With a little under two months until Christmas, many teams are adding a playoff berth to their wish lists. The NFL is saving the best for last this Sunday, with the Bears, fresh off their upset loss to the lowly Dolphins, preparing for a game in the Big Apple. A win could go a long way in securing a first round bye for both teams.

Sunday, November 12, 2006

Chicago Bears at New York Giants – Giants Stadium 8:15 PM EST (Artificial)

Records: Chicago 7-1 (5-3 ATS), N.Y. Giants 6-2 (5-3 ATS)

Line: Giants -1 (Opening: Giants -2½)

Over/Under: 39 (Opening: 37½)

Key Points: The Bears lost more than just a perfect season at Miami last week. LB Brian Urlacher, the heart and soul of the team, sustained a toe injury and is listed as questionable for this week. According to reports though, he did practice on Friday, giving the Chicago faithful hope that he would see action.

Urlacher isn’t the only key player who is less than 100 percent. WR Bernard Berrian could miss up to a month with bruised ribs. He’s listed as doubtful for Sunday’s game.

The Giants are banged up too. DE Michael Strahan has a bad foot injury and will miss 2-4 weeks in all likelihood—although he was quoted as saying he was day-to-day earlier in the week.

WR Armani Toomer is out for the season with an ACL tear.

Will CB Sam Madison miss his third game in a row? He’s listed as questionable with a hamstring injury.

WR Sinorice Moss continues to be hampered by his quad muscle and is reportedly going to miss yet another week.

It’s not all doom and gloom though, as WR Plaxico Burress (back) is reportedly ready for action despite his questionable status.

The last time the Bears were favored in prime time, against the Cards, they dropped the cash big time, failing to cover as an 11½-point chalk. But that was on a Monday night in October. Da Bears sport a 20-8 road record against the number when away from Soldier Field in November.

The Giants meanwhile, are 13-5 ATS when facing fellow NFC teams.

Upset last week by the Dolphins, the Bears have taken the under eight times in a row after a home loss.

Winneronline Opinion: Both teams have key players that could miss the game and while many will argue that Urlacher is more valuable to the Bears than Strahan is to the Giants, the fact that Toomer and possibly Madison and Moss will miss the game too doesn’t bode well. The Bears are mad that everyone is calling them overrated in light of their loss to Miami and will be firing on all cylinders. If Brian Urlacher does play it will give bettors even more reason to back Chicago.

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