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THURSDAY | NOVEMBER 10, 2016

Dynamic Duo? JAY CUTLER AND JORDAN HOWARD HOPE TO SPARK THE BEARS’ OFFENSE IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE SEASON

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PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2016

1 NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 2 DALLAS COWBOYS 3 KANSAS CITY CHIEFS 4 SEATTLE SEAHAWKS 5 OAKLAND RAIDERS 6 ATLANTA FALCONS 7 DENVER BRONCOS 8 MINNESOTA VIKINGS 9 PITTSBURGH STEELERS 10 NEW YORK GIANTS 11 HOUSTON TEXANS 12 GREEN BAY PACKERS 13 BALTIMORE RAVENS 14 DETROIT LIONS 15 WASHINGTON 16 PHILADELPHIA EAGLES 17 MIAMI DOLPHINS 18 BUFFALO BILLS 19 ARIZONA CARDINALS 20 CINCINNATI BENGALS 21 SAN DIEGO CHARGERS 22 NEW ORLEANS SAINTS 23 CAROLINA PANTHERS 24 INDIANAPOLIS COLTS 25 TENNESSEE TITANS 26 TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS 27 CHICAGO BEARS 28 LOS ANGELES RAMS 29 NEW YORK JETS 30 JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS 31 SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS 32 CLEVELAND BROWNS Don’t see anyone beating them right now Other than Pats, who else is better?

Defense, character, coaching, three-for-three Don’t know what to make of inconsistent offense Fit here now with quality win over Broncos Question is can defense keep them here?

Offense may not be good enough

Is this their last week in the top 10?

Let’s give Ben one more week to get healthy We know it looks strange but who else?

Win games they should – enough in AFC South Injuries – everybody’s got ‘em, what’s up here?

Ravens are at the top of the mediocre crop We’re going to have to take them seriously soon Tough to love, tough to write off

Power Rankings Welcome to our ProFootballWeekly.com NFL Week 10 Power Rankings

Please keep in mind as you read them they have nothing to do with who we think will be in the playoffs and Super Bowl, nor do they necessarily indicate who we think the best teams in the league are. These rankings are based on each team’s performance in the first five weeks of the season, players lost to injury and players expected to return soon.

AP PHOTO

Tape on Wentz now, not enough around him Starting to get it with Gase

Got a raw deal from refs in Seattle

There’s time but they better get hot soon

Somehow still just a half game out of first

All five losses by one score – should be 6-3 Something brewing here, but it still isn’t defense Is two-game win streak a trend?

Impressive at Lambeau but need to see more Young club on right track but a ways to go

Not consistent enough to trust; too many TOs Vikes win out of nowhere; need to see more What are they doing with Goff?

QB Derek Carr and the Oakland Raiders move up the rankings to #5 with their win over the Denver Broncos on Sunday

Look out, here comes Brandon Marshall effect

AP PHOTO

Shad Kahn, most patient owner in history?

So tell us, Jed, do you have a plan?

So why exactly didn’t they trade Joe Thomas?

Pro Football Weekly is produced by Shaw Media, the Daily Herald Media Group and the Chicago Sun-Times in partnership with other Illinois daily newspapers.

I

n many respects, Chicago Bears fans might want to treat this Sunday in Tampa as opening day of the season.

No, we can’t discount the Bears’ 2-6 start, nor should we. They are clearly an imperfect team that will miss the playoffs this year for the sixth consecutive season.

The exciting news, though, is that if we are to trust the reports from practice early in the week, the Bears will for the first time since opening day have their entire starting lineups available on both sides of the ball, with the exception of Kevin White, and they will also have Pernell McPhee and may invite Marquess Wilson to the party as well.

Now, allow me to digress for a moment – that 2-6 start was not a complete loss and injuries, while never an excuse, are still in some part to blame.

2015 rookies Adrian Amos, Bryce Callahan and Cameron Meredith appear to be keepers, and Eddie Goldman and Jeremy Langford did nothing to disappoint prior to suffering serious injuries.

Amos is never going to be special,

Deiondre’ Hall have all but he doesn’t get you shown enough to leave beat either, like Bears us wanting more. safeties of old Chris ConWe’ve also yet to see te, Major Wright, Craig the best of Kyle Long Steltz, Brandon Hardin, and Josh Sitton, or Brock Vereen, Al AfJerrell Freeman, Danalava, Brandon Merriny Trevathan, Wilweather, etc., etc. Wow! lie Young, Floyd and Goldman still looks McPhee all playing like a player who may be healthy together. special. Langford may There is some good still have great value in football coming if this a 1-2 running back comcoaching staff knows bo package and if White HUB ARKUSH what to do with these and Hroniss Grasu can players. ever stay healthy, the harkush@ProFootballWeekly.com @Hub_Arkush Vic Fangio is a stud class of ’15 can still be in the coaching ranks very good. who did more than we could expect This year’s rookies are more inwith the injuries that handcuffed him triguing. Jordan Howard is having an in the first half, and this defense could All-Rookie campaign with a 5.1-yard look pretty good by year’s end. average per carry that’s a hair better The question mark now is the boss, than Ezekiel Elliott.

John Fox, and his handpicked offenLeonard Floyd has struggled to stay sive coordinator Dowell Loggains. on the field and isn’t ready to be a fourThe suggestion the Bears might be down linebacker – and might never be better with Brian Hoyer starting than – but he’s shown the quick-twitch pass Cutler was asinine when Fox alluded rush ability he was drafted for. to it and it is now.

Cody Whitehair is a stud and JonWe don’t know what the position athan Bullard, Nick Kwiatkoski and

GOING ON VACATION? Keep in touch with the news of the Sauk Valley

will look like next year, but they’re absolutely better now with a healthy Cutler back.

Why the Bears were among the five worst teams in the NFL in run/pass ratio the first half of the season until they threw 32 times and ran 28 against the Vikings is a mystery.

