Chargers Notes
Norv Turner inherits a team that has won two of the last three AFC West titles and 35 games in the last three years (third-most in the NFL). The Chargers return 19 starters in 2007, including all 11 on offense.
The offense is centered around the NFL’s Most Valuable Player in 2006, running back LaDainian Tomlinson. A four-time Pro Bowl selection, Tomlinson turned the NFL on its ear in 2006, scoring a League record 31 touchdowns and capturing his first-ever rushing title with 1,815 yards. Tomlinson and quarterback Philip Rivers will line up behind an offensive line that returns all five starters, including Pro Bowlers Nick Hardwick and Marcus McNeill, plus three-time Pro Bowl tight end Antonio Gates, the Bolts leading receiver in ’06 with 71 catches, 924 yards and nine scores. Under Turner, the Chargers will run the same offense that he originally implemented as the team’s offensive coordinator in 2001.
On defense, veteran defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell will operate virtually the same 3-4 defense that the Chargers have run since 2004. Last season, San Diego ranked 10th in the league in total defense and seventh against the run. Cottrell’s defense will be anchored by a pair of two-time Pro Bowlers, nose tackle Jamal Williams and outside linebacker Shawne Merriman. Last season, Williams racked up a career-high 84 tackles and Merriman a career-high 17 sacks to claim the NFL’s sack title. Fellow OLB Shaun Phillips set a career high with 11.5 sacks as San Diego’s defense recorded a league-leading 61 sacks as a team.
Also returning are all three of the team’s special teams performers: kicker Nate Kaeding, punter Mike Scifres and long snapper David Binn. A Pro Bowler in 2006, Kaeding hit 26-of-29 field goals and comes into 2007 with a streak of 129 conscutive made PATs. A Pro-Bowl first alternate a year ago, Scifres led the league by landing 35 punts inside the 20 and his two touchbacks were a league low. One of the most accurate snappers in league history, Binn earned his first-ever Pro Bowl nod in ’06, following a season that saw him break the team’s all-time service record.
MATCHUP WITH BEARS HAS SPECIAL MEANING FOR LT
When the Chicago Bears invade Qualcomm Stadium on Sunday afternoon, the game will have special meaning for every player on the field, but especially for LaDainian Tomlinson, who grew up idolizing former Chicago Bear and Hall of Fame rusher, Walter Payton. LT named one of his dogs, “Sweetness,” after Payton and he keeps a framed jersey and helmet of Payton’s among his vast collection of sports memorabilia. LT recently shared some of his thoughts on facing the defending NFC Champions and the origins of his fondness for Payton.
On facing Chicago on Kickoff Weekend, one of the NFL’s most historic franchises and the NFC’s representative in Super Bowl XLI: “It’s very special. It’s a big game starting off the bat to play a team like Chicago. It’s meaningful for us as far as confidence going into the game. This is the team that went to the Super Bowl last year and was the NFC champs so it’s going to be real special to play them in our first game.”
On facing Brian Urlacher and the NFL’s sixth-ranked run defense from a year ago: “It’s definitely going to be a challenge. Chicago has one of the best defenses in the National Football League and they’re very tough, so yes, it’s going to be a challenge. That’s why we play the game and that’s what athletes are made of…challenges. This is another challenge and we’ll see how we do.”
On whether he expects a physical battle in the trenches on Sunday afternoon: “It will be a physical battle. That’s all a part of it, especially when two teams have the same mentality of being physical, so it’s all going to start in the trenches. It’s going to be a heck of a battle in there.”
On how he came to be such a big fan of Walter Payton: “I was five years old when I first saw him play. For me, the joy of playing football started with him. He was the reason why I wanted to play football in the first place, seeing him play. When I was growing up in Texas, we got a lot of the Bears’ games because they were good at the time and I was just drawn to Walter Payton. I wanted to play football because of him and I wanted to be a running back because of him.”
On paying tribute to Payton by naming his dog, “Sweetness,” and keeping a jersey and helmet of Payton’s in his house: “That’s how much he meant to me, for me to have some of his memorabilia in my house and also to name my dog after him. It’s just kind a tribute to what he’s meant to me in my career and in my life.”
