·Bears (-11.5) at Cardinals

So far this year the Bears have outscored opponents 156 – 36.  Chicago is averaging 31.2 points while giving up just 7.2 points per game to lead the league in both categories.  They look to continue that dominance tonight.  Rex Grossman and his 100.8 QB rating will be facing a Cardinals pass defense that is 29th in the NFL in yards allowed.  With the emergence of Bernard Berrian at WR Grossman has been on a tear.  Chicago has been able to get their running game going lately as well.  Last week they managed 155 yards and 2 scores against a good Bills defense.  Last week Matt Leinart got his first NFL start and came out of the gates fast tossing 2 scoring strikes in the first quarter.  He will enter his second start without the services of Larry Fitzgerald who is out with a hamstring injury.  This is obviously a big blow to the Cardinals as Fitzgerald is one of the NFL’s premiere WR’s.  Leinart will have his hands full against a Bears defense that can be described in one word, elite.  They have shut down all QB’s to date allowing only an average of 158.4 yards passing per game.  They also are 2nd in the league with 18 sacks and the Cardinals offensive line provides little protection for their QB.  Bottom line is the Bears defense should put plenty of pressure on the rookie QB disrupting him and forcing errors.  Edgerrin James has found little success so far this season for the Cardinals averaging a league-worst 2.8 yards per carry.  The Bears are good against the run as well only giving up 76.2 rushing yards per game.  For those who have said that Matt Leinart is poised for a rookie QB, they need to watch this game.  The Bears will change that perception for at least this week.  He will get knocked around and disrupted enough to force plenty of mistakes.  The Bears should continue to show why they are the leagues best team and should easily cover the –11.5 line.

PICK:  Bears

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