That Howard only got 22 carries total versus Jacksonville and Green Bay leading up to the Vikings explosion after back-to-back 100-yard games was inexcusable.

That Fox has tried to blame the media for a quarterback controversy of his own making and his strained relationship with Cutler is a joke. It’s also troubling that he is too often MIA when a clock needs to be managed or a challenge flag needs to be thrown.

But a breath of fresh air blew through Chicago while the Bears were on break and the Cubs became champs, and the Bucs offer a re-boot for these Bears.

It is over the next eight weeks this 2016 season will be judged and grades will be earned. We will learn in which direction this football team is, in fact, trending.

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PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2016

Bears can maintain their momentum, start second half on a high note in Tampa

PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2016

Bears rushing offense vs Buccaneers run defense Jordan Howard exploded for 153 yards in Week 8, and that came against a vaunted Vikings front seven and with Pro Bowl guards Kyle Long and Josh Sitton watching from the sideline. The guard duo may be back for Sunday against a Bucs defense giving up 117.9 rushing yards per game at an average 4.1 yards per touch. With Howard finding his stride and Jeremy Langford and Ka’Deem Carey healthy, the Bears are set up to be the runfirst team they should be. The key vs. Tampa is

nearly 5 yards per carry on runs over right guard, so if Long is back, the Bears could hammer it in that direction.

EDGE

preventing star linebacker Lavonte David from making stops behind the line – he has 10 on the season. Tampa is bad against the pass – we’ll get to that in a moment – so teams don’t need to necessarily beat them on the ground. The Bucs allow

u BEARS

Bears passing offense vs Buccaneers pass defense Two weeks after facing the league’s No. 1-ranked pass defense, the Bears get to face a Bucs group that is 30th in opponent passer rating (103.5) and has given up 18 passing touchdowns to four inter-

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7:25 p.m. Thursday, NFL Network

LB says they won’t go 0-16, so Browns have that going for them, which is nice; Ravens atop middling North and getting healthier.

CHIEFS AT PANTHERS 12:00 p.m. Sunday, CBS

Reid can’t get Smith, Ware, Maclin back soon enough; Panthers’ D balling but Cam’s protection still issue with aggressive Chiefs next.

TEXANS AT JAGUARS 12:00 p.m. Sunday, CBS

If Houston is to be taken seriously, it’ll go on the road and bury the Jaguars. If Shad Khan wants his fans to buy what he’s selling, Gus Bradley has to go.

BRONCOS AT SAINTS 12:00 p.m. Sunday, CBS

Losing Derek Wolfe is devastating for a sinking run ‘D;’ Breaux and Rankins didn’t fix Saints’ ‘D’ but a win’s a win.

RAMS AT JETS 12:00 p.m. Sunday, FOX

Prepare to be treated to the NFL’s two most embarrasing QB situations. The worst part? Both teams refuse to even look at high-profile rookies.

Jordan Howard

AP PHOTOS

Lavonte David

ceptions. Jay Cutler will be 13 days healthier and could have Sitton and Long back for protection purposes, as well as Eddie Royal (toe), who had been extremely productive when in the lineup. Tampa’s pass rush gets its spark from veteran Gerald McCoy (four sacks) and rookie Noah Spence (three sacks), but as a team the Bucs are middling rushing the passer. Rookie corner Vernon Hargreaves III – a player some thought the Bears would target – joins a veteran and ball-hawking cornerback group with Alterraun Verner and Brent Grimes. The physical Grimes has good ball skills (12 passes defensed) and will provide a tough matchup for Alshon Jeffery, but the Bears’ wideout will have a size advantage.

EDGE

u BEARS

Buccaneers rushing offense vs Bears run defense Without Doug Martin, the Bucs actually found success with Jacquizz Rodgers and Peyton Barber, going through a hodgepodge of backs to still run well – up until last week, that is. Barber averaged 2.8 yards on his 11 carries against Atlanta. Rodgers is out with a foot injury and Martin didn’t practice Monday because of his hamstring injury, leaving his status in question. The O-line is solid with second-year players Ali Marpet and Donovan Smith, but without Martin, it’s not the same kind of attack, putting more pressure on the passing game. Last year, the Bears bottled up Martin, holding him to 2.9 yards per carry. The Bears should get nose tackle Eddie Goldman back for a group that has been very impressive vs. the run over the past few games – aside from the second half vs. Green Bay. Danny Trevathan should be in better shape, along with Pernell McPhee setting the edge. The Bears’ strength is in the front seven, and that should guide them in keeping the undermanned Bucs backfield from doing much on the ground.

EDGE

u BEARS

FALCONS AT EAGLES 12:00 p.m. Sunday, FOX

Buccaneers passing offense vs Bears pass defense

Matt Ryan can do no wrong lately. Carson Wentz can do no right. So it goes for MVP candidates and most rookie QBs (just keep being you, Dak).

Jameis Winston’s numbers vs. Atlanta look pretty good – three touchdowns, no interceptions, 110.3 rating. However, that came against a pretty mediocre Atlanta pass defense, and the Bucs still lost. Winston has a rocket arm, but his accuracy is shaky at 59.2 percent. The Bears held Winston to 15-of-29 passing in last season’s meeting. Winston has been sacked 19 times and is on pace to hit the turf way more than last year’s 27 sacks. The Bears are getting better each week in the pass rush, too. Tampa’s best player is Mike Evans, who went off for 150 yards vs. the Falcons. He’ll likely face off against Tracy Porter, presenting a challenge to the Bears’ top corner with his size, speed and massive catch radius, allowing Evans to catch anything in his direction.

The Bucs are thin at pass catcher behind Evans, though, with players like Adam Humphries, Cecil Shorts and Cameron Brate as other options for Winston to target. The Bears should get Bryce Callahan back, but the secondary is still green outside Porter and isn’t making enough impact plays with only four picks. This is a close matchup, but we lean to the Bucs because of what Evans is capable of on the outside.