2007 OFFENSE AT A GLANCE
QUARTERBACK: The Chargers’ quarterbacking corps is led by Philip Rivers, who was a Pro Bowl selection in 2006, his first as San Diego’s starter…Rivers finished 2006 with 3,388 yards passing, 22 touchdowns and only nine interceptions…he posted a 61.7 completion percentage (284 of 460) and a 92.0 passer rating…in Weeks 9-10, Rivers led the Chargers to big come-from-behind wins on the road at Cincinnati and Denver…in the Bengals’ game, the Bolts overcame 21-point deficits of 21-0 and 28-7 by rallying for a team-record 42 second-half points to win the game, 49-41…a week later in Denver, the Bolts overcame a 17-point deficit (24-7) and rallied to beat the Broncos for their first win in Denver since the 1999 season…it was the first time in NFL history that a team overcame 17-point deficits in consecutive weeks…serving as Rivers’ backup is eighth year veteran Billy Volek, traded to the Chargers from Tennessee in September ’06…a dependable backup through much of his career, Volek possesses the talent to be a starter, something he last did for the Titans in 2004 when he completed 218 of 357 for 2,486 yards and 18 touchdowns…late in that ’04 season, Volek became the fourth player in NFL history to record back-to-back 400-yard passing games and the second to record 900 or more passing yards in a two-game span after throwing for 426 yards against Kansas City and 492 yards against Oakland...second-year quarterback Charlie Whitehurst gained valuable experience as a rookie in 2006 and will be the third stringer in 2007…in limited action as a rookie, Whitehurst scored a touchdown on a 14-yard carry late in a Week 2 win against Tennessee.
RUNNING BACK: Leading the way in the offensive backfield for the Bolts in 2007 is the NFL’s reigning Most Valuable Player and Offensive Player of the Year, LaDainian Tomlinson…”LT” won the league’s rushing title with 1,815 yards in 2006 and set NFL records by scoring 28 rushing touchdowns and 31 total TDs…he became San Diego’s first-ever NFL MVP and by the time the season had ended, he had set a total of 13 new NFL records…LT racked up 2,323 total yards from scrimmage, the sixth-most in a single season in league history…a four-time Pro Bowl choice in six NFL seasons, Tomlinson has rushed 2,050 times for 9,176 yards and 100 touchdowns during his career…he has also caught 398 passes for 2,900 yards and 11 scores…Tomlinson’s backup in San Diego is the dependable Michael Turner, who finished the ’06 campaign with 502 yards and two touchdowns on 80 carries, a 6.3 yards per carry average…Turner was also San Diego’s primary kickoff returner, adding 954 yards on 36 returns…Darren Sproles returns to the offense after spending the ’06 season on injured-reserve while recovering from a broken ankle…as a rookie in 2005, Sproles was the Chargers featured kickoff return man, amassing 1,528 yards on 63 returns for an average of 24.3 yards a return.
FULLBACK: Much of the success of the Chargers running game can be attributed to the play of the team’s veteran fullback, Lorenzo Neal…he has started each of the past two Pro Bowls and is one of the most decorated fullbacks in league history…Neal joined the Chargers in 2003, following a career in which he has paved the way for 1,000-yard seasons for the likes of Warrick Dunn, Eddie George and Corey Dillon…Neal has received the most attention however in his time with the Chargers, laying key blocks for LaDainian Tomlinson and Michael Turner…his tenacity is evident in his ability to finish blocks, such as the one that he threw against Kansas City linebacker Kendrell Bell in Week 14 that helped spring Tomlinson loose for a career-long 85-yard touchdown run…behind Neal, San Diego’s running backs have gained more than 2,000 yards rushing in each of his four seasons with the Chargers…Neal finds relief from veteran Andrew Pinnock, a fifth-year man from South Carolina who can also line up as a running back.
