Kansas City Chiefs 10 @ Chicago Bears 3
WITH JAY CUTLER inactive and Caleb Hanie inept, it’s little wonder that the Chicago Bears have been casting longing glances at other quarterbacks.
Forty-two-year-old Brett Favre, however, is not the answer.
Following the Bears’ humiliating home loss to the Chiefs this weekend, Favre was quoted as saying he would be “willing to listen” should Chicago come calling.
That call should not come and, instead, the Bears should seek an in-house solution from Hanie, Josh McCown or Nathan Enderle.
While Hanie looked terrible this weekend where he threw for just 133 yards, had three interceptions and was sacked seven times, he has two things Favre has not.
The first and most important advantage is that Hanie knows the playbook. Should Favre or, worse still, Donovan McNabb come in, they’re going to need at least two weeks to come to grips with the Bears’ system.
Secondly, with the way results fell over the weekend, the Bears are unlikely to make the playoffs this year anyway. Given that Cutler will be their starting QB next year, where’s the harm in giving Hanie, McCown or Enderle reps?
Personally, I’d be handing the football to Nathan Enderle. The rookie out of Idaho was a surprise fifth round pick by the Bears in this year’s draft given his unspectacular college career and completion percentage of just 54.6%.
However, college stats and combine performances only count for so much and, sometimes, a player is just a good fit for a franchise — think Tom Brady — and I think Enderle is that kind of player.
In college, and behind a mediocre offensive line, Enderle stood tall in the pocket and wasn’t afraid to put his body on the line to make a pass. He did, unfortunately, have a tendency to throw some interceptions but so does Hanie and it didn’t stop him getting a chance.
With the playoffs out of the picture, you have to look at young cubs rather than grizzled gunslingers.
After all, they can’t get any worse than they were this weekend.
Watch the highlights here.
Performance of the week
Chris Johnson
Having started the season more C3PO than CJ2K, Johnson has been on fire in recent weeks and continued that fine run of form by rushing for 153 yards and two touchdowns against the Buffalo Bills.
The Titans are now in a four-way battle with the Raiders, Bengals and Jets for the AFC’s final wild card spot and, if Johnson keeps playing like this, few would bet against them.
See CJ2K’s performance here.
Play of the week
Kyle Rudolph
His name is Rudolph and it’s nearly Christmas. Enough said.
See his spectacular catch here.
Results
- Philadelphia Eagles 14 @ Seattle Seahawks 31
- Denver Broncos 35 @ Minnesota Vikings 32
- Indianapolis Colts 24 @ New England Patriots 31
- Tennessee Titans 23 @ Buffalo Bills 17
- Kansas City Chiefs 10 @ Chicago Bears 3
- Oakland Raiders 14 @ Miami Dolphins 34
- Carolina Panthers 38 @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers 19
- New York Jets 34 @ Washington Redskins 19
- Atlanta Falcons 10 @ Houston Texans 17
- Cincinnati Bengals 7 @ Pittsburgh Steelers 35
- Baltimore Ravens 24 @ Cleveland Browns 10
- Green Bay Packers 38 @ New York Giants 35
- Dallas Cowboys 13 @ Arizona Cardinals 19
- St. Louis Rams 0 @ San Francisco 49ers 26
- Detroit Lions 17 @ New Orleans Saints 31
- San Diego Chargers 38 @ Jacksonville Jaguars 14
Steven O’Rourke is the Offensive Co-ordinator of Tullamore Phoenix American Football Club, winners of the IAFL DV8s national title in 2010 and 2011. Tullamore are always recruiting new players so, if you’d like to play football and not just read about it, Steven would love to hear from you.