BEARS AT BUCCANEERS

EDGE

u BUCCANEERS

Sunday’s overall edge The Bears won’t be the only team well-rested, as the Bucs get a mini-bye coming off their Thursday night loss to the Falcons, and they have home-field advantage, but that’s about it.

This is a Tampa team that still lacks talent facing a Bears team that is as healthy and as confident as it has been all season long. Keep an eye on the red zone, where the Bears struggle to score points, but the Bucs’ defense is 28th in the league inside the 20. It’s weakness vs. weakness – the Bucs give up 29 points per game and the Bears score 16.4 points a game. Something has to give.

EDGE

u BEARS

12:00 p.m. Sunday, FOX

Strong-armed, risk-taking QBs with physically dominant No. 1 WRs unite. The Leonard Floyd-Vernon Hargreaves III subplot is also interesting.

PACKERS AT TITANS 12:00 p.m. Sunday, FOX

Get well game for Aaron Rodgers and the Packers? If not, things could go completely off the rails, not unlike the Marcus Mariota roller coaster in Week 9.

VIKINGS AT WASHINGTON 12:00 p.m. Sunday, FOX

Minnesota, desperately needs to stop the bleeding, travels to face a well-rested and quietly improving Washington club.

DOLPHINS AT CHARGERS 4:05 p.m. Sunday, CBS

Adam Gase links up with old boss Mike McCoy, both of whom have unlocked their second-year tailbacks.

49ERS AT CARDINALS 4:25 p.m. Sunday, FOX

Colin Kaepernick will have to do it against a real defense before anyone gets excited; Arizona can’t view this one, or any of its remaining games, as a layup.

COWBOYS AT STEELERS 3:25 p.m. Sunday, FOX

Big Ben’s Steelers might be looking to borrow some of Dak’s and Zeke’s mojo after complete clunker in Baltimore. Dallas secondary vulnerable – but Roethlisberger healthy enough?

SEAHAWKS AT PATRIOTS 7:30 p.m. Sunday, NBC

Tough putt for Seahawks, on short rest and traveling cross country, but rest assured they’ll get up for this Super Bowl rematch, chance to punish Brady.

BENGALS AT GIANTS 7:30 p.m. Monday, ESPN

Seems like an eternity since Cincinnati’s tie in London, just extra time to prepare its pestering plan for Odell, who has 30 TDs in his first 35 games.

TEAMS ON BYE

Buffalo, Detroit, Indianapolis, Oakland

PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2016

BROWNS AT RAVENS

PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2016

(-1 1/2) Hub

Kevin

Arthur

Bob

Adam

Pro Football Weekly

Pro Football Weekly

Pro Football Weekly

Daily Herald

Chicago Sun-Times

ARKUSH

FISHBAIN

ARKUSH

LEGERE

JAHNS

Bears 27 Buccaneers 24

Bears 29 Buccaneers 23

Bears 24 Buccaneers 20

Bears 23 Buccaneers 17

Bears 24 Buccaneers 17

Bears defense is steadily improving and I really believe getting Eddie Goldman back is huge.

You wouldn’t know the Bears are 2-6. They’re healthy and confident, and the Bucs are not.

Bears’ new triplets – Cutler, Jeffery, Howard – overwhelm weak Bucs ‘D,’ giving Chicago its first win streak in a year.

A healthy and well-rested Bears team is better than a Bucs team that has been awful at home.

The Bears are finally healthy, and they kick off a favorable second-half schedule against an underperforming Bucs team.

SEASON RECORD: 5-3 SEASON VS. SPREAD: 4-4

SEASON RECORD: 5-3 SEASON VS. SPREAD: 3-5

SEASON RECORD: 5-3 SEASON VS. SPREAD: 5-2-1

SEASON RECORD: 4-4 SEASON VS. SPREAD: 4-4

SEASON RECORD: 4-4 SEASON VS. SPREAD: 2-5-1

Jon

Kristin

Eric

Dan

Kyle

The Herald-News

Kendall County Record

Daily Chronicle

Pro Football Weekly

Kankakee Daily Journal

STYF

SHARP

OLSON

McCALEB

NABORS

Bears 21 Buccaneers 17

Bears 23 Buccaneers 20

Bears 24 Buccaneers 21

Bears 21 Buccaneers 20

Bears 20 Buccaneers 21

I’m getting worse at this just as the Bears are getting better. We’ll see what the bye did for them.

More confident after Minnesota, and healthier after the bye week – we’ll have a Bears win streak on our hands.

Tampa is defensively challenged, its offensive stars are banged up, and John Fox usually wins after bye weeks.

This is a tough one. I’ll say advantage Bears coming off the bye week.

Mike Evans is fantastic and will push the Bears’ young secondary to its limit.

SEASON RECORD: 7-1 SEASON VS. SPREAD: 6-2

SEASON RECORD: 3-5 SEASON VS. SPREAD: 3-5

SEASON RECORD: 3-5 SEASON VS. SPREAD: 3-5

SEASON RECORD: 5-3 SEASON VS. SPREAD: 5-3

SEASON RECORD: 6-2 SEASON VS. SPREAD: 4-4

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PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2016

McPhee’s return impacts OLBs, rest of Bears defense

A

sked about outside linebacker Pernell McPhee’s comeback, Bears coach John Fox brought up the play of quarterback Jay Cutler.

“When you don’t play football for that length of time, there’s some rust element to your game, not even counting the health factor,” Fox said this week at Halas Hall. “With Jay last week, he hadn’t played in five games.

He played well enough for us to win, and that was important. He’ll just get better as we go, like Pernell.

“I know you asked about Pernell.

But they’re all very similar in just getting the rust off, as far as their game.”

No position is more important than quarterback, but it was a fair comparison made by Fox. McPhee means that much to the Bears’ defense.

