Why Do I Like the Chicago Bears this Week?
I.
Always.
Like.
THE.
Chicago.
Bears.
Notes on the Indianapolis Colts
- The Colts are allowing 237 yards per game on the ground through two weeks, and ironically have found themselves in two very close ballgames. If the Bears are going to find their rushing legs in the early part of this season, it is going to happen Sunday.
- The Indy media is on the assault, and thankfully some of that criticism is being levied at their GM, Chris Ballard. Ballard has been playing the sports media for a decade, leaking more than any other personnel man in the league, and receiving unwarranted kudos for mediocrity as a result. Said a friend (in the league) to me, “I like just about everybody, but I don’t trust Ballard.”
- Colts took injury hits to their defense, as well, including DeForest Buckner.
- It is not a stat to which many point but opposing passer rating does tell a story and Colts’ opponents through two weeks are pitching to 120.7 rating. Only three teams are worse: the league’s worst team (Carolina), the league’s worst defense (Washington), and a team Kyler Murray just publicly embarrassed (Los Angeles).
Lumet II: Early TV Aesthetics and 12 Angry Men
Sidney Lumet is not a cinematic stylist; there is no signature, visual aesthetic attributable to his work. His camera is a collaborator in service of the story. This is one of the reasons he has not received proper consideration.
But to understand Lumet’s technique, per se, one must understand where he began as a director: live television. Throughout the early 50s, Lumet directed hundreds of live specials for shows like Playhouse 90 and Kraft Television Theater. These had minimal sets (often one), small budgets and tight production schedules. Lumet learned the craft of filmmaking – camera movement, lighting, handling actors – in what amounted to a cinematic bootcamp.
How does one show this? Lumet does it brilliantly in his must-read book, Making Movies:
12 Angry Men, Boris Kaufman, photographer. It never occurred to me that shooting an entire picture in one room was a problem. In fact, I felt I could turn it into an advantage. One of the most important dramatic elements for me was the sense of entrapment those men must have felt in that room. Immediately, a “lens plot” occurred to me. As the picture unfolded, I wanted the room to seem smaller and smaller. That means that I would slowly shift to longer lenses as the picture continued. Starting with the normal range (28mm to 40mm), we progressed to 50mm, 75mm, and 100mm lenses. (p. 81)
When you watch 12 Angry Men, pay close attention to what we in the sports world might call “the thirteen man” – the camera. (The film is available to stream everywhere but it’s free on Roku Channel and with your MGM+ and Criterion subscriptions.)
Three Bears with Pressure Mounting
(3) D’Andre Swift. It just doesn’t look like I expected it to look, with Swift’s speed and elusiveness in the passing game being a matchup nightmare for opponents. The Bears clearly intended to make Swift their lead back but how long will that continue? It will be surprising if Khalil Herbert isn’t sharing the bulk of carries Sunday against the league’s worst run defense.
(2) Nate Davis. You never want your play to be laughed at but that’s where things are heading with Davis. Last year, personal reasons were used to excuse his poor performance. Those won’t fly anymore. Andy Reid benched his rookie left tackle mid-game Sunday. Matt Eberflus has to be unafraid to do the same to a wayward veteran this Sunday.
(1) Matt Eberflus. This is a results business, and Eberflus now faces a series of opponents the Bears can, and arguably should beat. The Colts are immensely vulnerable. The Rams are the walking wounded. The Panthers are the worst team in the league. The Jaguars, in London, who knows? If the Bears are going to have the season many of us expect, the goal must be to reach the bye at 4-2.
Around the League Bet (0-2)
Packers at Titans: Over/Under 36.5
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You got me, Vegas. I thought the Cowboys laying a touchdown to the Saints was absurd. I was convinced at its absurdity. But I thought you knew something I didn’t and laid the points. Blowout. This week, I have a new target.
Malik Willis can’t throw, and running on this Titans front is very, very difficult. This has all the makings of 17-13 kind of game, and I think the over/under should be 3-4 points lower. I’m confidently betting the under. You, fair reader, should do the opposite.
Game Prediction (2-0)
The offense won’t be humming but there will be improvement, including more incremental progress from the quarterback. Bears get over the century mark running the ball and Caleb Williams gets into the end zone. Meanwhile, the defense bottles up Anthony Richardson.
Chicago Bears 24, Indianapolis Colts 13