Bears in Need of Quarterback, Should Have Pursued McNabb

            After the Chicago Bears announced that recently signed quarterback Josh McCown will be starting on Christmas Day against the Green Bay Packers, it is apparent that the Bears desperately need a new quarterback. Jay Cutler had been playing very well for the Bears and Chicago had forgotten about his debatable injury last year in the playoffs. Backup QB Caleb Hanie was horrendous in the four games in which he replaced Cutler, completing less than half of his pass attempts, throwing for 600 yards, only three touchdown passes and nine interceptions (two were returned for touchdowns). The Bears lost by a touchdown or less in three of the four games thanks to their defense, but they lost all four games that Hanie started. McCown has jumped from team to team in his nine seasons in the NFL, with most of his experience coming from his time on the Arizona Cardinals from 2003 to 2005. He has already made Chicago Bears fans nervous in his relief of Caleb Hanie against Seattle, where he threw two passes, one of which was intercepted. With any quarterback currently on their roster, the Bears are unlikely to beat the Packers. The Packers have won nineteen of their last twenty games for a reason--they're the best team in the NFL. McCown has not had significant playing time in years and even when he did he was a mediocre quarterback. The Bears are technically still in the playoff picture even though they would have to win their final games and need the Cowboys, Giants, Lions, Seahawks, and Cardinals to lose their last games. The Bears should have contacted Donovan McNabb the minute they found out that Cutler was done for the year.

Courtesy of http://chicago.sbnation.com/chicago-bears/2011/12/21/2652027/packers-vs-bears-week-16-2011-news-injury-odds-score-update-recap

            Sure, the Minnesota Vikings were not having success with McNabb but he is still capable of playing at a high level in the NFL. He is a tested quarterback with playoff experience and would be mature enough to step into a new situation and lead the Bears to the playoffs as a Wild Card team. If Chicago's playoff chances weren't so slim, I would be tempted to call McNabb's agent, fly him to Chicago for practice, and have him start against the Packers on Sunday.

Courtesy of http://www.topusatrend.com/2011/12/02/vikings-donovan-mcnabb-research-stops-with-waiving-of-experienced-qb/

            The Chicago Bears had won five straight games before Cutler was injured and were one of the hottest teams in the NFL at 7-3. With Cutler for the rest of the season, they would have been a lock for the playoffs. McNabb may not have been able to have a winning record with the Bears, but it would have only taken three or four wins for the Bears to make the playoffs. The Bears were essentially without an offense their past four games since Matt Forte and Cutler are sidelined with injuries. Hopefully Lovie Smith and Chicago's front office has learned from their mistake and finds a solid backup quarterback in the off-season through free agency or the draft.

Keys to the Bears vs. Broncos Game

            Tim Tebow's impressive 6-1 record this season as a starter will be tested when he faces the Chicago Bears in Denver today. Tebow will have the hardest time scoring today out of any regular season game this season, but the Broncos will have great chances at winning.

Keys to the Game:
Bears: Force turnovers on defense, getting good field position on special teams, have a double-digit lead going into the fourth quarter, scoring on defense/special teams
Broncos: Don't turn the ball over, put pressure on Caleb Hanie, keep the game close in the first three quarters
           
            The Bears defense has wreaked havoc this season, intercepting sixteen passes, forcing eleven fumbles, and recovering nine of them. Tebow will have more pressure than ever to play smart. The few times he throws he will have to place the ball in places where only his receivers can catch the ball. When he scrambles, he'll have to hold onto the ball very tightly because Chicago is the best team in the league at stripping the ball. With Chicago's top two offensive players, Matt Forte and Jay Cutler, out with injuries, the Bears will need the defense to give them the best field position possible so that they can settle for field goals if they can't put the ball in the endzone. Caleb Hanie has struggled in the two games that he has played, completing less than half of his passes. His touchdown to interception ratio is 1:3, throwing three picks in both games. As we saw last year in the playoffs, Hanie does have the ability to perform well, we just haven't seen it in 2011. He may need a few games under his belt to get warmed up, but if that is not the case, a defensive touchdown would be critical to the Bears winning the game. If there was ever a game where Chicago needs  Devin Hester to be a big-time playmaker it's today. If he can get to a least the Bears own forty yard line a two or three times on kickoffs, Chicago will have a much shorter field to work with and will take some of the pressure off of Caleb Hanie. The Chicago Bears will need to have at least a two score lead going into the fourth quarter because of Tim Tebow's ability to lead the Broncos to comeback victories.  The longer the Bears hold onto the ball in the fourth quarter and the more they slow the game down, the less time Tebow will have to put together a potential game-winning drive.

Courtesy of http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/6ilGKu3ghRf/Houston+Texans+v+Denver+Broncos/QxLpplhlnIb/Tim+Tebow

            I think that the Chicago Bears will play the Broncos very tough and Tebow will have one of his worst statistical games this season. Chicago's offense is missing too much of its firepower and will struggle offensively. Caleb Hanie will have his best game this season, throwing for 200 yards, 2 touchdowns, and one interception. The Bears will force three turnovers and have one defense or special teams touchdown. However, the Broncos defense will keep the game close in the first three quarters so that Tebow can win the game in the fourth. Denver Broncos win 24-20 over the Chicago Bears in a close game at Denver.

Getting to Know Caleb Hanie

             After Jay Cutler's season-ending injury to a finger on his throwing hand after chasing after Antoine Cason, who intercepted Cutler in the fourth quarter, it will be back-up quarterback Caleb Hanie who will look to lead the 7-3 Bears into the playoffs.

Courtesy of http://planbphilosophy.blogspot.com/2011/01/are-you-prepared-for-opportunity-caleb.html

             The last we saw of Hanie was when he replaced Cutler after an "injury" in last year's NFC Championship Game. Hanie was 13-20 for 153 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions, which for a replacement QB in the biggest game of his life, was by no means a bad performance. Hanie is in his fourth NFL season after playing at Colorado State. He is almost the same size as Cutler, at 6'2" and 222 lbs. Luckily for both the Bears and Hanie, the team is capable of winning without relying too much on the play of the quarterback. As we saw against Detroit last week, Chicago managed score with its defense, special teams, and dual running back system under Mike Martz. As long as the defense can limit the scoring opportunities of their opponents, Hester gives the offense good field position, and Matt Forte and Marion Barber are able to carry the offense, Hanie will be gradually re-introduced to the offense. If he is able to lead the Bears over the Packers in Week 16, he'll become a living legend in Chicago.