It’s a unit that’s simply better with him involved, similar to how the offense is more formidable with Cutler under center.

McPhee hasn’t played much. He is only two games and 44 plays into his return from the physically-un able-to-perform list, which he began

the season on after un coming around the edge, and he’s still explosive dergoing surgery on his and violent,” Hurtt said. left knee in the offseason and an arduous rehabilThe Bears will close itation process. But his ly monitor McPhee. His participation matters. longevity and durability “It makes a world of remain concerns. Hurtt difference,” outside lineanticipates a play count every week, but McPhee backers coach Clintt also improves their rotaHurtt said. “The atti tude, the edginess that he tion at outside linebacker. brings to the defense, it’s Willie Young, Sam Acho infectious. You saw that and rookie Leonard Floyd last year, and it continwon’t be overextended.

ADAM JAHNS ajahns@ww.com ued on this year. It’s just “Everybody can play @ajahns part of who he is.” full tilt,” Hurtt said.

McPhee isn’t quite There will be times himself yet. That will come in time. when McPhee, Floyd and Young are His sack of Vikings quarterback on the field at the same time. It’s a Sam Bradford in the Bears’ 20-10 matchup nightmare for opposing win helped eliminate doubts. It was teams that didn’t exist in the first a strong, forceful move to the inside eight weeks. It will be an intense situof right tackle T.J. Clemmings that ation for offenses to handle.

Hurtt described as “absolutely oldAnd that starts with having an inschool Pernell.” tense McPhee back.

McPhee lost more than 20 pounds “For me, I look at him and I’m like, during his recovery to help his knee.

‘OK, he’s ready to roll,’ ” Hurtt said.

But Hurtt said it didn’t diminish his “I think his teammates look at him power. and are like, ‘I better not screw this up.’ You know with dealing with “He’s so much lighter and faster

him. It’s good for us to have that back out there.”

•••

Offensive line coach Dave Magazu had a great quote last week: “If you’re an offensive lineman and you’re invisible, that’s a great thing. If their name’s not getting announced, that means you’re probably doing your job, and that’s a good thing.”

Guards Josh Sitton and Kyle Long are the line’s head-liners, but two names came to mind with Magazu’s words: left tackle Charles Leno Jr. and rookie center Cody Whitehair.

•••

The Bears have plenty of young players to monitor over the final eight games. It’s crucial that they play and develop. That’s what this season is all about.

And second-year cornerback Bryce Callahan is part of that conversation.

The Bears see a starter in Callahan.

But he can’t stay healthy. He’s seemingly always dealing with something.

His development relies on his durability. He needs to prove he can stay on the field.

Bears ‘D’ gets boost having Goldman back

I

t’s way too soon for Bears fans to even consider such lofty concepts as “run the table,” or “win out,” or “mathematically alive.”

But a defense that played sur prisingly well in the first half of the season, despite being short-handed, enters the final eight games very close to full strength. Through the first eight games, the Bears’ defense ranks in the upper half of every major statistical category except interceptions.

And reinforcements are on the way after the off week allowed multiple injured and nicked up players to heal.

“We’ve got a whole half of a sea son left,” Bears coach John Fox said.

“Like the second half of a game, a lot can happen. There’s not as big a difference (between teams) sometimes as people on the outside might think.

(The NFC North) is there for the taking.”

There are plenty of reasons for Fox’s optimism.

Nose tackle Eddie Goldman is back at practice after missing six games.

to minor injuries (and So is cornerback Bryce lost) some of that develCallahan, who missed two full games and parts opmental time. But he’s of two others with a nagput a couple weeks to ging hamstring injury. gether where he’s been Outside linebacker able to practice and obviPernell McPhee took a ously perform in games, huge step vs. the Vikings and we’re seeing more in his second game back consistency as we move after missing the first forward.” six. He had a sack and a The combination of forced fumble among his Floyd and McPhee has four quarterback hits afgoosed the Bears’ pass rush up to 13th in the ter knocking off the rust BOB LeGERE league. in an uneventful first rlegere@dailyherald.com @BobLeGere “We’re better with game back. those guys out there,” Rookie Leonard Floyd Fox said. “They’ve been a boost for has also come on strong in the past us. Getting those two guys back out two games with three sacks after there increases our depth and keeps missing the previous two weeks with us fresher as far as guys we’re rolla calf injury. The first-round pick has been dogged by several nagging ining through there, in what we call a wave.” juries since training camp, but the Getting the 6-foot-4, 320-pound more he plays, the more productive Goldman back makes the Bears more he’s become. stout against the run and also helps “It’s just a comfort level with the the pass rush. The 2015 second-round speed and strength of the game,” pick was fourth on the team with 4½ Fox said of Floyd. “(It’s) adapting to sacks as a rookie. what we’re asking from him scheme“He’s a young player that was getfit-wise. He had some setbacks due

ting better with every outing,” Fox said. “It’ll be good to have him back if that’s the case. It’s just getting in football shape.”

The entire defensive line would benefit from Goldman’s return, as would the linebackers playing be hind him who would be freed up by Goldman’s ability to absorb blockers.

“Eddie’s an awesome dude,” said defensive end Akiem Hicks. “He has a great mind for the game, and he’s strong. He plays the game really well for a guy so young. The sky’s the limit for that guy, and I can’t wait for him to get back out there.”

Goldman can’t wait to get back either, and says he’s ready this week to join a unit that has played well and has the potential to get even better.

“I just want to add on to that defensive mentality,” Goldman said.

“I just want to get out there, make a couple of plays and celebrate with the team.”

After a 2-6 first half, a healthier Bears defense could have more to celebrate over the final eight games.

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ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2016

PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY |

If NFL offenses improve, so will ratings By

J.C. TALON

T

Fantasy writer | ProFootballWeekly.com

he NFL wonders why ratings are down.

Here’s a clue: let’s look at the number of absolutely wretched teams versus the number of truly quality teams.

