(Best E Casino) - If Buccaneers quarterback Brian Griese is one for nostalgia, he's had a lot to contemplate recently.
The former Tampa Bay Buccaneers starting quarterback became the current Tampa Bay Buccaneers starting quarterback last week, when he began his second tour of duty with the team by engineering a 24-9 victory over the visiting Atlanta Falcons.
Before that contest, Griese hadn't played meaningful football for the Bucs since October of 2005, when a season-ending knee injury opened the door to Chris Simms and made Griese expendable.
Griese was cut by the Bucs the following March, and was scooped up by a Chicago Bears team that had endured an almost legendary revolving door at quarterback. Griese nearly won a Super Bowl ring as a backup to Rex Grossman in 2006, and finally got a chance to start as a Bear last fall, going 3-3 but not exactly solving the underachieving team's signal-calling problems.
Chicago traded Griese back to Tampa Bay for a sixth-round Draft choice this past March, and he'll have a chance to both renew old acquaintances and exact a measure of revenge when the Bucs visit the Bears at Soldier Field on Sunday.
The Bears, the only team in the NFL that was saddled with road games in the first two weeks of the season, will make their 2008 home opener with Kyle Orton established in the quarterback spot.
Orton, the 2005 fourth-round Draft choice out of Purdue, has played reasonably well in his first two starts of the year, a surprise win over the Colts (29-13) and a heartbreaking loss to the Panthers (20-17).
In the latter contest, the Bears had built a 17-3 lead and looked to be on the verge of a 2-0 start before Jake Delhomme led Carolina back for the victory.
As mentioned, Tampa Bay had a better Week 2 result, with the decisive victory over the Falcons helping to lessen the sting of an opening-week loss (24-20) to the Saints.
That defeat helped provoke something of a quarterbacking controversy involving Griese and fellow veteran journeyman Jeff Garcia. Bucs head coach Jon Gruden publicly stated that an ankle injury was the reason for Garcia's backup status in Week 2, but Garcia said the ailment wasn't bad enough to keep him out of the lineup.
Reports of a feud between Gruden and Garcia ensued, and the team was forced to rebut trade rumors after elevating Griese.
Garcia remains listed as "questionable" on this week's injury report, but is expected to be available to play.
SERIES HISTORY
The Bears hold a 35-17 lead in their series with the Buccaneers, including a 34-31 overtime victory when the teams last met, in Week 15 of the 2006 season at Soldier Field. The Buccaneers are 0-2 against Chicago since scoring a 19-7 home win over them in 2004, and last won in the Windy City in 2002.
The Bucs and Bears had two scheduled meetings a year as members of the NFC Central between 1978 and 2001.
Gruden is 3-2 in his career against Chicago, including a win in 1999 while with the Oakland Raiders. The Bears' Lovie Smith, who coached linebackers in Tampa Bay from 1996 through 2000, is 2-1 against both Gruden and the Bucs all- time.
WHEN THE BUCCANEERS HAVE THE BALL
Griese's performance in the win over the Falcons was far from jaw-dropping, but he took pretty good care of the football and didn't sink the Bucs with major mistakes. The 33-year-old was 18-of-31 passing on the day for 160 yards with a touchdown, a fumble lost, and a couple of sacks absorbed. Griese could have things tough this week if top wideout Joey Galloway (8 receptions), who is listed as questionable with a foot injury, can't go. Veteran Antonio Bryant (3 receptions) would likely start opposite Ike Hilliard (10 receptions, 1 TD) if Galloway is unavailable. Tight end John Gilmore (2 receptions, 1 TD), who played for Chicago from 2002 through 2007, will join Griese in trying to defeat an ex-employer. The key for the Bucs figures to again be the running game, however. Earnest Graham (207 rushing yards, 1 TD) rushed for 116 of Tampa's 164 ground yards versus Atlanta, including a 68-yard fourth-quarter blast that sealed the game for the home team. Warrick Dunn (103 rushing yards, 1 TD) has offered a solid change-of-pace for the Bucs, and scored on a 17-yard run last Sunday. The Buccaneer line has allowed four sacks through two games.