TIGHT END: In recent years, many teams have increasingly found more ways to utilize tight ends in their offense, and the Chargers are no exception…the Bolts have the NFL’s most prolific pass-catching tight end in Antonio Gates, a Pro Bowl starter and consensus first-team All-Pro the last three seasons…Gates led the Chargers during the 2006 season with 71 receptions for 924 yards and nine touchdowns…a big-play threat, Gates led the NFL in 2006 with 14 catches of 20+ yards…he also contributed mightily to the Chargers’ run game, utilizing blocking skills that he has worked to refine since entering the league…one of the League’s best blocking tight ends is Brandon Manumaleuna, who came to the Chargers in a 2006 draft-day trade with the St. Louis Rams in exchange for a fourth-round draft choice…at 6-2 and close to 300 pounds, Manumaleuna’s frame is similar to that of an offensive lineman and he certainly blocks like one…he’s a versatile player who has lined up at fullback and H-back during the course of his career…Manamaleuna finished last season tied for second on the team with three touchdown catches…in the fourth round of the 2007 NFL Draft, the Chargers added Scott Chandler…only one tight end in Iowa history caught more passes than Chandler, but the 6-7, 265 pounder is dedicated to being a two-dimensional player…in college, Chandler worked under former NFL offensive line coach Kirk Ferentz to improve his blocking…fifth-round draft pick Legedu Naanee played wide receiver and quarterback at Boise State but is working with Bolts tight ends and wide receivers…at 6-2, 226 pounds, Naanee is big, strong and athletic and lines up all over the field…Head Coach Norv Turner loves his versatility and plans to find various ways to use Naanee.
WIDE RECEIVER: Late last season, Vincent Jackson took over a starting role and the 6-5, 240-pounder took full advantage of his opportunity to contribute…in the final seven games of the season, Jackson caught 20 passes for 357 yards and four touchdowns, including the game-winner at Seattle on Christmas Eve…like Jackson, fellow third-year receiver Malcom Floyd showed flashes in 2006 and hopes to build on that experience this fall…Floyd caught 15 passes for 210 yards and three touchdowns…he turned in a 109-yard performance, the only 100-yard game by a Chargers wide receiver last season, during the team’s dramatic comeback win at Cincinnati, but in the process he suffered an ankle injury that eventually cost him his season…Floyd spent the offseason working on his strength and consistency…with the size of Jackson and Floyd, the Chargers have two enticing red-zone targets who have shown the ability to make big plays…the Chargers believe they’ve found the perfect complement to their bigger receivers in speedster Craig “Buster” Davis, their first-round pick from LSU in the 2007 NFL Draft (30th overall)…the 6-1, 207-pound Davis has the speed to stretch NFL defenses and the route-running ability to allow him to affectively work underneath…Head Coach Norv Turner said on draft day that he believes Davis has the best hands of any receiver in this year’s rookie class…Kassim Osgood has established himself as one of the game’s top special teams players, but the Pro Bowler would like an opportunity to be more involved in the offense…at 6-5, Osgood is another big receiver who has the speed to stretch the field and could contribute to the passing game…sixth-year veteran Eric Parker has caught 105 passes for 1,384 yards over the past two seasons…he had toe surgery on Aug. 3 and is expected to be out of action through at least the first six weeks of the regular season…Parker’s tireless work ethic and ability to lead by example has endeared him to teammates, and Parker’s reliability has allowed him to gain the utmost confidence of his quarterback.