Wretched: Browns, Rams, Bears, Bucs, 49ers, Jaguars, Jets.

Quality: Patriots, and maybe the Cowboys and/or the Raiders.

On top of the obvious imbalance toward the inept, the Vikings, Ravens, Seahawks, Broncos, Texans and Cardinals are competitive, but have anemic offenses. Too many games are offensive to fans craving offense. Reduced practice schedules, increased injury rates and too many Thursday games are all contributing to the reduced quality. The NFL needs to come up with a solution, or 2016 will be a turning point, and not just a blip on the radar.

Oh boy, and it’s the Browns at Ravens on Thursday night! That should do wonders for those ratings. One bad team and two bad offenses on a night meant for hockey and basketball.

On to Week 10 …

MATCHUPS TO EXPLOIT Chicago Bears

OPPONENT: AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS, SUNDAY, NOON This is Chicago’s first (and perhaps only) 2016 appearance as an “exploit.” Tampa’s defense gives up 29 points and nearly 400 yards per game. With Jay Cutler back, the Bucs will have to respect the deep throw and that should open up running lanes for Jordan Howard. The Bears are coming off a bye and will be a little healthier than they’ve been in recent games. There is no truth to the rumor that Joe Maddon is going to pull Cutler too early and sub in Aroldis Chapman.

MUST START: Howard, Alshon Jeffery SOLID PLAY: Zach Miller WORTH A LOOK: Cutler, Eddie Royal*, Cameron Meredith (if no Royal) LAST RESORT: Jeremy Langford, Meredith (if Royal active), Connor Barth STAY AWAY: Bears D/ST

San Diego Chargers

OPPONENT: VS MIAMI DOLPHINS, SUNDAY, 3:05 Philip Rivers and the Chargers are having a remarkable season – on offense, at least. They are ranked ninth in yards and third in scoring. They’ve been held under 20 points just once this season (they scored 19 against Denver in Week 8) and have crested 30 points five times. They are coming off a 43-point outburst against a decent Tennessee defense. Miami is average on defense – they are ranked 17th overall, but a miserable 30th against the run. This looks like a great matchup for Melvin Gordon. We told you that Antonio Gates was running on fumes, but perhaps we were a bit hasty. If Hunter Henry (knee) remains out, Gates is a top-five TE. MUST START: Gordon, Gates (if no Henry) SOLID PLAY: Rivers, Josh Lambo WORTH A LOOK: Travis Benjamin*, Tyrell Williams, Gates (if Henry active), Chargers D/ST LAST RESORT: Dontrelle Inman, Henry*

Dallas Cowboys

OPPONENT: AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS, SUNDAY, 3:25 Powered by an elite rushing attack, the Cowboys and their offense may be the biggest surprise of the 2016 season. Despite being piloted by a rookie QB, Dallas is producing 411 yards and 28 points per game. The old adage suggests that a running game travels well and that certainly is the case here. The Cowboys and their top-ranked ground game are 4-0 on the road this season. Pittsburgh has lost three in a row and has not looked good since Week 5. Their defense is a below average 24th overall against the pass. They are a bit better versus the run (13th). Gut instinct has us suspecting this is going to be a close, high-scoring game.

MUST START: Ezekiel Elliott SOLID PLAY: Dak Prescott, Dez Bryant, Jason Witten, Dan Bailey WORTH A LOOK: Cole Beasley LAST RESORT: Terrance Williams STAY AWAY: Alfred Morris, Cowboys D/ST

Arizona Cardinals

OPPONENT: VS SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS, SUNDAY, 3:25 Remember the scene in the movie “Airplane” when all of the passengers were standing in line to smack the hysterical passenger? The San Francisco defense is basically the hysterical passenger. The Cardinals’ offense was terrible in a Week 7 tie with Seattle and a Week 8 loss to Carolina. Fresh off a bye week and facing the woeful 49ers (at home), Arizona should snap out of its funk, if only for one week.

MUST START: David Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals D/ST SOLID PLAY: Carson Palmer, John Brown, Chandler Catanzaro WORTH A LOOK: Michael Floyd LAST RESORT: J.J. Nelson

ALSO CONSIDER Baltimore Ravens

OPPONENT: VS CLEVELAND BROWNS, THURSDAY, 7:25 The 2016 Ravens offer few viable fantasy options, and this game should be nearly unwatchable. This week, however, they will be facing the league’s worst team at home. The Ravens D/ST is a must start and Justin Tucker is a solid play. In larger leagues, Mike Wallace, Terrance West and Dennis Pitta are reasonable options.

New York Giants

OPPONENT: VS CINCINNATI BENGALS, MONDAY, 7:30 The Bengals are a disappointing 24th on defense.

The Giants have no semblance of a run game, but Eli Manning and Sterling Shepard are intriguing options in this game. OBJ remains a must start.

MATCHUPS TO AVOID Kansas City Chiefs

OPPONENT: AT CAROLINA PANTHERS, SUNDAY, NOON A couple of weeks ago, Carolina was on the verge of collapse. But after a solid defeat of Arizona at home and a good defensive effort against a bad team in L.A., the Panthers are hoping to claw back into the playoff hunt. Kansas City is on its own four-game

run and will not be a pushover. The Chiefs are battling through significant injuries on offense, including QB Alex Smith, RBs Spencer Ware and Jamaal Charles and top wideout Jeremy Maclin. Charles is on IR, but the status of Smith, Ware and Maclin was undetermined as of press time. Even if all three play, this is a below-average matchup against a team that has been playing better of late.

