Having played four of their past six on the road, the
Chicago Bears finally return home to Soldier Field to host the
Miami Dolphins, a team still reeling from falling to the
Green Bay Packers in a last-second heartbreaker.
ESPN Bears reporter Michael C. Wright and Dolphins reporter James Walker take a closer look at the matchup:
Wright: There’s plenty of second-guessing going on in Miami after the Dolphins blew a lead and dropped that heartbreaker to the Green Bay Packers in the final seconds. Typically, losses like that are emotionally draining for everyone involved, making it tougher to prepare for the next opponent. What’s your sense of how the players and coaches have responded since Sunday’s setback, and do you see the Dolphins finding a way to bounce back on the road against the Bears?
Walker: Good question, Michael. The Dolphins are putting a “good face” on this loss. Coach Joe Philbin made it a point Tuesday to say this is one of the best practices the team had all season. Players also are beating the drum this week that everything is fine -- the Dolphins are very close, and they were just one play away. That’s what the Dolphins are telling themselves and the media this week. But this is a team that’s lost three of its past four games -– and two were 19-point losses to the Buffalo Bills and
Kansas City Chiefs. At some point, confidence can be an issue for Miami. I don’t believe the team is at that point, because the Dolphins have enough talent to compete with most teams. But anything is possible, especially on the road, and another poor showing in Chicago could create some doubt.
[h=4]Dolphins at Bears: Stats of the Week[/h]
750
The number of overall victories for the Bears, as they became the first franchise in NFL history to reach that milestone with their victory last Sunday over the Atlanta Falcons. The team's all-time win percentage is .572.
30-13
The margin in which the Dolphins have been outscored by opponents in the first quarter this season. Miami will need a fast start on the road against Chicago.
