Flavor of the Week

I might have to road trip to Arizona, but I think the Matt Leinart slurpee will be available at 7-Eleven this week. Why? Because Leinart can throw short passes with great efficiency? Because in a MNF matchup between the Arizona Cardinals and Chicago Bears, Rex Grossman played like a Florida QB product?

I'm not going to bash Leinart. He's been decent, but the Bears didn't bring their A, B, or C game to the desert, at least not offensively. Leinart started the game with a bang, going 5-5 on the Cardinals' first drive, which ended with Bryant Johnson taking a Leinart pass into the end zone. The offensive coordinator put Leinart and the WR's in a position to succeed with short, safe pass plays on the drive. The execution was solid, but the scheme tore a hole into the Bears ... or maybe they were just warming up. Since that 12 play, 77 yard drive, the Cards have scored just once on a possession they started in their own territory. The result of that drive was their third FG of the game.

When you turn the ball over 6 times (4 INT's and 2 fumbles lost) as Rex Grossman has, you usually won't win the game. However, the Chicago Bears have scored two TD's of their own on returns of fumbles. But, the Chicago defense has made this a game. Other notable Arizona drives include:

• 3 plays for 25 yards resulting in TD number 2 and a 14-0 lead
• a missed FG after going backwards after starting at the Chicago 29
• a FG after starting on the Chicago 33 and fizzling after gaining 10 yards
• a FG after starting on the Chicago 32 and making it to the 10 yard line

The Chicago Bears escaped the desert because they got 2 TDs from the D and one on a punt return by Devin Hester. Neil Rackers missed a 40-yard FG wide left with 48 seconds left in the game. But, it shouldn't have been that close. After a hot start, Leinart ended the game 24-42 for 232 yards and 2 TD's. That's 5.5 yards per attempt. It speaks volumes of the types of throws Leinart was making. The Edge averaged just 1.5 yards per carry, had a huge fumble, and couldn't get a first down on 3rd and short just before Rackers yanked the FG.

My wife wants me to explain to her why the Cardinals were running the ball late in the game, instead of throwing more short passes to try to get into better position for a FG. I can't. James averaged 1.5 ypc and I was surprised the number was that high when I looked at the boxscore because the Bears were stuffing the run all night long. Leinart was making fairly solid decisions, why not let him throw?

I think Matt Leinart is what he is ... just like Big Ben is what he is. Leinart wasn't the reason the Cards were up by 20 and he isn't the reason they lost the game. But, I don't think he's the savior Mike, Joe and TK were making him out to be on the MNF broadcast. I'm surprised the Bears didn't press the receivers more early and force Leinart to beat them long, because it's readily apparent that Leinart can make good reads and throws on short stuff if he's aware of what's coming.

On the other hand, I think the gunslinger in Rex Grossman came out tonight and he didn't do his receivers or the defense any favors with all the mistakes he was making. He was putting his defense in the position that his defense usually puts the other team's defense in, and the Cards were able to capitalize, sort of. Rex was pressing, the Bears weren't running the ball despite Jones and Benson putting up okay rushing numbers: averages of 3.5 and 4.0 ypc, respectively. Rex was too busy slinging the ball around for 148 yards on 14-37 with 4 INT's! The Bears were never that far behind because you knew their defense would hold if given a reasonable position on the field. Why throw 37 times and run 13? The Bears need to figure that out or there will be many more days like this and a better team (Carolina, Seattle, etc.) will knock them off come January.