Chicago Bears at Miami Dolphins, Sun Life Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL
Thursday, November 18, 2010, 8:20 pm EST, TV: NFL
Opening Line: Dolphins -2
Current Line: Dolphins -1.5
Opening Total: 39.5
Current Total: 39.5
Money Line: Dolphins -125 / Bears +105
The Chicago Bears (6-3) and Miami Dolphins (5-4) are both coming off much-needed wins last week, although Miami’s 29-17 home victory against Tennessee was costly and could be even tougher for a team dealing with multiple key injuries on a short week. The Dolphins (-1.5) lost their top two quarterbacks to injuries in the process and are expected to start third-stringer Tyler Thigpen against the Bears on Thursday Night Football.
Miami started Chad Pennington against the Titans for the first time this year last Sunday in place of the ineffective Chad Henne and saw him go down with a season-ending shoulder injury on the team’s first possession of the game. Henne then proceeded to suffer a knee injury in the third quarter after throwing for 240 yards with one touchdown and one interception, and he could also miss the rest of the year. Thigpen finished the game by throwing for 64 yards and a score.
The Dolphins also signed veteran QB Patrick Ramsey to back up Thigpen if Henne is not healthy enough to suit up. They also saw linebacker Cameron Wake (hip), safety Chris Clemons (hamstring), left tackle Jake Long (shoulder) and center Joe Berger (knee) hurt despite the win. Overall, Miami listed 13 players on the injury report Monday and will have practiced once.
Regardless, Chicago will still be weary of the Dolphins and can expect to see a heavy dose of the “Wildcat” offense led by running back Ronnie Brown, who burned them for 157 rushing yards in a 31-13 win at Soldier Field back in 2006. That win was the first loss for the Bears after a 7-0 start during their run to losing Super Bowl XLI, which ironically is also the last time they visited Miami. In addition, this will be the 25th anniversary of the Dolphins handing Chicago its only loss en route to winning Super Bowl XX.
The Bears have been solid on the road this year outside of a 17-3 loss to the Giants in Week 4. They are 3-1 straight-up and 2-1-1 against the spread away from home overall and have rebounded from consecutive home losses by winning two straight since their bye week.
Quarterback Jay Cutler has been sacked twice in the last two games after getting taken down 19 times in his previous three starts, and he simply made less mistakes than Minnesota’s Brett Favre in a 27-13 win last week. Cutler threw two interceptions but overcame that by tossing three touchdown passes while Favre turned the ball over four times, including three picks.
Chicago’s defense played very well again too against the Vikings, holding an opponent to 20 points or less for the eighth time in nine games. The Bears are tied for the NFL lead in interceptions (14) and forced fumbles (14) and have scored two defensive touchdowns.
The UNDER is 7-2 in Chicago’s games this season – including three straight – while the OVER is 4-0 in home games for the Dolphins, who are 4-1 ATS in their last five games. Miami has covered its last two home games after losing its first two straight-up by a combined 35 points.
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