New Orleans Saints Face Bears & Chicago's December Chill

QB Drew Brees NFL 2008 Week 15 New Orleans Saints (7-6) at Chicago Bears (7-6) | NFL 2008 Week 15 Analysis, Preview & Prediction

The Chicago Bears (7-6) host the New Orleans Saints (7-6) this Thursday night at Soldier Field.

The big question is whether Quarterback Drew Brees and the Saints top-ranked NFL passing offense can perform up to its explosive level outdoors in the December chill of the Chicago night.

The New Orleans Saints utilized a more balanced run / pass attack last week in topping the Atlanta Falcons 29-25.

The Bears 23-10 victory over the Jaguars last Sunday at home was the 700th in Bears franchise history, including the postseason.

The Bears trail the first-place Minnesota Vikings (8-5) by one game in the NFC North. The Saints are in last place in the NFC South trailing the Panthers (10-3), Buccaneers (9-4) and Falcons (8-5).

Both the Bears and Saints trail the Dallas Cowboys (8-5) and Atlanta Falcons by one game for the NFC's two wildcard playoff spots.

Expect young backs PIERRE THOMAS (New Orleans) and MATT FORTÉ (Chicago) to play main roles on this cold December night.

Thomas was not drafted but signed as a rookie free agent with the Saints last year. Pierre comes off his second career 100-yard rush game (102 yards and two TDs against Atlanta).

His first career 100-yard rush game last December in Chicago (Chicago Bears 33, Saints 25). With 105 yards on the ground and 121 yards on 12 receptions in his debut as a feature back, Thomas became the first Saint to rush for over 100 yards and eclipse the 100-yard receiving mark in the same game as he racked up the third-highest yards from scrimmage total in Saints history.

"He's a great young talent," says Saints FB MIKE KARNEY.

Chicago's Rookie sensation Matt Forte is the second-leading rookie rusher in the league this season with 1,081 yards. Forte's 1,476 scrimmage yards (1,081 rushing and 395 receiving) are second most in the NFL this season.

Running back Matt Forte had 106 scrimmage yards (69 rushing and 37 receiving) in last Sunday's contest versus Jacksonville, giving him 1,476 on the season, surpassing Gale Sayers (1,374 in 1965) for most in Bears history by a rookie.

Forte needs 24 yards from scrimmage to become just the fourth player in Bears franchise history with 1,500 scrimmage yards in a single-season: Hall of Famer Walter Payton (10 times), Neal Anderson (twice) and Hall of Famer Gale Sayers (once).

The rookie running back is on pace for 1,816 scrimmage yards for the season, which would rank eighth in team history and only Payton would have achieved more.

New Orleans Saints (7-6) vs Chicago Bears (7-6)

The Saints come into the Thursday night contest playing their best football of the season.

The Saints have won three of their last four games, including last week's 29-25 NFC South division victory over the Atlanta Falcons at home. The game between the Falcons and Saints featured seven lead changes, including three in a fourth quarter where the Saints fell behind with less than eight minutes remaining before coming out on top.

The Bears victory over the Jaguars this past Sunday was the 700th in franchise history, including the postseason. The Bears (700-514-42) are the first NFL franchise to reach the plateau.

In the race for the NFC North title, the Vikings hold the tie-breakers over the Bears, so Chicago must finish with a better record than Minnesota to win the division crown. The Vikings take on the Cardinals in Arizona this Sunday.

The Series: Chicago Holds a 14-11 Edge

This will be the sixth meeting between the Bears and Saints over the past seven seasons. Chicago holds a 14-11 edge in the series with New Orleans. The Bears are 9-6 at home against the Saints and have won three in a row overall against New Orleans.

The Saints have not defeated the Bears since 2003. The past two losses, both of which have been played in Chicago have been disappointing, the 2006 NFC Championship, and the 33-25 Bear win last season that put an end to the Saints NFL 2007 postseason hopes.