It was widely believed that the Bears would have to be dominant defensively in order to have success in 2008, and Chicago has generally made good on that directive through two games. The defense is allowing just 3.6 yards per rush thus far, has surrendered only one touchdown pass, and has posted five sacks and three turnovers. The secondary benefited from an interception for cornerback Charles Tillman (12 tackles, 1 INT) against the Panthers, while safety Mike Brown (5 tackles) dragged Jake Delhomme down for a sack. End Alex Brown (5 tackles) has a sack in each of the Bears' first two games to date. The strength of the unit remains up the middle, where linebackers Brian Urlacher (11 tackles), Lance Briggs (14 tackles), and tackle Tommie Harris (2 tackles) are three of the best in the business when healthy. Harris has been slowed by a knee injury of late, but is listed as probable.
WHEN THE BEARS HAVE THE BALL
Orton hasn't been Chicago's long-awaited chosen one at the quarterback position, but he also hasn't made the mistakes that seemed to be Grossman's weekly calling card. The fourth-year-pro doesn't have a touchdown pass or a turnover through two weeks, and has made do with perhaps the weakest group of receivers in the league. Redskins castoff Brandon Lloyd leads the club in catches (7) and receiving yards (92), while tight ends Greg Olsen (4 receptions) and Desmond Clark (4 receptions) have been frequent outlets for the QB as well. Olsen helped sink Chicago's chances with two lost fumbles against the Panthers last week. The brightest spot for the Bears during their 1-1 start has been the play of rookie running back Matt Forte (215 rushing yards, 1 TD, 6 receptions), who is on pace to shatter Anthony Thomas' franchise rookie record for rushing yards. Forte carried 23 times for 92 yards in Carolina, and also caught three balls out of the backfield. Wideout and return man extraordinaire Devin Hester (2 receptions) is questionable for Sunday with a rib injury, but his absence would have more impact on the special teams than the offense.
If the Buccaneers are able to harass Orton the way they did the Falcons' Matt Ryan last week, it's likely they'll be leaving Soldier Field with the win. Monte Kiffin's unit picked the rookie off twice, sacked him four times, and goaded him into a weak 13-of-33 passing day. Pass rushers Greg White (5 tackles, 2.5 sacks) and Gaines Adams (6 tackles, 2 sacks) have both been menacing in the first two weeks, and defensive backs Aqib Talib, Sabby Piscitelli (4 tackles), and Phillip Buchanon (9 tackles) all have interceptions. Talib is regarded as questionable for this week with a hamstring problem. Tampa is allowing a modest 103 rushing yards per game through two weeks, and shut down the Falcons' Michael Turner and Jerious Norwood to the tune of 60 yards on 20 combined carries last Sunday. Middle linebacker Barrett Ruud (18 tackles) leads the club in tackles, and tackle Chris Hovan (9 tackles) has been active at the point of attack.
FANTASY FOCUS
The Buccaneers don't move the ball with anything resembling consistency, though there are a few solid fantasy plays on the offense. Graham always seems to contribute something, and Hilliard is a decent No. 2 or flex option in leagues that value receptions. Probably best to stay away from Griese, especially with his top target Galloway a question mark. The Buccaneers defense doesn't always force a ton of turnovers, but regularly keeps the opposition to a low scoring number.
After watching him gut Indianapolis in Week 1, most fantasy owners who had been hesitant about starting Forte quickly elevated him to their lineups. After totaling 113 yards against the Panthers in Week 2, he's worth keeping in the lineup. Otherwise, there's no one to start for Chicago save perhaps the defense and reliable kicker Robbie Gould.
OVERALL ANALYSIS
If you like good defense and ground-control offense, you'll want to look in on Soldier Field this Sunday. Both offenses will spend 60 minutes trying to avoid a game-changing mistake, and both defenses will be looking to take advantage of mediocre quarterbacks and young running backs via turnovers. In that respect, expect the Bears to emerge triumphant. There are more playmakers on the Chicago defense, and the margin for error for Griese will be lessened with Galloway at best shy of 100 percent and at worst out of the lineup.
Best E Casino Predicted Outcome: Bears 18, Buccaneers 13
