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Around the NFC North in week 10

Week 10 brings about two great matchups in the NFC North.  With the Green Bay Packers on a bye, the Chicago Bears host the Houston Texans while the Detroit Lions travel to Minnesota to finish out their season series against the Vikings.  Let’s look at some of the storylines surrounding the games.

Houston Texans (7-1) at Chicago Bears (7-1)

This is the marquis matchup for the NFL’s week 10 slate and is the Sunday Night game.  Each team comes in having lost just one game and playing well.  Chicago has won six straight and Houston has bounced back from their first loss of the season and won their last two in a row.  Each team’s last loss came at the hands of the Green Bay Packers.

Defense is the name of this game.  Houston ranks 3^rd overall in yardage allowed (286/game) while Chicago ranks 6^th (318/game).

The Bears are leading the league in takeaway’s with 28 and takeaway ratio at +16.  They’re turning those takeaway’s into points and have seven interception returns for scores this season by five different players.  Their defense has become nearly as potent, in terms of scoring, as their offense.

Chicago is tied with New England for fumbles caused with 11.  Just last week, Chicago forced five fumbles, two by CB Charles Tillman.  Tillman has been hot after the ball this season and has seven caused fumbles and has two of Chicago’s interception returns for touchdowns.  Some say he’s an early candidate for Defensive Player of the Year.  Read more... (981 words + 3 images, estimated 3:55 mins reading time)

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1) Profile:

J. J. Watt

College: University of  Wisconsin

Position: DE

Height: 6′5″   Weight: 290 lbs.

Born: March 22, 1989 From: Pewaukee, WI

 2) High School / College Highlights: A Wisconsin First-team All-State selection at BOTH tight end and defensive end, Watt was also the Wisconsin State shot put champion as a HS senior. Watt was not as heavily recruited as you might think, mostly because of his lean frame. Watt accepted a scholarship offer from Central Michigan, starting every game at tight end for the Chippewas. After a year away from his home state, Watt returned as a walk-on to the University of Wisconsin.  Watt spent a red-shirt year hitting the weight room, switched to defense and was named defensive scout player of the year. Watt would start every game for the Badgers over the next two seasons, and was named All Big ten and second team All-American.

3) College Stats: 26 games, 106 tackles, seven sacks, two fumble recoveries, and an interception.

4) NFL Combine Results: 4.76 40-yd dash, 34 bench press reps, 37″ vertical jump, 10′ long jump, 6.88 3-cone, 4.21 20-yd shuttle.

5) Strengths/Weaknesses: Once thought of as more of an “intangibles” player that succeeded via max effort alone, Watt started to change that perception during the Badgers run to the Rose Bowl.  If any scouts were still thinking that way, Watt’s NFL Combine performance put an end to that. Watt finished in the top 5 among DL in every category, as well as the top 20 among all performers in five out of six categories (long jump was his only miss). Not bad for a defensive lineman, huh?  Read more... (670 words + 3 images, estimated 2:41 mins reading time)

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