The Bears scored first as backup quarterback Todd Collins hit tight end Greg Olsen on a 15-yard touchdown pass to put the Bears ahead 7-0 in the first quarter.  Collins had a very good night even though he hasn’t had much time to learn the offense.

The Browns tied the game after running back Montario Hardesty ran into the end zone from one yard out, making the score 7-7.

Browns kicker Phil Dawson booted a 24-yard field goal to give Cleveland a 10-7 lead.  Chicago answered that field goal as kicker Robbie Gould knocked one in from 46 yards out to tie the game at 10 in the second quarter.

The score was tied until Dawson booted the game-winner from 36 yards to give the Browns a 13-10 win.

Stud of the Game

Second string quarterback Todd Collins, with plenty of protection from his offensive line and a pretty good running game, ran the offense well and got the Bears moving.  He definitely deserves a lot of credit for what the Bears did on the evening, and he should have cemented a spot on the final roster.

Dud of the Game

The Bears' special teams unit, in particular the punt protection team, allowed the punt block that led to the Browns' game-winning field goal.  Bears' opponents have three blocked punts this preseason, a very unusual thing for a team that has prided itself in special teams and has consistently had some of the NFL's best special teams units.  If this problem persists, it’s going to be a bad year for this group.

Analysis

This game was a showcase for players that are in danger of being cut by Saturday afternoon.  None of the key starters played (such as quarterback Jay Cutler, defensive end Julius Peppers, and running back Matt Forte) leaving the backups to do their work.  Some did well; others not so much.

Defensive end/tackle Jarron Gilbert, defensive tackle Mick Williams, running back Kahlil Bell, and cornerback D.J. Moore enhanced their chances of making the team.

 Linebacker Tim Shaw (already cut by the Bears as of this writing), linebacker Kevin Malast (rumored to have been cut by the Bears as of this writing), and defensive tackle Marcus Harrison did not help their cause.  Let’s see what happens during the next two days as the Bears trim their roster to 53 and add some players to an eight-man practice squad.

This was definitely the Bears' best preseason game as they seemed to work well on offense, and at times on defense.  While we must keep in mind that these were second and third string players that the Bears played, the plays were the same as the starters will run, so it looks like something is working but perhaps just not working that well.

Next Up

The Bears will start the regular season Sunday, September 12 at home against the Detroit Lions.  
Stay turned for a full preview of this game coming next week.

Read more Chicago Bears news on BleacherReport.com

That led to a short drive, led by backup quarterback Todd Collins, who started the game while the Bears let Jay Cutler rest on the sidelines.

This led to a three-play, 19 yard drive which ended in a 15-yard touchdown pass from Collins to tight end Greg Olsen.

The two teams traded field goals in the second quarter, going into halftime at a 10-10 tie. After two hopeful chances at the beginning of the second half for the Bears, the team only made it into Browns territory twice on offense, getting no closer than the 46-yard line.

They had a total of 59 net yards on their five possessions in the second half.

The Browns special teams blocked a punt with 2:18 left in the game and drove 34 yards to kick a last-second field goal of 37 yards by Phil Dawson to set the Bears at a defeated preseason (0-4).

Young linebacker Kevin Malast, an undrafted player out of Rutgers, put on quite a show for the Bears, picking up 12 tackles (nine solo) and a sack for a loss.

Place kicker Robbie Gould bounced back, by hitting a 46-yard field goal to tie the game in the second quarter. Gould had missed his first two chances last week against the Cardinals, but looked back in shape this week.

Many have been talking about how the Chicago Bears should give up on the season before it starts and some say that the Bears may be worse than the Lions.

The truth of the matter is, the Bears have not been as effective on the defensive side of the ball and the offensive line is old and decrepit.

The defense may have shed a light of hope, but at this point I have not seen what I would like to see on the offensive side of the ball for the Bears. Bring on the Lions.

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Right back to where they started. 

Bears camp has attempted to fool the public into believing there is a spot for Greg Olsen in Mike Martz's system. A friend to Cutler and one of his favorite targets, Olsen was supposedly going to have a spot. 

The Bears need Olsen because they lack receiving weapons.

Now it would seem Olsen could be on the move either because there is no place for him or the Bears' blocking is so bad, the team needs to sacrifice a position for a better blocking tight end.

