Sport: NFLPick Selection: Chi Bears
The Bears have overcome the poor play of Kyle Orton all season long and have won with a solid running game (ranked 7th) and the league's best defense. RB Thomas Jones is headed for the team's first 1,200-yard season since 1989 and in home games this year, has averaged 4.7 YPC as opposed to just 3.3 on the road. The Bears' "D" ranks first in the league in both YPG (270.5) and PPG (11.4). There is little doubt that the team will be tested by Atlanta's No. 1-ranked rushing offense (173.2 YPG) but Vick should struggle in the cold and wind of Chicago against a pass "D" that's allowed just eight TD passes while intercepting 18. Vick has always had some problem with sacks and Chicago's unit has 37 on the year. Atlanta is desperate but was life-and-death at home Monday night against the disinterested Saints before the Saints ran out of gas (fight?) in the second half. Vick, with sore ribs and poor WRs (only TE Crumpler is reliable), will have his hands full. Chicago knows it finishes on the road at Green Bay and Minnesota, so a win here is a MUST. The Bears are 6-1 at home this year, losing only to the Bengals in Week 3, prior to the team finding itself. In the six home wins, Chicago has allowed a total of just 24 points, or 5.7 PPG. In Week 11, the Bears held a much more polished QB in Jake Delhomme and the Carolina Panthers to just three points and 238 total yards at Soldier Field and I see the same thing happening to Vick and the Falcons, who are playing their FIRST and ONLY cold-weather game of the year! Sunday Night Game of the year 20* Chi Bears.
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