to even their record with their third straight win after an awful 1-4 start threatened to ruin a season that began with Super Bowl aspirations. Coming off a bye, the Bears (4-3) are seeking their third straight win. The teams are meeting for the fifth straight year. Chicago has won three of the last four games against Philadelphia, including a 31-26 victory at Soldier Field last November. Beloved former Eagles coach Buddy Ryan will be honored at halftime. Ryan, who is battling cancer, was Chicago’s defensive coordinator during their Super Bowl championship season in 1985. He came to Philadelphia the next season and led the Eagles to the playoffs in 1988-90. That’s all for today. Posted in bears-news | Comments Off
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Surging Eagles host equally hot Bears |
After a rough start, the Philadelphia Eagles might finally be on their way to meeting the lofty expectations they set for themselves this season. The Chicago Bears might not be a true Super Bowl contender at the moment, but they are certainly happy with the way they have played of late. Each team looks for a third consecutive victory when they meet Monday night at Lincoln Financial Field. Saddled with Super Bowl expectations after adding six former Pro Bowlers to a roster that already included Michael Vick, LeSean McCoy and DeSean Jackson, Philadelphia (3-4) dropped four straight after a 31-13 opening win at St. Louis. Just when it seemed the Eagles were ready to be branded a bust, they outscored division rivals Washington and Dallas 54-20 to win two straight since the skid and move within two games of NFC East-leading New York. “We made tremendous strides to where we wanted to be,” linebacker Brian Rolle said. “I feel like we’ll continue to get better and better and we’ll be a force to be reckoned with.” Philadelphia played like the Super Bowl contender many thought it would be when it rushed for a season-high 239 yards and did not commit a turnover for the first time this season in a 34-7 win over the Cowboys last Sunday night. Vick was 21 of 28 for 279 yards with two touchdowns and also ran for 50 yards, while McCoy rushed for a career-high 185 and two TDs on 30 attempts. The Eagles limited the Cowboys to 267 yards – the second straight week they held an opponent to fewer than 290. “We still have a lot of work to do,” Vick said. “We acknowledge the fact that we work hard each and every week and so we deserve to take a moment to reflect and enjoy this, but at the same time understand our position. We’ve got game two next week. The start of our new season.” Though the Eagles are riding high for the moment, the Bears (4-3) have the potential to bring them down to earth. Chicago has won three of the last four meetings, including 31-26 last season and 19-16 in their last matchup in Philadelphia in 2007. The Bears are coming off their bye week after outscoring Minnesota and Tampa Bay 63-28 the last two games. “Things are on the way up,” said coach Lovie Smith, whose teams are 4-3 coming off the bye. “Feel real good about it. We’re a good football team.” Chicago has been good when it comes to stopping Vick, who is 0-3 as a starter against the Bears. He has posted a 76.2 passer rating, rushed for 187 yards with no TDs, been intercepted three times and sacked 15 in five games versus Chicago. The Bears remain confident they can keep the versatile quarterback in check. “It’s real difficult for us because he creates a lot of time for the [receivers] to get open with his legs,” cornerback Tim Jennings said. “But we believe in our pass rush and our rush is going to get to him and make it easy for us in the back seven. So we’ve just got to stay in cover and believe in our pass rush.” Though Chicago held the Vikings and Buccaneers to a combined 83 rushing yards over the last two games, McCoy averages an NFL-high 107.7 and has scored at least