OFFENSIVE LINE: Due in large part to the outstanding play of their offensive line, the Chargers amassed 5,840 total yards and a league-high 59 touchdowns in 2006, including a team-record 2,578 yards rushing…the unit also posted a League-high 32 rushing touchdowns, 11 more than the next highest run-TD producing team…for the fifth consecutive season, the Chargers’ offense gained more than 2,000 yards rushing, the longest streak in team history and tying the Denver Broncos for the longest active streak in the NFL…working with the offensive line are coaches Jack Henry and Hal Hunter, who stress assignment responsibility and attention to detail…such principles paid off in 2006 as the labors of the offensive line led to 506 more yards and 10 more rushing touchdowns than the season prior…the line also helped running back LaDainian Tomlinson earn NFL MVP honors after racking up a league rushing title 1,815 yards, including a record-breaking 28 rushing and 31 total touchdowns…behind this unit, quarterback Philip Rivers appeared poised in his first year as a starter, finishing with 3,388 yards passing, 22 touchdowns and a Pro Bowl selection…such composure can be attributed largely to an offensive line which allowed only 28 sacks all year, tied for eighth fewest in the NFL…although relatively young, the line finds leadership and experience in durable 10-year veteran guard Mike Goff, who enters the season with a string of 74 consecutive starts, the last 48 with the Chargers…the unit’s next senior lineman is five-year veteran guard Kris Dielman whose efforts over the last two seasons recently earned him a new six-year contract…setting the tone with his physicality, Dielman is ascending as one of the League’s most respected guards and it would come as no surprise to see him in Hawaii after the regular season…situated between the two guards is center Nick Hardwick, who was selected to his first Pro Bowl last season…Hardwick is a former high school wrestler who is quite effective at using his leverage to hold off oversized opponents…he also serves as a leader on the field as he is charged with calling the blocking schemes prior to each snap…his easy-going personality and sense of humor help keep the group loose…joining Hardwick in Hawaii this past February was then-rookie left tackle Marcus McNeill, whose talent was evident early in the season when he earned September’s NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month accolades…despite suffering broken bones in both hands in training camp, McNeill never missed a start, allowed only two sacks all season and wasn’t called for a single holding penalty…McNeill ended the year on a high note, finishing fourth in NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year voting and looks to build on his success in 2007…Shane Olivea maintains the starting right tackle job that he won as a rookie four years ago…Olivea plays with a mean streak and uses his strong punch to push opponents off the ball…over the past couple of years, he’s faced many of the NFL’s elite pass rushers and delivered impressive performances…a tribute to their toughness, the five starters missed only one start in the entire regular season last year…this consistency allowed the unit to develop camaraderie and confidence, particularly towards the latter part of the season when the Chargers enjoyed a 10-game winning streak…the few times starters did miss action in 2006, it provided an opportunity for younger linemen to gain valuable experience…guard Scott Mruczkowski successfully neutralized Raiders defensive tackle Warren Sapp while playing in place of Dielman in Week 11…Twelve-year veteran tackle Roman Oben stood strong in Week 15 in relief of McNeill…veteran center Cory Withrow appeared in 11 contests and played well against a tenacious Cincinnati D-line in Week 9…tackle Jeromey Clary, a 2006 sixth-round draft pick, spent last season on the Bolts’ practice squad.
2007 DEFENSE AT A GLANCE
DEFENSIVE LINE: Standing strong against the run has become a trademark for the Chargers’ defense, and the return of a talented defensive line should make 2007 no exception…the Chargers have ranked in the top 10 in rushing yards allowed both per game and per carry in seven out of the past 10 seasons…despite starters missing nine games along the defensive line last fall, the Bolts gave up just 100.8 yards per game on the ground, seventh best in the NFL…Jamal Williams is one of the main reasons why the Chargers have been so successful against the run over the last decade…the 10-year veteran is coming off another stellar season in which he earned his second-consecutive vote to the Pro Bowl…although nose tackles in a 3-4 defense generally help others make plays rather than making plays themselves, Williams ranked third on the team with a career-high 84 tackles in 2006…Williams remains at the top of his game and is poised for another strong season anchoring the defense…while the man in the middle receives plenty of attention, the starters stationed next to him are also getting recognized…despite missing six games last season due to an ankle injury, defensive end Luis Castillo still finished the season with seven sacks…of defensive linemen playing in a 3-4 defense, only Baltimore’s Trevor Pryce and New England’s Ty Warren surpassed Castillo’s sack total a year ago…although he was slowed by his nagging ankle, Castillo was named an alternate to the Pro Bowl…few players in the NFL work harder at maintaining their physical tools than starting right end Igor Olshansky…a warrior in the weight room, Olshansky uses his brute strength to gain leverage on opposing linemen and win battle after battle in the trenches…the former Oregon Duck was primed for a huge year last fall before a knee injury he suffered just minutes into the season opener at Oakland set him back…Olshansky missed three starts after having his knee scoped, yet still posted 33 tackles and 1.5 sacks…with health on his side in 2007, Olshansky’s fourth professional season could be a big one…perhaps no reserve lineman was more valuable to his team in 2006 than defensive end Jacques Cesaire…with Olshansky and Castillo sidelined, Cesaire started 10 games last season and finished the year with career highs in tackles (47) and sacks (4)…Cesaire proved versatile as well as he started at both end positions while the Chargers didn’t miss a beat defensively…Ryon Bingham’s third NFL season provided his first major playing time, and Bingham took advantage of his opportunities…he posted 20 tackles and 1.5 sacks while playing both end and tackle and proved to be a valuable reserve throughout the season…defensive tackle Brandon McKinney began the 2006 season on the practice squad but performed well enough to earn his way onto the active roster by Week 10…McKinney was able to spell Williams late in the season and gained valuable experience that he’ll carry into the second year of his pro career.
