Sports

Fierce Chicago D awaits Texans

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CHICAGO — They’re not the ’86 Bears, but the 2012 Bears are doing a darn good impression of their famed forefathers.

Just like that Super Bowl-winning team 26 years ago, Chicago rides into Sunday night’s prime-time showdown with the Texans on the back of a relentless, playmaking defense that is leaving opponents in disarray.

The same goes for Houston, which is a big reason why Soldier Field will play host to a pair 7-1 teams. But aside from the terrific J.J. Watt, neither the Texans nor anyone else in the NFL are in the Bears’ league when it comes to forcing turnovers and generally flummoxing their foes.

Paced by cornerback Charles Tillman, who has forced a league-high seven fumbles and is tied with teammate Lance Briggs for the NFL lead with two interception returns for touchdowns, Chicago is off to one of its best starts in years — thanks in large part to a whopping plus-16 turnover margin.

It’s maddening to play the Bears. Just ask the Titans, who last week turned the ball over five times (including four forced fumbles by Tillman) in a 51-20 home loss to Brian Urlacher & Co. that so outraged Tennessee owner Bud Adams that he put his entire organization on notice immediately after the game.

With the defense so ridiculously opportunistic, the Bears’ onus is no longer on quarterback Jay Cutler. That combined with a formidable running game and the addition of wide receiver Brandon Marshall has allowed the sourpuss quarterback to thrive.

Cutler, who has thrown 12 touchdown passes against eight interceptions this season, likely will need big doses of that boost from both his skill-position weapons and the defense tonight. Houston’s defense is that good.

The Texans might not force turnovers at the dizzying rate of Chicago, but Houston still can grind an offense into dust. Wade Phillips’ defense is allowing just 286.1 yards per game (third in the NFL), and Watt is a one-man wrecking crew with a league-leading 10 1/2 sacks and those ever-present long arms to bat down passes.

Surprisingly, the Texans are undefeated all-time vs. the Bears — holding a 2-0 lead in the brief series. Houston also has been one of the league’s best road teams this season, even winning at Denver, so Gary Kubiak’s team won’t be intimidated on the Midway or the expected rainy, 30-degree temperatures.

PICK: Texans, 20-13.

CONTENDERS

Cowboys (3-5) at Eagles (3-5): This is more of a desperation game for both teams than a big game on the NFL slate. Philadelphia is disarray after four consecutive losses following a 3-1 start, and the hot seat under Andy Reid has to feel more like molten lava. The Cowboys aren’t in much better shape, which means Jason Garrett knows how his coaching counterpart feels. Considering how surly Eagles fans are at the moment, it probably won’t feel like home-field advantage for QB Michael Vick and his beleaguered teammates. Then there’s QB Tony Romo’s 19-3 career record in November.

PICK: Cowboys, 34-21.

Chargers (4-4) at Buccaneers (4-4): It doesn’t get much more mediocre on the surface than a battle of .500 teams in Week 9, but this one still has plenty of intrigue because San Diego’s Norv Turner is fighting for his job and the league wants to know if Tampa Bay rookie RB phenom Doug Martin is for real. Martin romped for 251 yards and four TDs in win over the Raiders last week and is a big reason why the Bucs already have matched their win total for all of last season. San Diego never has lost in Tampa, and the Chargers will boost that mark to 6-0 against a Bucs team that isn’t quite there yet.

PICK: Chargers, 27-17.