one touchdown in every game. He has rushed for 152 yards and one TD on 30 carries in two games against the Bears. Chicago has a budding backfield star of its own in Matt Forte, who leads the NFL with 1,091 scrimmage yards. He ran for 145 yards and a TD on 25 carries in a 24-18 win over Tampa Bay in London on Oct. 23. Despite having not received the contract extension he wanted by this point in the season, Forte’s 672 rushing yards are the most by a Bear through seven games since Thomas Jones had 713 in 2005. “It makes you feel good that I’m being successful on the field, and I want to continue to be successful out there,” said Forte, who ran for 117 yards on 14 carries against the Eagles in 2010. Though Chicago has held the advantage versus Philadelphia, each of the last four meetings have been decided by five points or fewer. What are your opinions. Posted in bears-news | Comments Off
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Chicago Bears at Philadelphia Eagles: What bettors… |
Monday night’s game features two of the league’s best running backs. US PRESSWIRE
Chicago Bears at Philadelphia Eagles (-8, 47)
THE STORY: The Chicago Bears and Philadelphia Eagles both seek their third straight victory when the teams square off at Lincoln Financial Field on Monday night. Chicago will be playing its first game on North American soil since a 39-10 home triumph over Minnesota on Oct. 16. The Bears posted a 24-18 win over Tampa Bay in London on Oct. 23 before enjoying their bye last week. Philadelphia has rebounded from four straight losses by recording consecutive victories over NFC East rivals Washington and Dallas in which it has allowed a total of 20 points while scoring 54. Chicago has won three of its last four meetings with the Eagles, including its most recent visit to the City of Brotherly Love in October 2007. TV: ESPN, 8:30 p.m. ET. LINE: Eagles -8, O/U 47. ABOUT THE BEARS (3-4): Running back Matt Forte is anything but happy with his current situation. Forte, who leads the NFL with 1,091 yards from scrimmage, has a base salary of just $555,000 this season and feels he is vastly underpaid considering his workload. Furthermore, the 25-year-old is likely to receive the team’s franchise player tag instead of the lucrative contract extension he is seeking, a probability that had Forte voicing his displeasure and questioning the Bears’ loyalty during the week. Forte gained 117 yards on 14 carries in a home win over Philadelphia last season. EXTRA POINTS: 1. Eagles quarterback Michael Vick is 0-3 lifetime as a starter against the Bears. In five career meetings, Vick has been sacked 15 times, thrown three interceptions and fumbled on seven occasions. 2. Chicago has allowed a total of 83 rushing yards in its last two contests. 3. Each of the last four meetings between the Eagles and Bears has been decided by five points or less. - Philadelphia is 3-7 against the spread in its last 10 games overall. PREDICTION: Eagles 31, Bears 21. Philadelphia continues its turnaround as Vick finally gets in the win column against Chicago. Thanks for visiting our blog =). Posted in bears-news | Comments Off
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Eagles can’t bear repeat performance vs. Chicago |
THE CHICAGO BEARS really got after Michael Vick and the Eagles last November. Four sacks, and Vick’s first interception as the Birds’ quarterback, fueled a 31-26 Chicago victory on the shifting sands of Soldier Field. This Monday night’s game at Lincoln Financial Field offers parallels and differences. Then as now, the Eagles came in feeling pretty good about themselves; they were riding a three-game victory streak (this year, it’s two, after a 1-4 start) and they went to Chicago expecting to keep rolling. They’d blasted out of the bye upsetting Indianapolis, then put a 59-point hurting on the Redskins’ defense, and taken the Giants by 10.