INSIDE LINEBACKER: The most significant change on the roster takes place at in side linebacker where Stephen Cooper and Matt Wilhelm take over as starters…they replace the retired Randall Godfrey and Donnie Edwards, who signed with Kansas City…both are veteran players who have seen extensive playing time, particularly Cooper who was the team’s fourth-leading defender in 2006 with 82 stops…Wilhelm hasn’t seen the defensive reps that Cooper has, but he has logged extensive action on special teams…at 6-4 and 245 pounds, Wilhelm is one of the team’s most athletic linebackers…second-year man Tim Dobbins, a fifth-round choice from Iowa State in 2006, and rookie Anthony Waters of Clemson, a third-round choice in 2007, are the backups…Dobbins was the team’s third-leading performer on special teams in 2006, logging 18 tackles in the kicking game…also providing depth is Brandon Siler, a 2007 seventh-round draft choice from Florida.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKER: The strength of San Diego’s defense rests in its linebacker corps, particularly its outside linebackers…Shawne Merriman, a Pro Bowl selection each of his first two seasons and runner-up for the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2006, anchors the group…Merriman won the NFL’s sack title with 17 sacks in 2006 and he is one of the league’s most ferocious hitters…lining up opposite Merriman on the outside is Shaun Phillips, who came into his own as a first-year starter in 2006…Phillips tied for ninth in the league and ranked second to Merriman among linebackers with 11.5 sacks…Merriman and Phillips helped the Bolts rack up a league-leading 61 sacks in 2006, second-most in a season in team history…depth at outside linebacker comes from veterans Marques Harris and Carlos Polk…Harris made a name for himself for his patented back-handspring following big plays, which were plenty in 2006 as he racked up three sacks and a couple of tackles for loss among his 25 stops…Polk is a fiery leader of the defense who bounced back in 2006 after two injury-plagued seasons…Polk collected 32 tackles and a pair of sacks while being named his team’s winner of the Ed Block Courage Award.
CORNERBACK: Right corner Quentin Jammer had the best season of his career in 2006 and looks to build on that performance this fall…he tied a career-high with four interceptions last season and finished second on the team with 89 tackles…the Chargers will continue to count on him to shut down the opponents’ best receiver…opposite Jammer, Drayton Florence returns as the starting left corner…Florence had another solid season last fall with three interceptions and 63 tackles…he’ll continue to move inside and play the nickel position when opponents bring out three wide receivers…Antonio Cromartie, the team’s top selection in the 2006 NFL Draft, saw his share of action as a rookie serving as the team’s third corner…he also contributed on special teams…the Chargers are deep at corner, and that position grew even deeper in early July when the team grabbed Georgia cornerback Paul Oliver in the fourth round of the NFL’s Supplemental Draft…Oliver is an instinctive athlete who plays hard and competes with passion…Cletis Gordon had a chance to display his athleticism on special teams as a rookie and hopes to contribute defensively this year…he also has experience as a returner and could be looked at to contribute on both punt and kickoff returns…Steve Gregory can play both corner and safety and was one of the Bolts’ top special teams players last year, finishing fifth on the squad with 12 tackles in the kicking game.
