Over the past five weeks, Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos (7-5) have needed to score just 16 or more points in order to win their games. In Week 14 against the Chicago Bears (7-5), that number may be even lower.
The Bears' Friday injury report announced they will be without their two, most important offensive cogs in Matt Forte and Jay Cutler. Missing since he broke his thumb in a Week 11 game against the San Diego Chargers, Jay Cutler had been in the middle of arguably his best season since the Broncos traded him to Chicago, leading the Bears to a 7-3 record.
With Cutler sidelined possibly for the rest of the regular season, the Bears offense had to lean on their star running back Matt Forte. But Forte went down in the Bears' Week 13 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, leaving the rushing duties to backup running back Marion Barber.
As a result, the Bears scored only 3 points in their loss to the Chiefs. Backup QB Caleb Hanie threw three interceptions and Barber rushed for only 44 yards as the offense could not take advantage of the generous field position their defense and special teams continuously gave them.
Also out for the Bears this Sunday is starting safety and second-year pro from Florida, Major Wright. Wright has started only 8 games in the 2011 season, so the Bears figure to fill the safety position admirably with the likes of either Pro-Bowler Brandon Meriweather or up-and-coming Craig Steltz.
For updates on this Week 14 matchup, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more on this week’s game, visit Bears blog Windy City Gridiron and Broncos blog Mile High Report. Head over to SB Nation NFL for more from around the league.