Get Your Philadelphia Sports Gear Here ‘; One difference is that back then, the Eagles were surprised the Bears played their safeties really deep, giving up lanes underneath. Since then, that has more or less become the norm against the Birds’ high-powered weaponry. In blowing away Dallas Sunday, the Eagles showed they could sustain the kind of grind-it-out drives, converting for touchdowns, such a defensive approach dictates. A year ago, LeSean McCoy carried only 10 times against Chicago, gaining 53 yards. He caught eight passes for 67 yards. McCoy has 58 carries the past two games, for 311 yards, and only four catches, for 28. Of course, all that was achieved against the 3-4 setups of Washington and Dallas. Who knows whether offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg will want to run as much this week? The 2010 game might have been a turning point for Bears quarterback Jay Cutler, who seemed to be on the verge of being written off as a costly mistake before throwing four touchdown passes against an Eagles secondary that lacked injured cornerback Asante Samuel. Cutler ultimately led the Bears to the NFC Championship Game, changing his profile. His numbers aren’t great this season – 59.1 completion percent, nine touchdowns, six interceptions, 84.0 passer rating – but the focus has been more on an o-line that has allowed 21 sacks than on Cutler’s deficiencies. Also different is the Eagles’ offensive line, and how it might approach Julius Peppers and the Chicago D, although this might be news to Bears coach Lovie Smith. He told a conference call with Philadelphia reporters yesterday he expected to see the same offensive scheme and personnel as last season. In fact, only left tackle Jason Peters is scheduled to start Monday at the same spot he played against the Bears last year. Todd Herremans has moved from left guard to right tackle, and left guard Evan Mathis, center Jason Kelce and right guard Danny Watkins have been added. Up front defensively, the Bears seem to be the kind of dominant, physical bunch that has given the Birds trouble this season in losses to the Giants and 49ers. Remember, when Juan Castillo was asked in the offseason what sort of defense he envisioned building, Castillo referenced the Bears. “They’re a very fundamentally sound defense. You’re not going to see a lot of crazy looks or anything out of the ordinary, like you see with a lot of the teams that we’ve been playing recently,” Herremans said yesterday. “They depend on their front four to get pressure on the quarterback. They bring one extra here and there, but they’re just very sound. You gotta be on your game when you’re playing a fundamentally sound team like that, you can’t have any slip-ups . . . The Bears have always been a physical defense.” Both Eagles coach Andy Reid and Smith referenced how well the teams know each other. Through a quirk of NFL scheduling, this is the fifth year in a row they’ve met, the Bears winning three of four. “I think they know us and we know them, and every time we play each other, each of us adds a new little wrinkle,” Reid said. “It starts up front with them, and they get off the ball, they’re explosive, their linebackers are very disciplined. [Brian] Urlacher kind of leads that. [Lance] Briggs is right there. They’ve played together a long time, and they’re very good,” Reid said. He added that the Bears don’t always play Cover 2, that they’ve mixed coverages against the Eagles in the past. Chicago won’t have the advantage of the awful Soldier Field turf this time; Vick seemed to be playing beach volleyball last year on a surface that did not allow for sharp cuts. Vick said yesterday that being able to put up 34 points on what he felt was a very good Dallas defense that threw a lot at him makes him “very optimistic that I can go out and execute against any defense.” “It’s going to be different, but I think I’ve got the ground rules and know what it takes to make sure I can get us in the right protection calls and make the plays downfield when necessary,” he said. Vick completed 29 of 44 passes against the Bears last season for 333 yards, two touchdowns and a 94.2 passer rating, along with that one interception, which was a game-changer. The Eagles were down, 14-13, at the 2-minute warning, second-and-goal from Chicago’s 4. Vick’s pass to Jeremy Maclin was picked off, and Chris Harris ran it back to the 37. The Bears then began a touchdown drive that made it 21-13 at halftime. Somebody mentioned to Vick that he never has beaten Chicago, losing two games to the Bears as Atlanta’s starter before last year’s loss. (Of course, it’s hard to say games played 5 years or more ago for a different team have any more to do with this contest than, say, Vick’s 4-1 career Monday night record.) “They play a nice, tight, sound, disciplined scheme, and it’s something that they’ve always been good at,” he said. “It’s a ‘bend but don’t break’ mentality, and they find ways to get it done, and in the past that’s happened. I’m definitely confident this time we’ll give ourselves the best chance to win the football game.” Mathis said he knows the spotlight will be on the o-line this week. “You’ve got to pay attention in the film room. The Bears have always built their team around defensive weapons, and they have a lot of those,” Mathis said. ESPN Radio asked Urlacher how the Bears have contained Vick in the past. “We’ve never contained him,” Urlacher said. “He has big games against us, but somehow, we find a way to win. We’ll get a turnover here or there, a takeaway or something like that.”
For more Eagles coverage and opinion, read the Daily News’ Eagles blog, Eagletarian, at www.eagletarian.com. Follow him on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LesBowen.
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