Last Time: Chicago Bears 33, Saints 25 (Dec. 30, 2007)

Turnovers and big plays by Chicago's Devin Hester - who returned a punt 64 yards for a touchdown and hauled in a 55-yard TD pass - proved to be the Saints undoing as the Bears won at home 33 - 25.

The Bears got strong play as they closed out the 2007 season with back-to-back wins.

The Bears offense scored three touchdowns through the air as QB Kyle Orton threw a 19-yard scoring pass to Mark Bradley and a career-long 55-yard touchdown pass to Devin Hester. RB Adrian Peterson hit WR Bernard Berrian on a halfback option for a nine-yard touchdown strike, as well.

The Bears defense forced three turnovers, registered three sacks, recorded a safety and made three key fourth-down stops to officially eliminate the Saints from the playoffs.

On special teams, Hester made history. Fielding a punt near the left sideline at his own 36, the Pro Bowl return specialist hesitated for an instant, then broke to his right and knifed through a seam for a 64-yard touchdown to give the Bears a 31-17 lead in the third quarter. With his sixth kick return TD of the season (four punt returns, two kickoff returns), Hester broke the NFL record of five he had set last year as a rookie.

Despite a memorable performance by rookie RB Pierre Thomas in his first NFL start, the Saints ended 2007 with a defeat at Soldier Field. Thomas accounted for 226 yards in the loss.

New Orleans monopolized the time of possession by an over 10-minute margin, and also dominated the offensive yardage (413-275).

NFL 2008 Week 14: Chicago Bears 23, Jacksonville Jaguars 10

Playing on a short week, the Jaguars couldn't overcome a slow start as the Bears built a 20-3 lead at halftime.

Bears Safety Danieal Manning provided an early dividend on the 3rd play of the game as he picked off David Garrard and returned the INT 42 yards to the Jacksonville 5. Two plays later, Kyle Orton connected with Desmond Clark on a 2-yard touchdown pass to give the Bears an instantaneous 7-0 lead.

With temperatures hovering below 20 degrees, the Jaguars controlled the ball for 32:03 and outrushed the Bears 119 to 86 but could not overcome a 20-3 Bears halftime lead. Robbie Gould kicked field goals of 22 and 36 yards and Orton rifled a 22-yard TD pass to Greg Olsen.

Maurice Jones-Drew finished with 102 yards from scrimmage (55 rushing, 47 receiving) and led the Jaguars with seven receptions for 43 yards. Maurice Jones-Drew scored the Jaguars only touchdown on a four-yard reception early in the fourth quarter.

The Bears (700-514-42) are the first NFL franchise to reach the 700-win plateau.

Chicago is (684-497-42) all-time in the regular season and 16-17 in the playoffs.

NFL 2008 Week 14: Saints 29, Atlanta Falcons 25

QB Drew Brees tossed two touchdown passes and a resurgent rushing attack piled up a season-high 184 yards on the ground to lead the Saints to a 34-14 victory over the Atlanta Falcons at home.

It was the Saints third win in last four games to improve their record to 7-6 and remain in the chase for a postseason berth.

The Saints run defense made an impressive performance against the second ranked rushing offense in the NFL, not allowing them to gain 100 yards.

Brees was impressive and efficient the entire day, completing 18-of-32 passes for 230 yards and two touchdown throws.

TE Jeremy Shockey had a team-leading five receptions for 64 yards, while WR Devery Henderson led the team in receiving yardage with 72 on three grabs. RB Reggie Bush had a first quarter touchdown reception, while also adding ten carries for 80 yards on the ground, including a career-long 43-yard rush.

RB Pierre Thomas had 16 carries for 102 yards, the first time a Saints running back reached the century mark in rushing in 2008. Thomas also had a seven-yard touchdown reception that put the Saints ahead for good in the contest, set up by his own 88 yard kickoff return. He finished the day with a total of 197 all purpose yards.

CB Jason David picked off Atlanta QB Matt Ryan for a 23-yard interception return for a touchdown. The Saints defense held Falcons RB Michael Turner to 61 rushing yards on 18 carries.