MUST START: Ware* (if active) SOLID PLAY: Travis Kelce WORTH A LOOK: Smith* (if active), Charcandrick West (if no Ware), Maclin* (if active), Cairo Santos, Chiefs D/ST LAST RESORT:Nick Foles (if no Smith) STAY AWAY: West (if Ware active)

Los Angeles Rams

OPPONENT: AT NEW YORK JETS, SUNDAY, NOON It’s easy to understand how the Rams have lost four in a row and five overall. What’s a real head-scratcher is how in the world they won three straight games during Weeks 2-4. Their offense is ranked 31st in yards and dead-last in points with just 16.2 per game. Todd Gurley – selected first in many fantasy drafts – is averaging 3.1 yards per carry and his longest run of the season is 18 (yes, 18) yards! The bulk of Gurley’s ineffectiveness can be blamed on the O-line – Gurley is gaining just 1.34 yards before first contact, the lowest rate in the NFL. The passing game is just as bad – Case Keenum has thrown 9 Todd Gurley TDs against 11 picks, and his 77.2 QBR is among the lowest in the league. The Jets’ 13th-ranked overall defense is fourth versus the run, allowing just 81 rushing yards per game. Maybe the Rams turn to Jared Goff this week, but will it really make a difference?

MUST START: none SOLID PLAY: Gurley WORTH A LOOK: Lance Kendricks, Rams D/ST LAST RESORT: Kenny Britt, Tavon Austin STAY AWAY: Keenum, Greg Zuerlein

ALSO BEWARE New York Jets

OPPONENT: AT LOS ANGELES RAMS, SUNDAY, NOON The Fitzpatrick vs. Marshall heated exchange last Sunday came as a surprise to absolutely no one in Chicago. The Jets are sputtering and the Rams have enough defensive talent – albeit talent that is poorly coached – to keep this a low-scoring affair.

Minnesota Vikings

OPPONENT: AT WASHINGTON, SUNDAY, NOON Washington’s 22nd-ranked defense is not one fantasy owners would normally steer clear of, but Minnesota’s offense is bad enough right now that no matchup could be considered favorable. In fact, the Vikings’ once ferocious defense has spent so much time on the field it is no longer a fantasy lock.

* — Check injury status

By JOHN

SAHLY

W

jsahly@shawmedia.com

e are nine weeks into the NFL season, as good a time as any to do a bit of a wellness check when it comes to bias and how we approach who we are attacking when we roster players in daily fantasy sports.

By now, most of your preseason assumptions have either been confirmed or rejected. But just in case, let’s go over a few that can help you when it comes to selecting players and finding values going forward.

Assumption No. 1: The Denver Broncos have an elite defense.

This is half-true. I’m still pretty much never rostering wide receivers against the “No Fly Zone” of the Broncos’ secondary. Denver remains the best in the league against wide receivers in fantasy, allowing just 9.6 points.

But against the run? I’m actually looking to attack the Broncos where I can. They’ve allowed back-to-back 100-plus yard rushers in Melvin Gordon and Latavius Murray. Denver is a bottom-eight defense in fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs. Next up is the Saints and their timeshare of Mark Ingram and Tim Hightower. Both RBs are reasonably priced in a game with an over/under set at 49 as of press time.

Assumption No. 2: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a funnel defense Before the season, the Bucs were a popular pick

us r o ci fo ! i l s e ck h � D a t Sn al He

to attack against the pass, but to stay away from when it comes to the run game.

That hasn’t turned out to be true. Tampa is still awful against the pass, evidenced by Derek Carr’s 513 yards and four touchdowns a couple of weeks ago. But the Bucs can’t stop the run, either. They give up the seventh-most points to running backs, and most of that comes on the ground rather than on checkdown catches by RBs. Next up: Look at Jordan Howard and the Bears against Tampa. Howard is priced toward the top of the mid-range, but may be a contrarian pick this week in a lower-total game.

Assumption No. 3: Aaron Rodgers is always a safe play The Packers’ leader just doesn’t look the same this year, does he? The struggles we saw toward the end of last year have continued into this season, and as long as he remains priced as one of the top three quarterbacks, I can’t really justify paying up for him.

Rodgers has thrown for 300 yards just once this season, and before that you have to go all the way back to Week 10 of 2015 for another 300-yard game.

He’s missing on some of his big shots down the field, and although he’s added some rushing yards to the mix the past two weeks, the high ceiling just isn’t there anymore.

It’s not like Rodgers has been awful, he just hasn’t been Aaron Rodgers for a large enough sample size, so your daily fantasy salary cap dollars are best spent elsewhere.

AP PHOTO

Aaron Rodgers

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PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2016

DFS: Challenging some assumptions... before it’s too late

PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2016

By

ARTHUR ARKUSH OVERVIEW

The Packers are .500 past the midway point of the season for the first time since Aaron Rodgers had his collarbone broken by Shea McClellin three years ago. Perhaps Green Bay could’ve used McClellin on Sunday, as its ‘D’ couldn’t get the ball back late for Rodgers to continue a furious comeback in a 31-26 home loss to Indianapolis. The offense was ineffective for two-plus quarters, until Indianapolis took its foot off the gas, a familiar refrain for a unit whose uneven showings are the new norm. Afterwards, Rodgers lamented a “lack of juice” from him and his cohorts. Though that gripe also aptly describes the offense and pass rush, Rodgers meant Green Bay lacked energy from the outset. That’s an ominous admission from the leader of a club whose seven-year playoff streak, tied with New England for the NFL’s longest, would end if the season did today.

Marcus Mariota, after four touchdowns but three giveaways in a 43-35 loss in San Diego, reunites with Packers rookie ILB Blake Martinez, who had a game-high 14 tackles, though it was Oregon and Mariota who ran over Stanford two years ago. Dom Capers’ defenses have endured well-documented issues with mobile QBs in recent seasons. Martinez and Jake Ryan, second-level catalysts for the NFL’s top run ‘D,’ must stop both Mariota and AFC rushing leader DeMarco Murray.

OVERVIEW

The improvements of Pat Shurmur’s spedup offense were offset by another defensive and special teams disappointment. A home upset in overtime courtesy of the Lions leaves Minnesota teetering in a three-game funk with no clear answers, save for perhaps replacing PK Blair Walsh.

