Bearly getting bye
Perhaps you thought a bye week in the NFL would mean no stories or pictures of your favorite team, especially when they are performing so poorly.
No chance.
In addition to Bob LeGere's midterm grades (if you're a Bears player, now is the time to hide the paper before your parents see it), here's a few fun offerings to get you through the day, or at least until the Colts-Patriots game comes on and we can all watch some real football.
Tomorrow we can start talking about how to beat those Oakland Raiders and grab the elusive win No. 4.
Quiz time
1. The Bears have only scored 1 touchdown in the first quarter through their first 8 games. Who scored that touchdown?
A. Devin Hester; B. Greg Olsen; C. Cedric Benson
2. When it comes to rushing yards, Cedric Benson and Adrian Peterson top the list. Who is third on the team in rushing?
A. Jason McKie; B. Rex Grossman; C. Brian Griese
3. Who leads the Bears in sacks with 7?
A. Adewale Ogunleye; B. Tommie Harris; C. Brian Urlacher
(answers below)
Bears vs. bye week
Who has the edge? We break down today's matchup:
Coaching: Lovie Smith may talk to the media, but let's face it, in the end he gives up about as much information as the bye week coach. Edge: Even
Quarterback: Brian Griese was intercepted four times last week; BW quarterback none. Edge: Bye week
Running back: Cedric Benson vs. BW back? You cannot be serious. Edge: Bye week
Defense: A well-rested BW defensive unit hasn't talked much about their play this season. Come to think of it, neither have the Bears. Edge: Not sure. Don't know. Check foxsports.com
Overall: The Bears still will be 3-5 when they head to Oakland next week, while BW will remain undefeated. Edge: Bye week
Who's next?
If the Bears continue their poor play after the bye and are mathematically eliminated, which team -- if any -- would you root for down the stretch?
• Dallas Cowboys
• Green Bay Packers
• N.Y. Giants
• Indianapolis Colts
• Pittsburgh Steelers
• New England Patriots
Did you know?
In NFL history, only 10 teams that started 3-5 have reached the playoffs (source: ESPN.com)
Quick comparison
Former Bears running back Thomas Jones, now with the New York Jets (1-7) vs. Cedric Benson of the Bears (3-5)
Player Att Yds Avg Lg TD
Jones 147 557 3.8 36 0
Benson 149 466 3.1 16 2
Plan B
If you can't watch the Bears today (and you can't) here are some other TV options:
• If you have the stomach for it, tune in to Channel 32 at noon to see if Green Bay can continue its roll, this time on the road at Kansas City.
• Root for the Patriots to beat the Colts (Channel 2, 3:15 p.m.) and then go on to an undefeated season. That would put a cork in those Miami Dolphins geezers who celebrate their 1972 undefeated season with a pompous group toast each time the final undefeated team goes down.
• Sure, it's a few days late thanks to the World Series, and it has nothing to do with sports, but "The Simpson's" annual Treehouse of Terror episode (Channel 32, 7 p.m.) always is worth the wait.
But really …
Get outside. Go golfing, take a walk, rake the leaves, offer to spend time with the family (they don't have to know it's an off week) … whatever. Just get out there and enjoy the good weather while it's still around. The Bears will be back next week.
Quiz answers: (1A, 2C, 3B)