SAFETY: Heading into the 2006 season, several members of the Chargers’ secondary made it known that it was time for perception to change…after finishing 28th in the NFL against the pass in 2005, the Bolts improved to 13th last fall as several players in the defensive backfield turned in solid years and continued to enhance their play…the 2007 season brings a few new faces to the Chargers secondary, but the attitude that helped the group enjoy a productive 2006 remains strong as the defensive backs look to continue to grow as a unit…the secondary is under new leadership as Bill Bradley and Kevin Ross are now the coaches in charge….both Bradley and Ross are former Pro Bowl players who pride themselves on fundamentals and preparation…one of the biggest competitions of training camp was for the starting job at strong safety, where fifth-year veteran Clinton Hart edged out rookie Eric Weddle, the team’s second-round pick in April’s draft…Hart had a strong offseason and is widely considered one of the best all-around athletes on the team…he’s started 15 games in his career and has shown a knack for getting to the ball, as evident by his three interceptions last season despite playing mostly as a reserve…Weddle is a versatile and smart athlete who lined up all over the field in college and regularly showed up in highlight reels…prior to the 2006 season, the Chargers made only one significant move in free agency, one that delivered a big payoff…Marlon McCree made an immediate impact on the group with his leadership skills…the seventh-year veteran is back to lock down the free safety spot after posting 80 tackles (fifth on the team), one sack, a fumble recovery and one interception in his first season as a Charger.
2007 SPECIAL TEAMS AT A GLANCE
SPECIALISTS: The Chargers special teams are among the NFL’s best…kicker Nate Kaeding kicked the game-winning field goal for the AFC in the 2007 Pro Bowl to conclude a season in which he delivered on 26-of-29 field goal attempts…he has also hit a team-record 129 consecutive point after attempts coming into the ’07 season…Kaeding’s leg strength has improved year-to-year and last season, the fourth-year player from Iowa and former third-round draft choice had a career-high 11 touchbacks…punter Mike Scifres, who also holds on placements, was named the AFC’s first-alternate to the Pro Bowl in 2006…Scifres’ career average of 42.9 yards per punt is among the highest in team history…he’s coming off a season in which he landed a team record 35 punts inside the 20-yard line with only two of his 69 attempts going for touchbacks, the lowest touchback total of his career…veteran long snapper David Binn, who is the team’s all-time record-holder for career games played, was finally selected to his first career Pro Bowl as he was selected as the AFC’s special teams “needs” player for the 2007 rendition of the game…Binn is one of the most accuarate deep snappers in the NFL.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 2006 SEASON
• The Chargers went 14-2 and captured their second AFC West title in the last three seasons.
• The Bolts clinched the top-seed in the AFC and home-field advantage in the AFC Playoffs for only the third-time in team history.
• The Bolts went 8-0 at home, winning eight games at home for the first time in team history.
• The Chargers went 5-0 against teams that were in the playoffs the previous season.
• The Chargers closed out the regular season with 10 straight wins.
• The Chargers led the NFL and set a team record by scoring 492 points.
• The Bolts set a new team record with 32 rushing touchdowns, including an NFL record 28 by League MVP and Offensive Player of the Year LaDainian Tomlinson.
• The Chargers rushed for a team-record 2,578 yards to finish second in the NFL in rushing…Tomlinson captured the League’s rushing title with 1,815 yards.
• Quarterback Philip Rivers had a Pro Bowl season in his first year as the Bolts’ starter…he completed 61.7 percent of his passes (284-of-460) for 3,388 yards, 22 TDs and just 9 INTs for a passer rating of 92.0.
• The Bolts led the NFL with 61 sacks, including an NFL-best 17 by Shawne “Lights Out” Merriman.
• The Chargers led the NFL in touchdowns (42) and touchdown percentage (.677) inside the 20-yard line.