Was his league-leading third missed PAT, plus a low blocked FG, in a six-point loss the final straw?

Another poor outing by Xavier Rhodes, Anthony Barr and Minnesota’s pass defense aren’t easily correctable ahead of a trip to Washington’s No. 7 offense. Sam Bradford and his protection, after steadying in what was ultimately a respite from Detroit’s porous defense, will again be in the crosshairs against Washington’s improving pass ‘D.’ But Minnesota needed its defense, not an offense in flux following Norv Turner’s abrupt resignation, to pick the Vikings up after getting embarrassed at Soldier Field. Minnesota’s dominant start seems like a distant memory.

Barr and Harrison Smith, two of Minnesota’s stronger defenders, offered weak resistance against Lions tight end Eric Ebron. Slowing Jordan Reed represents a significantly tougher challenge. Bears fans have tried to forget the fits Reed gave Chicago last season in the middle of the field, where Ebron thrived. Despite missing Weeks 6-7 with a concussion, Reed’s 42 catches ranks second among all tight ends behind Greg Olsen.

QB: Matthew Stafford, with four comebacks in the past five weeks, has a career-best interception percentage (1.6) and passer rating (101.6). He’s been elite (shudder) for more than a calendar year. Grade: A RB: Theo Riddick and Dwayne Washington have flashed, but Detroit’s ground game remains mostly for show. Grade: C+ WR: Marvin Jones starred early, Golden Tate has picked it up late and Anquan Boldin and Andre Roberts have made timely contributions. A mega void, there isn’t. Grade: B TE: Eric Ebron is starting to resemble a former first-rounder the past two weeks but durability and inconsistency concerns remain. Grade: BOL: They’re coming on in pass pro with a pair of rookies on the left side, and C Travis Swanson is arguably Detroit’s most improved performer. The run game remains M.I.A. Grade: C+ DL: Ezekiel Ansah owes Kerry Hyder a hearty thank you.

This group should improve with Ansah and Haloti Ngata getting healthier. Grade: CLB: Tahir Whitehead and Josh Bynes sure could use DeAndre Levy’s help covering TEs – a novel concept after permitting 10(!) touchdowns to the position. Grade: C CB: They aren’t taking it away but they aren’t the problem, either. Darius Slay has been defense’s clutch version of Stafford, while Nevin Lawson’s star is rising. Grade: BS: Glover Quin and Tavon Wilson have been increasingly active. That TE problem, though… Grade: C+ ST: Matt Prater and Sam Martin might be the league’s best kicking combo. Grade: A COACHES: Remember the Jim Caldwell hot seat talk after that dud at Soldier Field?

We don’t either. The resolve of Caldwell’s troops under fire, and Stafford’s rapport with Jim Bob Cooter, has bought this staff time. Grade: B+

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T

he Philadelphia Eagles were one of the biggest surprises of the first half of the 2016 season, but after their 3-0 start behind rookie quarterback Carson Wentz, they have dropped four of their last five.

The Way We Hear It, there is concern in Philly that while they are excited about the future with Wentz, for all his wheeling and dealing, Howie Roseman just wasn’t able to put enough around him to contend this season.

Wentz’s numbers are pedestrian with just nine touchdowns and five interceptions at the halfway point in large part because of the mediocre talent he has to work with at wide receiver. Among Jordan Matthews, Nelson Agholor and Dorial Green-Beckham, none is really more than a No. 3 receiver currently.

Ryan Mathews has had some nice spurts at running back, but his track record argues you can’t count on him to stay healthy, and his 76 carries to date are just nine per game.

At 33, Darren Sproles hasn’t been a factor running the ball for a couple seasons now, and neither Wendell Smallwood nor Kenjon Barner is likely to emerge as a workhorse back.

Philly’s biggest problems may be up front, where Lane Johnson is not quite halfway through his 10game suspension after receiving a six-year, $63 million contract extension this offseason with $35 million guaranteed, although there are reports the guaranteed money in the deal may be nullified by the suspension.

Left tackle Jason Peters, for a long time the best in the business, will be 35 in January and is moving down the backside of the hill quickly.

Most of the scouts we’re talking to are telling us the Eagles’ best football this year is behind them and there will be some heavy lifting to do on the offensive side of the ball this offseason.

IS WASHINGTON MOVING BACKWARD, TOO?

While Washington has played much better than the Eagles lately – 4-1-1 in their past six games – their last two are a tie with the Bengals in London, which followed a last minute loss at Detroit. And the club’s schedule now gets a lot more difficult.

Washington’s next six games are versus Minnesota and Green Bay at home, then at Dallas, Arizona and Philly and then home against Carolina.

The Way We’re Hearing It right now from sources in the nation’s capital is there is real concern how Washington will fare in the next four with Pro Bowl Trent Williams left tackle Trent Williams suspended, right tackle Morgan Moses battling a gimpy ankle and running back Matt Jones hobbled as well.

Folks are telling us Washington has nobody ready to step in for Williams and play anywhere

struggled through most of the first part of the season, hitting the halfway mark with just nine touchdowns, nine interceptions, a meager 5.8 yards per pass average and a 73.1 passer rating.

If Osweiler were a rookie, the Texans might not be as concerned, but while he only played in 21 games and had just seven starts, he did spend four seasons in Denver and should be a lot further along than he is.

Osweiler’s three worst performances have all come on the road – admittedly against tough teams in New England, Minnesota and Denver – where he’s thrown just one touchdown pass, two interceptions and has failed to post a passer rat- Brock Osweiler ing higher than 60.6.

The concern we’re hearing around Houston right now is the Texans will play four of their next five coming off the bye on the road, at Jacksonville, Oakland, Green Bay and Indianapolis, and the Colts and Titans are both within a game-and-ahalf of Houston in the AFC South.

ARE THE CHIEFS JUST STARTING TO COME AROUND?

