FOXBOROUGH — It will all be on the lines when the Patriots travel to Chicago Sunday to take on the Bears.
“The Patriots’ offensive line better come to play in this one,’’ said a personnel executive for a recent Bears foe. “That Bears defensive line is tough to handle for anybody. They destroyed the Eagles two weeks ago.’’
Considering the state of the Eagles’ offensive line, that’s no great feat. But when you factor in Michael Vick at quarterback, it was an impressive performance.
Not even the NFL’s fastest quarterback could get away from the Bears’ relentless pass rush. The total damage: four sacks, eight tackles for losses, and 10 quarterback hits/pressures.
It’s no surprise that the Bears’ defense ranks third overall, second against the run, and third in points allowed.
On the flip side, the Bears might have the worst offensive line in the league. They have allowed a league-leading 45 sacks.
“If it wasn’t for Jay Cutler and the way he can improvise, they might have 70 by now,’’ the executive said. “They’re that bad.’’
So when the Patriots enter Soldier Field, their line play on both sides of the ball could determine whether they post their fifth straight victory.
The Bears (9-3) already own a five-game winning streak, which began after the team’s bye week. You could say there was some sort of intervention between head coach Lovie Smith and offensive coordinator Mike Martz during the bye, because there’s a stark contrast in the offensive numbers before and after.
Prior to the bye, Bears quarterbacks (Walpole’s Todd Collins started against the Panthers when Cutler was out with a concussion) accounted for 15 turnovers in the first seven games.
Cutler has five turnovers (three interceptions, two fumbles) in the five games since the bye.
Before the week off, the Bears converted 17.9 percent of their third downs (15 of 84). That’s not a misprint. Chicago had two games in which it didn’t convert a third down.
During the winning streak, the Bears have converted 52.9 percent (36 of 68).
The third-down problem was twofold. In Cutler’s six starts before the bye, the Bears averaged just 19 rushing attempts — including those by Cutler.
And Martz, despite the obvious shortcomings on the line, continued to call plays with seven-step drops, as if Kurt Warner were still directing his “Greatest Show on Turf Except Against Bill Belichick’’ offenses with the St. Louis Rams.
Since Smith got in Martz’s ears, the Bears have averaged 27 carries with the effective duo of Matt Forte (4.2 yards per carry) and Chester Taylor. Forte, who has regained his rookie form from ’08, is slippery, quick, and equally adept at the quick draws and the pulls and traps Martz favors.