• The Chargers posted come from behind wins of 21 and 17 points at Cincinnati and Denver, respectively, in consecutive weeks…they became the first team in NFL history to overcome 17-point-or-greater comebacks in consecutive weeks.
• The Bolts had a team-record 11 players selected to the 2007 Pro Bowl.
• The Chargers set a team attendance record with 531,031 fans turning out for their eight regular-season home games.
Bears Notes
The defending NFC Champion Chicago Bears begin their 2007 regular season on Sunday at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego against the Chargers. The two teams square off after finishing with the best record in their respective conferences last season. The Bears finished the 2006 regular season with a 13-3 record en route to their second consecutive NFC North title and would go on to win their first NFC Championship in 21 years in just their third season under head coach Lovie Smith. Chicago will be opening the regular season on the road for a third consecutive season and sixth time in the last eight years against a Chargers squad that went 14-2 in the AFC last season, the best record in the NFL.
Returning 20 regular starters from last season when they went 7-1 on the road, the Bears will be looking for their fifth-straight victory in the series with the Chargers, including a third-straight win in San Diego. After defeating the Packers in Green Bay, 26-0, to open the 2006 regular season, the Bears aim to record back-to-back wins in season openers on the road for the first time since 1962-63.
Beginning their fourth year under the tutelage of Smith, Chicago will seek to jump out to another quick start after opening the 2006 regular season with seven consecutive victories. The Bears went 2-2 against AFC opponents last season and are 92-92-1 all-time against foes currently belonging to the conference.
"O" IT'S YOU AGAIN
The projected starters for the 2007 Chicago Bears offense will look very similar to last year’s high-scoring lineup that ranked tied for second in the NFL in points per game (26.7). Ten of the Bears 11 opening day starters last season are back with the only change coming at running back where Cedric Benson will take over for Thomas Jones. The Bears 2007 projected starting lineup has played 1078 career regular season games with 870 starts.
STEA-"D"
Ten of 11 primary starters are returning from the Bears defensive unit that allowed the third fewest points per game (15.9) last season and fifth fewest total yards per contest (294.1). With added depth, the Bears defense will have a slightly different look compared to last season. At defensive end Mark Anderson will start on the right side and Adewale Ogunleye on the left, with last year’s starting RDE Alex Brown rotating in at both ends. After spending last season on IR, Dusty Dvoracek will start at nose tackle. In the secondary, Mike Brown will return to free safety where he spent the first five seasons of his career. Off-season acquisition Adam Archuleta will start at SS. MLB Brian Urlacher anchors the defense having started 103-of-105 career games played. As a unit, the defense averages almost 51 starts per player with Anderson and Dvoracek the only two players without at least 35 career starts.
ENOUGH CED
As the Bears increased RB Cedric Benson’s workload in the final 7 games of the 2006 regular season he responded with in an rise in production as well. With 432 yards on 88 carries, Benson finished 7th in the NFL in rushing average (4.9 ypc) during that 7 week span.
REX FACTOR
Since joining the NFL in 2003, Bears QB Rex Grossman has shown his ability to create big plays. He ranks 6th in the NFL during that time in yards per completion.
GROSS PRODUCT
Owning the second-best career regular season winning percentage of any Chicago QB dating back to 1961 at .739 (17-6), Rex Grossman looks to continue his winning ways after recording the highest single-season victory total for a Bears QB since the adoption of the NFL’s 16-game schedule with 13 in 2006. Grossman will aim to become the first individual Bears QB since Erik Kramer in 1994-1995 to record season opening wins in back-to-back seasons. Grossman is also second among active QBs with at least 20 career starts in win percentage.
BIG PLAY BERNARD
Bernard Berrian ranks 7th in the NFL over the last three seasons among players with at least 60 receptions with an average of 15.8 yards per catch.
ELITE COMPANY
Muhsin Muhammad enters the 2007 needing just 636 receiving yards to reach the 10,000-career receiving yards mark, a plateau achieved by just 27 players in the history of the NFL. Muhammad would become the first player ever to don a Chicago uniform to join the elusive group. His 1,613 yards with the Bears in just two seasons in Chicago already ranks 32nd in franchise history.