AP PHOTO

Philadelphia’s offensive line has been set back

by LT Lane Johnson’s 10-game suspension

near his level. And while Ty Nsekhe will try, it doesn’t bode well for Kirk Cousins and the Washington offense.

Nsekhe is the ultimate journeyman, playing just his second season in the NFL at the age of 31 and many around the team are less than confident he can protect Cousins’ blind side.

TIME FOR THE TEXANS TO WORRY ABOUT OSWEILER? The word around Houston coming into this season was the Texans had finally fixed their offense with the addition of Brock Osweiler as their franchise quarterback, Lamar Miller to be the next Arian Foster, and Will Fuller to complement DeAndre Hopkins and make teams think twice about double-teaming him.

Miller has been even better than the Texans could have hoped, at least when they remember to give him the ball. When healthy, Fuller has looked like he could someday be a No. 1 receiver even though he was drafted to be a No. 2.

Adding to all of that has been the emergence of C.J. Fiedorowicz, a third-round pick out of Iowa in 2014 who had been a blocking tight end but has become a factor in the passing game as well.

But Osweiler has been inconsistent and has

There was real disappointment in Kansas City last week when Jamaal Charles was sent back to the injured reserve list, but the Way We Hear It, the Chiefs are still feeling pretty good about the future with other key contributors just getting healthy.

Kansas City has been the picture of efficiency, racing out to a 6-2 record with its only two losses at Houston Week 2 in a revenge game from the beating they put on the Texans in last year’s wild-card game, and an ugly Week 4 loss at Pittsburgh.

The Chiefs have consistently done enough to win, with contributions coming from all over the depth chart. Their smallest margin of victory has been five points.

Head coach Andy Reid said Monday that quarterback Alex Smith will return Sunday when the Chiefs travel to Carolina, and we’re hearing the reinforcements will be a lot more than just Smith.

Spencer Ware and Jeremy Maclin are also expected back from injuries and, perhaps most importantly, there is a chance All-Pro Justin Houston OLB Justin Houston will see his first action of the season after a serious knee injury cut his 2015 campaign short.

The Chiefs’ defense is tops in the NFL in interception percentage, but the club is just 20th in QB sack percentage. When healthy, Houston is among the best pure pass rushers in the NFL. Where the Chiefs’ defense has struggled has been in stopping the run. While known principally as a pass rusher, Houston will also be a significant upgrade for the Chiefs against the run.

PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2016

Eagles starting to look toward next year?

PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2016

GOING ON VACATION? Keep in touch with the news of the Sauk Valley

Which Bears rookies should we see more of down the stretch?

NATE ATKINS KEVIN FISHBAIN no NFL team, no matter how brutal, could ever do the same. But you’re right about the Bears: barring an eightgame win streak, the most significant thing they can do in the second half is develop players for the future. Bullard is coming off his best game, for sure, and has a chance to join Leonard Floyd, Cody Whitehair and Jordan Howard on the Bears list of successful picks. I’m curious to watch Deon Bush, who has started to earn a Sunday jersey; in July, we thought he’d be starting by now. Short of Floyd, is Cre’Von LeBlanc the Bears’ best rookie defender?

They didn’t even draft him!

Fishbain: Deon Bush got one defensive snap against

PATRICK FINLEY FINLEY PATRICK

Bullard, Bush among Bears rookies who could see more time in second half Minnesota – baby steps! – but I imagine he can earn more opportunities. Adrian Amos has been solid but it’s not like the safeties are creating turnovers. Why not give Bush some looks? LeBlanc wins this year’s “Bryce Callahan pleasant surprise” award, but there’s anoth-

The best news you’ll get all day.

er rookie corner who could make an impact in December when he returns from injury, and that’s Deiondre’ Hall.

The Bears have only four interceptions this season.

Remember when creating turnovers was a big point of emphasis? Maybe Hall and Bush can help.

Finley: Maybe so, but I’m not counting on Hall, who has a badly sprained ankle, to return any time soon. Shoot, Kevin White could beat him back to the field. Speaking of which, I’m counting the receiver as a rookie. Is it wise to bring him back off the PUP list? And what’s a fair expectation if he does return?

Fishbain: Selfishly, I think

it’s a great idea to bring him back to save us from covering yet another Kevin White comeback tour. But I think it’s important for his confidence, too, and his understanding of the NFL game, to get a few games under his belt in December. He was No. 1 on the list of young players for the Bears to build around – he’s the No. 7 pick!

We can discuss the other rookies all we want, but for Ryan Pace, it really comes down to White and Leonard Floyd developing into stars, doesn’t it?

Finley: Sloooow down. Right now I think the Bears need to see White serve as a dependable player for more than a month before they worry about him becoming Odell Beckham. Floyd is getting better – and more confident – with each game, a reminder, as you said, that there’s no substitution for playing time.

Pace has hit a few stand-up doubles on draft day so far – Eddie Goldman, Whitehair, Howard – but none that are home runs. Floyd might be his best chance.

e a r t s t t t n o Sa e L

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PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2016

I

n this week’s edition of ‘Take 2,’ Kevin Fishbain of Pro Football Weekly and Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times analyze the key Bears rookies we expect to see more from in the second half of the season.

Fishbain: Pat, thinking back to those miserable Cubs seasons that eventually led to last week’s World Series title got me thinking about players for Bears fans to watch in the last eight games. As bad as the Cubs were, fans could look forward to seeing what Theo’s draft picks were doing in the minors or during September call-ups. Jonathan Bullard is at the top of my mind as a Ryan Pace draft pick I’d like to see more from in the second half. We saw that quick first step at times in the preseason, but he hasn’t played a ton.

Maybe his run stops vs. the Vikings will get him going.

Finley: I once had a football GM complain about the latitude fans give baseball GMs, and he was right: the Cubs actively tanked for years in the name of progress, while

PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2016

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