The Saints split the 2008 season series with the Falcons with each team winning their home game. The Saints have now won their last three home games against Atlanta and have not lost to them in the Louisiana Superdome since the 2002 season. Since Sean Payton took over as head coach in 2006, the New Orleans Saints have a 5-1 record against Atlanta.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (7-6) Game Notes

  • - The Saints lead the NFL in total offense (405.9 yards per game) this season
  • - In their past 2 meetings (including the 2006 NFC Championship), QB DREW BREES has passed for 674 yards (337.0 per game) & 5 TDs. Since joining the Saints in 2006, Brees has passed for 12,941 yards, most in the NFL. This season, Brees leads the NFL with 4,100 passing yards & has 320 or more passing yards in 8 of 13 games. In starts with 10 or more attempts, when Brees has a 100.0 or better rating, his teams are 28-5 (.848)
  • - RB PIERRE THOMAS had a career-high 105 rush yards, 12 receptions, 121 receiving yards & 226 scrimmage yards in last meeting. Thomas has 6 TDs in past 4 games (4 rush, 2 receiving). Had 102 rush yards & 2 TDs (1 receiving) last week. RB REGGIE BUSH had 7 catches for 132 yards with 88-yard TD in NFC Championship meeting. In past 2 meetings, WR MARQUES COLSTON has 3 TDs. Had 8 catches for 94 yards & 2 TDs in last meeting. WR LANCE MOORE has 6 TDs in past 6
  • - S ROMAN HARPER tied career-high with 2.0 sacks & had 1 forced fumble in last meeting. CB JASON DAVID had INT in last meeting. Has 3 INTs in past 3

CHICAGO BEARS (7-6) Game Notes

  • - Bears QB KYLE ORTON is 13-2 (.867) as a starter at home. When Orton has 100.0 or better passer rating, the Bears are 4-0
  • - RB MATT FORTÉ leads NFL rookies & ranks 2nd overall with 1,476 scrimmage yards & 71 1st downs. He is the only rookie to lead his team in both rushing yards (1,081) & receptions (53). Matt joined Hall of Famer WALTER PAYTON & NEAL ANDERSON as only the Bears with 1,000 rush yards & 50 catches in a single season
  • - WR-PR-KR DEVIN HESTER has 17 TDs (7 PR, 5 KR, 5 receiving), including playoffs. Hester returned a punt 64 yards for a touchdown in last meeting between the Bears and Saints. TEs DESMOND CLARK & GREG OLSEN each had a TD last week
  • - The Bears lead the NFL with 27 takeaways (19 INT, 8 fumble recoveries). LB BRIAN URLACHER had an INT in last meeting. DT TOMMIE HARRIS had sack & forced fumble in last meeting. Has 3.0 sacks in past 3. Bears have won 12 of past 15 when Harris has sack. Bears are 14-5 (.737) when CB CHARLES TILLMAN has INT. Tillman had INT in last meeting. DE ADEWALE OGUNLEYE has sack in 2 of past 3 meetings (including playoffs). S DANIEAL MANNING had INT last week.

PREDICTION: Chicago Bears 16 New Orleans Saints 13

The Saints are clearly the better team with NFL 2008 MVP Candidate Drew Brees at the helm. But sometimes the best team and player wind up not winning. This is clearly the case as the weather, home-field advantage and the Bears defense will keep the Saints passing attack in check.

Drew Brees and the Saints top-ranked NFL passing offense will not perform up to its usual standard

Granted, the New Orleans Saints utilized a more balanced attack last week in topping the Atlanta Falcons 29-25. However, the back-and-forth nature of that game coupled with so many lead changes will take its toll on the Saints this week. Simply stated, the Saints exerted alot of energy last week which they may not be able to capture this week.

This week may wind up being Brees' worst preformance of 2008. Expect a game of turnovers, lots of field goals and sometime sloppy play on offense.

In the end, the defense and special teams will be responsible for generating the Bears points in producing the 16-13 victory.

New Orleans Saints Face Bears & Chicago's December Chill - NFL 2008 Week 15