ON THE MARK
During his first two NFL seasons, Mark Bradley has shown flashes of being a big-play threat ranking among the NFL’s best in yards per catch. In each of his first two seasons Bradley has recorded the Bears longest play from scrimmage. During his rookie season in 2005, Bradley’s 54-yard reception at DET (10/30) tied for the Bears longest play from scrimmage. Last year the Oklahoma product recorded a career-long 75-yard touchdown reception in the regular season finale.
YO ADRIAN
While mostly known for his strong special teams play, sixth-year veteran Adrian Peterson has been one of the most productive running backs in the NFL when given the football on offense. For his career, Peterson ranks 10th in the NFL among active running backs with at least 100 rushes, with a 4.68 yards per carry average.
CORNERING THE MARKET
Bears starting cornerbacks Nathan Vasher (11) and Charles Tillman (10) form the only CB tandem in the NFL to each record double-digit INTs with the same team over the course of the last two seasons. Their 21 INTs since 2005 are the most by an NFC CB duo and tied for 2nd most in the NFL during that time.
AIR CONTROL
The Bears defense has held opposing quarterbacks to a league-low 68.4 passer rating since the Lovie Smith era started in 2004. During that time the Bears defense has forced their quarterbacking foes to throw 65 interceptions (second-most in NFL) while allowing just 51 touchdown passes (fourth-fewest). Over the past three years Chicago is allowing an NFL-low 6.1 yards per passing attempt (10,048 yards on 1,646 attempts).
THREE STRIKES AND THEY'RE OUT
Last season the Bears defense finished second in the NFL by allowing opponents to convert on third-down 31.0 percent of the time. Under the tutelage of head coach Lovie Smith, Chicago leads the NFL in the third-down defense, as the opposition has been successful just 31.1 percent of the time on third-down opportunities over the last three seasons.
RED ALERT
Leading the NFL since 2004 by allowing opponents to score on just 75.4 percent of their trips to the red-zone, the Bears defense has given up just 55 touchdowns and 46 field goals in 134 opponent red zone incursions during that time. Chicago’s defense also ranks second in the NFL under head coach Lovie Smith’s leadership with a three-year redzone TD ratio of 41.04-percent.
GOULD DIGGIN'
PK Robbie Gould finished the 2006 season leading all NFL kickers with 143 points and became the first Bears kicker to lead the NFC in scoring since Kevin Butler led the conference with 120 points in 1986. Gould is the Bears all-time leader in field goal percentage among kickers with at least 50 attempts, connecting on 84.1 percent of his kicks.
ANYTIME, ANYWHERE
Bears KR/PR Devin Hester enters his second season in the NFL after setting an NFL record for return touchdowns in a season with six (3 - PR, 2 - KR, 1 - missed FG). Hester enters the 2007 season as the NFL’s active leader in punt return average at 12.8 yards per return after setting a single-season franchise record with 600 punt return yards.
Bears points scored first for all games below:
Bears points scored first for all games below:
I can't wait to see the Bear D under Bob Babich, I for one grew tired of the inexperienced Rivera Benson's first game as a starter with a huge tough match up, How he will respond?Has Grossman corrected his problems.How will Hester be involved in the gameplanand many more... I CANT WAIT
Very pumped for this season. 1st time in a while. 
Amazingly, Angelo took one of the best teams in the NFC and made it better:
Against the Jets, the Bears intentionally decided to play very conservative on O and do just enough to win the game.
Amazingly, Angelo took one of the best teams in the NFC and made it better:
Bears points scored first for all games below:
aging Dennis Green: 
>>> Benson
Let's at least keep the facts straight: in 2006, the Saints were 13th overall in points allowed, 11th in total yards allowed, and 4th in first downs allowed (plus 3rd in 3 and outs, and 6th in 3rd down defense efficiency). Seems that they were at least average on D last year.
Bears points scored first for all games below:
