The Chicago Bears dominated on both offense and defense in a crushing 51-20 victory over the Tennessee Titans, improving to 7-1.

Chicago scored quickly and often to take early control at LP Field, scoring 28 points in the first quarter, a franchise record for most points scored in the first quarter. The first score was a result of a blocked punt, defensive end Corey Wootton recovered the ball for a touchdown.

Running back, Matt Forte, gave the Bears a 14-2 lead after his eight-yard rushing touchdown, his third of the year. The Bears’ defense came up with another big play on the ensuing drive. Linebacker, Brian Urlacher, picked off quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and returned the interception 46 yards to extend the lead to 21-2. The final score of the first quarter came thanks to quarterback, Jay Cutler, connecting with wideout, Brandon Marshall, for a 13-yard touchdown pass.

Cutler and Marshall connected two more times in the 4th quarter on a 39-yard touchdown pass and a 5-yard touchdown pass to finish off the Titans. Marshall finished the game with nine receptions for 122 yards, along with his three touchdown passes. This was the first time Marshall caught multiple touchdown passes since his 2009 season.

Cutler was extremely efficient, completing 19 of 26 passes for 229 yards and three touchdown passes. Forte finished the game with 12 carries for 103 yards and one touchdown. Forte also contributed in the pass game catching two passes for 45 yards. Forte’s 8.6 yards per carry was a season best, and it was his second time surpassing 100 yards on the ground this season.

The Bears’ defense is credited with their success this season, and they continue to play a vital role in each week’s victory. They have compiled a total of eight defensive and special team touchdowns, which are tied for the most in NFL history.

Chicago is currently one of the best NFL defenses with 27 takeaways. Cornerback, Charles Tillman, contributed to raising the defenses’ takeaways, with his four forced fumbles along with his team-high nine tackles. Tillman was just named NFC Defensive Player of the Month for October, and continues to be a nightmare for offenses across the NFL.

Tennessee Titans’ running back Chris Johnson was their lone star in the crushing defeat. Johnson carried the ball 16 times for 141 yards and one touchdown. This was Johnson’s third game running for over 100 yards.

Hasselbeck finished the game, completing 20 of 35 passes for 194 yards, one touchdown and one interception. His touchdown pass came in the third quarter on a 30 yard pass to wideout, Nate Washington.

The Titans will be back in action next week against the Miami Dolphins. As for the Chicago Bears, they will look to continue their home dominance and take on fellow 7-1 opponents, the Houston Texans.

Image Courtesy : Chicago Bears

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At long last, one team has broken away from the middling pack and established a sole proprietorship on first place. After a 29-26 overtime victory over the New York Jets, the New England Patriots now sit atop the AFC East with a record of 4-3. However, the Jets weren’t the only team to suffer a late game loss in week 7. The Buffalo Bills fell to the Tennessee Titans 35-34, after a fourth quarter comeback led by veteran quarterback, Matt Hasselbeck, handed the Bills their fourth loss of the season.

In Foxboro, Massachusetts the Patriots took advantage of a couple of untimely Mark Sanchez turnovers and some suspect play-calling to grab their fourth win of the season. Tom Brady tossed two touchdowns and didn’t turn the ball over once to a Jets defense that looked primed and ready for an upset from the first snap. However, even a stellar defensive effort wasn’t enough to combat the continued offensive woes for the Jets.

Mark Sanchez fumbled a hand-off in the opening half which lead to a safety, and threw an interception on an under thrown pass to a wide open Stephen Hill in the end zone. The Patriots rallied off a first quarter kick return touchdown by Devin McCourty. Rob Gronkowski added two touchdown passes, and his size ultimately proved too much for the Jets undermanned secondary to handle. Despite a valiant effort, the Patriots added a Gostkowski field goal in overtime, followed by a strip-sack of Sanchez to end the game. Jets fans have to be wondering how much longer Mark Sanchez can struggle before Tim Tebow sees some substantial playing time.

In Buffalo, the Bills engaged in a back and forth shootout all day, only to fall 35-34. Ryan Fitzpatrick looked more impressive than in recent weeks, tossing three touchdowns to only one interception. Running backs, Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller, both looked fresh, having seemingly fully recovered from early season injuries. However, the Bills are still working out the kinks on defensive. One of the most highly touted units in the off-season, this Buffalo defense is yet to make any type of meaningful impact toward a Bills victory.

In Week 8, the Miami Dolphins return from bye to face the Jets at Metlife Stadium. The Patriots travel to St. Louis to take on the Rams, and the Bills receive their much needed bye week.

Image Courtesy of   New York Jets

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The Minnesota Vikings extended their win streak to three games after an easy 30-7 victory against AFC South opponent Tennessee Titans.

Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder led the Vikings offense, completing 25-of-35 passes for 258 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Ponder was also effective running for 31 yards on three carries.

Percy Harvin led all receivers with eight receptions for 108 yards and a 10-yard receiving touchdown in the third quarter. Tight-end Kyle Rudolph caught his 4th touchdown of the season in the 4th quarter. Rudolph has already surpassed last years total touchdowns just five games into the 2012 season.

Running back Adrian Peterson had another efficient game on the ground rushing for 88 yards on 17 carries. Peterson also caught three passes for 15 yards. Peterson has rushed for over 80 yards in four of his five starts this season. Harvin was also featured in the run game, scoring his first rushing touchdown of the season in the 1st quarter.

The Tennessee Titans were led by veteran quarterback Matt Hasselbeck. Hasselbeck started in place of injured quarterback Jake Locker, who suffered a separated shoulder in week 4. Hasselbeck completed 26-of-43 passes for 200 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

Wideout Kendall Wright led the Titans in receiving with nine receptions for 66 yards. Tight-end Jared Cook also caught five passes for 37 yards and his 2nd touchdown of the season. Cook is one touchdown shy from matching last years total.

Tennessee’s run game continues to struggle, and Chris Johnson has been extremely inconsistent. Johnson ran the ball 15 times for 24 yards and caught one reception for five yards. Johnson had a surprising 100+ breakout game last week against the Houston Texans. In Johnson’s other four start he has rushed for a combined 69 yards.

Titans’ third string quarterback Rusty Smith entered the game for Tennessee’s final possession, completing 3-of-5 passes for 34 yards.

The Vikings are undefeated at home this season and their 4-1 start is a team best since 2009. Furthermore the Vikings have exceeded last seasons win total five weeks into the NFL season. Minnesota is definitely the biggest surprise in the NFC North Division, and remains atop the division.

Minnesota will head to FedEx Field next Sunday to take on the Washington Redskins. The Titans will be short on rest and be back in action Thursday night for another tough match-up against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

For additional player or game statistics click here. 

Image Courtesy of  Official Tennessee Titans

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Before agreeing with management on a buyout of the final year of his contract in January of 2011, former Tennessee Titans head coach Jeff Fisher had held the longest tenure in the league at his position – 16 years. So when Tennesee entered the 2011 season under first-year head coach Mike Munchak, no one expected them to finish with a winning record of 9-7 in a loaded AFC and just narrowly miss out on making the postseason for the first time since 2008.

The man who played a major role in the Titans’ success last year was the wily old veteran, former Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, who led his team to a Super Bowl XL appearance against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Tennessee signed Hasselbeck to a three year, $21 million deal last July. He went on to start all 16 games in 2011, throwing for solid totals of 3,571 yards and 18 touchdowns.

But the Tennessee organization came to the conclusion this preseason that with Hasselbeck’s 37^th birthday quickly approaching at the end of the month and second-year quarterback Jake Locker waiting in the weeds, this was the perfect time to move toward the future and give Locker the starting job.

Locker impressed the coaching staff by completing 34 of 66 pass attempts for 542 yards, four touchdowns and zero interceptions in five short appearances last season.

Pro Bowl running back Chris Johnson, who ran for a league high of 2,006 yards just two years prior, got off to a more than disappointing start in 2011 after holding out for all of training camp and the entire preseason. He did, however, manage to finish with 1,047 rushing yards.

The most significant offseason loss from the Titans upcoming roster is former one-time Pro Bowl cornerback Cortland Finnegan, who signed a five year, $50 million contract with the St. Louis Rams this past March. The Titans hope that they will be able to maintain their quality defense without him, as they finished eighth overall in scoring defense last year, giving up an average of 19.8 points per game.

Seven-time Pro Bowl guard Steve Hutchinson was added to the mix after signing a three year deal with the Titans following his release from the Minnesota Vikings in March. Hutchinson over the years has been widely regarded as one of the best linemen in the game.

The Titans’ 2012 first round pick, Kendall Wright, a wide receiver out of Baylor, is expected to be Locker’s main target for years to come. Tennessee selected him with the 20^th overall pick.

With a young quarterback taking the reins for the first time, the Titans will expect growing pains and should be grateful to finish around the .500 mark by season’s end.

Image Courtesy of  Official Tennessee Titans

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