On Saturday afternoon, the 53-man roster is due and as reported, the Bears have been going around the league to see if the team can get a draft pick for the players about to be cut. 

Usual stuff.

However, a league source told Mike Mulligan of the Chicago Sun-Times that Olsen is still available.

Olsen trade talks were sparked in March and a trade seemed to be on the table to send Olsen to the New England Patriots, but nothing solidified. The Patriots went on to draft a tight end in the second and fourth rounds of the draft.

Now, with Chris Williams continuing to struggle, it would seem Williams, the 2008 first-round pick, may cause the trading of Olsen, the 2007 first-round pick.

Bears sure know how to pick them.

Williams, along with the offensive line as a whole, has become so bad that the Bears may have to play veteran tight end Brandon Manumaleuna solely to have any kind of running game and to keep Cutler alive.

All of this would mean no real place for Olsen.

Problem in trading Olsen is the fact the Bears overrate him as being worth a second-to-third-round draft pick rather than his projected value of a fifth-round draft pick. Mix that with the fact Cutler really likes him and you have someone who is hard to move.

Regardless of what plays out, it would seem if Olsen is to stay, which one would assume he will, he will not be used too much in the offensive scheme because of the lack of blocking and the fact Martz is not going to run two tight end sets.

It would seem the phasing out of Olsen has already begun as he was not targeted on one play in the latest preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals.

Something tells me the Bears offensive line may be sidelining more players before this season is over.

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We have seen what was to be a powerful, high-scoring offense look jittery and not at all effective this preseason, and there are several reasons why this has happened.

Can the Bears put things together in time for the regular season? Will they look better during the regular season?

Don’t fear, Bears fans; there is still hope for the Bears. There is time to put things together, and there are ways that the Bears can get better during the regular season.

However, it depends a lot on what the coaching staff feels they need to do and what management will allow them to do in terms of acquiring players that have been cut or are available via trade. Perhaps a roster move or two outside the organization would be just what this team needs to get things going the right direction.

The offensive line is having a terrible preseason and is poised to have a pretty bad regular season the way things look going right now.

Left tackle Chris Williams, a first round pick a couple seasons ago, has failed to impress so far this preseason and has been considered by many to be the weak link on the offensive line. Granted, the Bears have not (on purpose) given him any help during the preseason, but his inability to block pass rushers on his own is somewhat scary.

So what can the Bears do to fix these issues? For one, they can provide the help that they held back from Williams during the regular season. Keeping a running back or a tight end in to block would be a huge plus, but that takes away two options in the passing game. However, the passing game won’t work if Jay Cutler is being chased all over the field or is being sacked, so the Bears may have to sacrifice there in order to make things work.

The rest of the offensive line has struggled as well but should get better as the season goes on. They are still a fairly inexperienced unit, with guard Lance Louis starting for the first time and right tackle Frank Omiyale still learning and growing. Hopefully they will be able to get their problems worked out and play much better than they did in the preseason.

If everything comes together on the offensive line, then this team will be able to do well this season, and it’s not out of the question to think that the offensive line will get better and have a strong regular season. There is still time to start moving in the right direction and making things work.  

One way that the Bears can help fix the problems on the offensive line is to scan the waiver wire and see what players may be out there that can help them. They could also look to try to make a trade with another team to help improve their offensive line. These two scenarios depend a lot on what general manager Jerry Angelo wants to do (or is willing to do).

For their problems on defense, some of the issues that they have been having have been related to injuries. They have not been a healthy unit for most of the preseason, but everyone looks like they will be back and ready to go in the regular season. Once this group is back and functioning together well (and in good health), it should perform much better.

Still, some of the issues that the Bears had on defense last year (in particular their issues with allowing opposing offenses to convert 3rd-and-long opportunities, as well as their inability to get to the quarterback) still remain.

As we saw in their game against the Oakland Raiders during the preseason, they clearly still have issues keeping opposing offenses from converting third down opportunities and have to work on that before and during the regular season.

Third down conversions killed the Bears defense during the season last year, and it already looks as if they are starting to have the same problem again for the 2010 season. What can they do to get better on third downs?

First, they can rush the quarterback better. In the past, the Bears have failed to put enough pressure on the quarterback in order to force him into errant throws, interceptions, or running the ball out of bounds, and this has allowed opposing teams to convert third down opportunities, some of them from beyond 10 yards.

With the acquisition of Julius Peppers, it is hoped that the Bears' pass rush will get better in 2010. If you watched Peppers in the Bears' preseason game against the Cardinals, you saw just a little bit of what he will be able to do against opposing offenses. He should be able to provide the defense a lift in terms of rushing the passer and helping to take care of those long third down conversions.

So do the Bears have hope for the new season? Will they be better than last season? These questions will be answered up front with the offensive and defensive lines. The Bears will do no better than these two units do this season, so if they are going to win and be a contender, they have to be much better on the offensive and defensive lines.

Their play in the first game of the season (against the Detroit Lions on September 12th) will tell us a lot about how their season will go.

Read more Chicago Bears news on BleacherReport.com

We aren't talking about your ordinary blonde though.  We are talking about Kristin Cavallari, the Laguna Beach/Hills star who at one time was linked to Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez. 

What can I say? The girl likes her quarterbacks.

Cutler and Cavallari have been spotted all over Chicago together, and have not been shy about hiding their feelings for one another. 

The regular season hasn't even started yet, but the WAGs are in midseason form.  Congratulations, Kristin Cavallari! 

You are officially one of them now.  Let's take a closer look at the latest WAG to join the party.

Begin Slideshow

Starters, if they even play, generally get one series or so before getting pulled which is the smart move. No offense to those fighting for their professional lives, but the most important thing about Week four of the preseason is to make sure no starters get injured.

So why watch this last game if it is going to be dominated by scrubs and back ups? Well here are five battles to watch that could impact the Bears in the regular season...

1. The Final Linebacker Spot: Tim Shaw vs Brian Iwuh

Shaw was the best special teams player on the Chicago Bears last season by far, recording 24 tackles on special teams, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. He was also named to the 2009 All-Joe Team, which is a list of players that the USA Today felt were the most underrated players who did the most.

(Although some former past Joe's from the Bears include Kevin Payne and Garrett Wolfe... so maybe it isn't all that good of list to make.)

Iwuh has a slight advantage over Shaw in the sense that he was part of the Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker rotation over the past couple seasons. Also billed as a special teams ace, Iwuh was hurt early in camp but came on strong, intercepting two passes in his first practice back and playing well this past week against the Cardinals.

Which ever player makes the roster (and it is very unlikely that both make it. Six linebackers is a pretty good number, seven is almost unheard of) the expectations will be that that player will be the top special teamer on the roster.

2. Defensive Lineman: Henry Melton vs Jarron Gilbert

Both players were drafted last season, Gilbert in the third round and Melton in the fifth but neither have wowed coaches in camp.

Expect the Bears D-line to consist of the following: Tommie Harris, Anthony Adams, Julius Peppers, Mark Anderson, Israel Idonije, Corey Wootten and Marcus Harrison.

With those seven, expect the Bears to keep two more players, maximum. One of those spots should go to Matt Toeaina, who has played very well through the first three weeks of the preseason, leaving the two mid round draft picks from a year ago to battle it out for the last spot.

Melton spent all of last season on the IR list as he continued to adjust to the defensive end position (he played running back for his first couple years in college). Gilbert saw minimal game action last season but participated fully in practices.

The real question may not come down to who is better or more ready. It may come down to numbers. Peppers, Anderson, Izzy and Wootten are all defensive ends. Harris, Adams, Harrison and Toeaina are all defensive tackles. So which position do the Bears need more depth at?

The answer is more than likely defensive end. Despite there being four at each, the defensive end position has more questions marks on it once you get past Peppers and Idonije has seen significant time at the defensive tackle position, so he could fill in there if needed.

If that ends up being the case, then expect the Bears to go with Melton. If they just go with the best available, look for Gilbert to make the roster and Melton to get pushed towards the practice squad.

3. Third String Running Back: Kahlil Bell vs Garrett Wolfe

Bell came out of nowhere in the middle of last season when he broke off a 72 yard run in the second quarter of a loss against the Eagles. Going into his second season, Bell has shown some abilities to make plays on special teams as well, so he is not just a one dimensional back, but he would not be the change-of-pace back that most teams look for in their third string running back.

Wolfe would be the change-of-pace back and the more experienced special teamer of the two.

That said, the Bears have been waiting for for three years for Wolfe to be that explosive change of pace player they thought they were drafting. The Bears seemed to hope that Wolfe would be a Darren Sproles type of player, coming in during certain situations and be insanely elusive.

So far though, he has not lived up to the billing. Some of that may be attributed to former offensive coordinator Ron Turner, but even during preseason, Wolfe looks like he is just a step to slow to be a 5'7" running back in the NFL.

The real test in this final preseason game may actually be who can block better. Given his size, the advantage would seem to go towards Bell.

4. Final Three Cornerback spots: D.J. Moore vs Corey Graham vs Joshua Moore vs Tim Jennings vs Woodny Turenne

A five man competition for the three spots (assuming they go with five cornerbacks on roster). D.J. Moore has looked solid in preseason and Graham has gotten some extensive time on the field, so look for both of them to grab a spot.

That leaves rookie fifth round draft pick Joshua Moore, former Indianapolis Colts corner Tim Jennings and seasoned Bear training camp and practice squad member Woodny Turenne.

Now the feel good pick would be Turenne who was signed last season, cut, then signed to the practice squad for the remainder of the year. But the Bears did give Joshua Moore a four year contract and he has shown some positive things through the first three preseason games.

Jennings has by far the most experience and is a solid special teams player as well. In his three years with the Colts, he recorded 126 tackles and two interceptions.

So if any one of the three can make a significant impact in the final preseason game, that should make them the front runner for the final spot.

5. Back Up Quarterbacks: Todd Collins vs Caleb Hanie vs Dan Lefevour

This is the most interesting match up. Each player have different factors that work in their favor.

Collins is the experienced veteran and was just given a nice little signing bonus, which teams generally do not give if they feel the player is will be cut before the regular season.

Hanie has been the back up for the past couple season and seemingly improved year after year. Although a shoulder injury suffered in week one could hurt his chances.

Lefevour is a sixth round pick that many consider one of the biggest steals of the draft. In the most recent game, Lefevour went 10-12 for 99 yards and a touchdown.

Now in a perfect world, Collins and Hanie would stay on as Cutler's reserves and Lefevour would get moved to the practice squad where he can get in reps and develop. The only problem with that scenario is that many feel if Lefevour is placed on waivers, another team will snag him.

So what do you look for in this final game? See how well Collins and Lefevour play. If both do outstanding and Hanie either doesn't play or does poorly in his time, he could be in a little trouble.

Read more Chicago Bears news on BleacherReport.com

A) A Chicago Bears Fan -

B) A fan of The Hills, her reality TV show -

C) A fantasy guy crazier enough to draft Cutler early -

D) Jay Cutler.

There are other possible benefits that might come from this union as well.

Begin Slideshow

Will find out in week one when the Bears take on the Detroit Lions.

Who will be on the opening day roster you might ask. I will predict the 53 man roster, tell you who will make the team, who won’t make the team, and who might surprise some people this year.

QB

1) Jay Cutler- Clearly the number one quarterback.

2) Caleb Hanie- He is working hard to make a week one return, if he can’t Todd Collins will make the team.

Others:

Todd Collins- At age 38 he might not have much left in the tank. With the Bears signing him and giving him an $100,000 signing bonus that lets them decide easier. He is no guarantee to make the roster.

Dan LeFevour- The sixth round pick has shown why he is a project, expect for the Bears to put him on the practice squad.

RB

3) Matt Forte- Forte looks rejuvenated and ready to go, I hope he plays well because I have him on my fantasy team. In all honesty, he looks healthy and destined for a good season.

4) Chester Taylor- Taylor is one of the best backups in the NFL and he will be pair very well with Matt Forte.

5) Kahlil Bell- Bell showed last season that he has potential, but he has been disappointing to say the least this preseason.

Others:

Garrett Wolfe- Wolfe has dissapointed since he landed in the Windy City. He surprisngly has turned into a solid special teams player, but with the talk of him being traded expect him to be on another team this season.

Brandon Minor- It’s a shame Brandon didn’t get a shot because he is a very talented runner. Should earn a spot on the practice squad

FB

Will Ta’ufo’ou/Eddie Williams- I don’t expect the Bears to carry a fullback, instead they will carry four tight ends and have them switch off at H-Back during games.

WR

6) Devin Hester- In Mike Martz’s offense, Hester is destined to have a breakout year. He was doing really well last season until he suffered an injury. Expect him to be a real weapon in his third full season as a wide receiver.

7) Johnny Knox- This guy is a real player. No one thought a fifth round pick from Abilene Christian could do what he did last season. One of the fastest players in the NFL, Knox should really thrive in Mike Martz’s passing attack.

8) Devin Aromashodu- He didn’t really get his shot until the end of the season because of an injury he suffered during week one. Cutler loves D.A. because he is such a big target, watch out for him to be a go to guy in the redzone.

9) Rashied Davis- The veteran receiver didn’t get much playing time last season. He has thrived this training camp, he could be used a lot more than last season. He just needs to improve his catching because he has caught a lot of catchable balls in the past.

10) Earl Bennett- Bennett has been hit with the injury bug this training camp, so he is out of sync with the offense. He is a very consistent receiver, so he should get into the mix once he recovers.

11) Juaquin Iglesias- Does anyone really know what this guy can do? A third round pick last season, Iglesias is trying to earn playing time. He scored a touchdown last week against Arizona, but will he make the team? With Mike Martz running the offense, I’m pretty sure he would like to carry a sixth receiver.

Others:

Greg Matthews- A big receiver out of Michigan could find a spot on the practice squad.

Freddie Barnes- A fast receiver out of Bowling Green could land on the practice squad.

TE

12) Greg Olsen- The fourth year tight end is very talented. Expect him to do well even though analysts expect him to disappear in the Mike Martz led offense.

13) Brandon Manumaleuna- Manumaleuna, considered the best blocking tight end in the NFL, is basically another offensive lineman out there.

14) Desmond Clark- The 33 year old is probably not going to be back in Chicago next season, but if he can stay healthy he could still have a couple more seasons with another team in the NFL.

15) Kellen Davis- A big kid with lots of potential who should get some looks in red-zone plays.

Others:

Richard Angulo- The veteran spent time with offensive line coach Mike Tice in Jacksonville, but its a numbers game and Angulo doesn’t have the numbers on his side.

Offensive Line

16) Chris Williams- He needs to protect Cutler pretty well this season in order for this offense to be successful.

17) Roberto Garza- The veteran makes the move to left guard, but he should be fine because he has been pretty steady for the Bears.

18) Olin Kreutz- Still one of the elite centers, Kreutz is a real leader in the locker room and on the field.

19) Lance Louis- He played TE at San Diego State and was used as a tackle in training camp last season, but now he will be the starter at right guard for the Bears. The microscope will be on him all season.

20) Frank Omiyale- Frank the “Tank” makes the transition back to his natural position at right tackle. He didn’t get the job done last season at left guard, so putting him back in his comfortable spot should make him a solid player, hopefully.

21, 22, 23) Josh Beekman, Kevin Shaffer, J’Marcus Webb should all be solid backups at their offensive line positions.

Others:

Johan Asiasta, James Marten, Levi Horn, and Tim Walter- The Bears are expected to keep two offensive linemen on the practice squad, expect Asiasta and Marten to get those spots.

DE:

24) Julius Peppers- Obviously this guy is the starter on the right side of the defensive line, but he will be used on the left side as well. I’m looking for big things out of this guy.

25) Mark Anderson- Listed as the starter at right defensive end spot, should get hits on the quarterback like he was used to doing during his rookie season in 2006.

26) Israel Idonije- Idonije should get his playing time in the rotation. He is a beast on special teams and he could even be used at defensive tackle.

27, 28, 29) Corey Wootton, Henry Melton, Jarron Gilbert- Wootton should get his shot because he is so athletic and he is healthy again. Melton can play both defensive end and defensive tackle, so he should be a solid option of the bench. Gilbert hasn’t been healthy this training camp and he isn’t in great standing with GM Jerry Angelo, but his draft status should help him snag a spot on the team.

Others:

Barry Turner- An undrafted rookie from Nebraska could take up a spot on the practice squad.

DT:

30) Tommie Harris- He was surgery free this off-season and has looked like his old self. With Peppers on the line with him that could open him up for more pressure on the quarterback.

31) Anthony Adams- He has always been a solid undersized nose tackle. Expect the same out of him this season.

32) Matt Toeaina- He has drawn rave reviews from Bears coaches this training camp. He has sat on the bench for the last two seasons and it seems he might finally get the shot he deserves.

33) Marcus Harrison- A former third round pick by the Bears, Harrison has been given a shot to shine, but hasn’t done much with that. He is still in the rotation, but he won’t be in the starting lineup very much this season.

Others:

Mick Williams- An undersized rookie out of Pittsburgh might land a spot on the practice squad.

LB:

34) Brian Urlacher- Having #54 back is nice, but will he be the same Pro Bowl type player? He looks to be in the best shape of his life, if he can’t be steady this defense won’t be very good.

35) Lance Briggs- Always a solid player, he quietly had one of his best seasons last year without Urlacher on the field. Ryan Matthews trucking during the first game of preseason worried me, but he knows he is better than that.

36) Pisa Tinoisamoa- Injuries are a big problem for Pisa, but if he can stay this line-backing could be the best in the NFL and one of the best ever in Chicago.

37) Hunter Hillenmeyer- A great backup to Brian Urlacher, expect him to be solid on special teams as well.

38) Nick Roach- He was in the race for the starting job against Pisa, but hurt his knee. He should be back for week one, but not starting instead being used on special teams.

39) Brian Iwuh- A nice backup in Jacksonville, will be the same here in Chicago.

40) Tim Shaw- One of the best special teams players in the NFL, should be even better this season for coach Toub.

Others:

Kevin Malast, Kelvin Smith- Malast spent last season on the practice squad and the Bears would like to put him there again. Smith was clearly just a camp body.

CB:

41) Zack Bowman- Has been moved to the right side to cover the number one receivers and looks to be ready for another big year.

42) Charles Tillman- Looks to be healthy, Peanut should expect a big year on the left side.

43) Corey Graham- The starting nickelback as of now, but he is being challenged by second year man D.J. Moore.

44) D.J. Moore- See Graham, Corey.

45) Josh Moore- Fourth round pick out of Kansas State, is a nice player to have for depth.

46) Tim Jennings- Once was a big part of the Colts defense, now a sixth corner for the Bears. He isn’t a lock to make the team.

Others:

Cornelius Brown and Woodny Turrene- Brown has looked solid returning kicks this preseason, but not so much in pass coverage. Turenne spent last season on the practice squad, but Brown could challenge him for that spot. I think it will be between the two for that spot.

Safety:

47) Chris Harris- He seems glad to be back and the Bears are happy he is a starter once again. Look for big things from #46.

48) Danieal Manning- Has been bumped around in the secondary, if he disappoints at safety look for the Bears to put him back at nickel-back where he played pretty well last season.

49) Major Wright- The Bears are high on the third round pick out of Florida, he has the biggest shot of taking Daniel Manning’s starting spot.

50) Craig Steltz- He has played sparingly in his time with the Bears and he seems to be a nice bench player.

Others:

Josh Bullocks, Al Afalava, Aaron Webster, Quentin Scott- Bullocks has the best shot of these four of snagging a spot on the roster, but he will likely be on the bad end of the numbers game. Afalava has been awful this preseason, kind of like he was last season. Lastly, Webster and Scott seem to be nothing more than camp bodies.

51) Robbie Gould- The starting kicker once again.

52) Brad Maynard- The starting punter once again.

53) Pat Mannelly- The starting long snapper once again.

The Bears must go from 75 players to 53 players this Saturday. That means they have to cut 22 players. Tomorrow night's game against the Browns  for those players who are on the fringe.

Jake Perper is the creator of www.BearsBacker.com and also covers the Bears for www.NFLTouchdown.com.

Read more Chicago Bears news on BleacherReport.com

The Bears will travel to Cleveland to take on the Browns in their final game of the preseason this Thursday night.  The fourth game of the preseason is generally reserved to let the second and third stringers play to allow the coaching staff some time to evaluate those players and see who they feel should stay with the team through final cuts (coming on September 4th).

The Bears roster, for all intents and purposes is pretty much set as they head into this game.  There are some fringe players that the Bears will want to take a look at and see if they feel that these players would be able to stay on the final roster and contribute during the season.  That is why this game is important.

We won’t have to worry about too many fancy plays or gimmicks in this game.  Everything should be pretty “vanilla”. The starters will play one series and then give way to the second stringers.

Here are some things to look for in this game.

Hanie Returns

Quarterback Caleb Hanie has been out of action since injuring his shoulder in the Bears first preseason game against the Chargers and will return to play in this game. It’s important that Hanie show something to the coaching staff because rookie quarterback Dan LeFevour has slowly been improving and the Bears may feel that they have much more upside with him than Hanie.

Also look for newly signed quarterback Todd Collins to get some reps as he’s been labeled the number two quarterback now.  So the battle will rage between LeFevour and Hanie and whoever does better should be the Bears third string quarterback.

Safety First

The Bears will evaluate their talent at the safety position (with the backups) during this game and make sure that they have the proper talent to being the new season. It looks like Danieal Manning, Major Wright, Craig Steltz, Chris Harris and quite possibly Al Afalava are safe but there is other talent that they have to evaluate.

Perhaps the biggest question here is whether or not Josh Bullocks will make the team. Bullocks has been injured for most of training camp and has a lot to prove.

Tackling the Tackles on Defense

Jarron Gilbert hasn’t had that good of a training camp after having spent some time injured and living under the shadow of Marcus Harrison. Last year’s third round pick (and the first for the Bears) has been a disappointment to some and may not make the final roster when cuts come shortly. This will be Gilbert’s chance to shine and make a name for himself. If he doesn’t have a good game he may end up being gone.

Tackling the Tackles on Offense

You can say that the starters have been decided upon. Both Frank Omiyale (on the right) and Chris Williams (on the left) will start the season but who will back them up? Kevin Shaffer is a lock but who else is there? Both James Martens and J’Marcus Webb have had decent preseasons but which guy do the Bears keep? We will find out who has the edge  Wednesday.

Wide Receiver Watch

The safe guys in this bunch are Devin Hester, Devin Aromashodu, Johnny Knox and Juaquin Iglesias. Everyone else can be considered “up in the air."  Rashied Davis will probably make it. So will Earl Bennett despite the fact he hasn’t played a lot during the preseason.This leaves Greg Matthews and Freddie Barnes on the outside looking in and it’s likely that neither of them will make the roster, but you never know.

Who’s in at Tight End?

The Bears haven’t really targeted their tight ends much during the preseason games but they did target them successfully in practice so it’s hard to tell what the Bears are thinking with this group.  It appears as if Desmond Clark, Greg Olsen and Brandon Manumaleuna are locks to make the roster but who else stands a chance? What about Kellen Davis?  This could be a make or break game for him.

So, as mentioned, don’t expect a lot of fancy things in this game. The Bears will run the basics in this game but may try a few things to exhibit what they may want to see out of some of these second and third string players have so look for special packages that might feature some individual players.

Who’s the Back

Finally, the battle between Kahlil Bell and Garrett Wolfe will take center stage as both of them battle for the third running back spot behind Matt Forte and Chester Taylor.  If you have watched the preseason games closely, you might agree that Wolfe has had a better preseason than Bell has but is Wolfe going to be effective in certain situations during the regular season? Will Wolfe’s play on special teams guarantee him a job?

Prediction

This is the only game of the year I won’t try to predict. I do predict this to be a somewhat sloppy game as the Bears and the Browns will be trying to evaluate players in certain situations and the goal of the game isn’t really to win so much as it is to find out who can help you and who can’t. If you are interested in finding out what the future of the Bears is going to look like, this is the game for you.

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It's not about the three losses, but rather the manner in which the Bears went down.

No offense, no creativity, no lighting up the scoreboard.

Nothing offensively from Jay Cutler nor new offensive coordinator Mike Martz.

I know it's only the pre-season, but shouldn't the offense be a little more ahead than they are right now?

They've looked rustier each game—not crisp or smooth in any way.

Cutler suffered through a terrible 2009 season and hasn't taken the early potion of 2010 to re-establish himself as one of the game's great signal-callers.

Martz has a checkered past in which he's made several stops in different cities, only to fall out of favor in no time.

Will his time in Chicago reflect that?

Martz was brought in to spice up the offense and give the team an identity, but they look completely lost in the season's first month.

Maybe they didn't notice this either, but they're in a brutal NFC North division that will wipe them off the face of the NFL if things don't improve quickly.

And I'm including the Detroit Lions in there as well.

The Lions will open up the Bears' schedule in less than two weeks, but it won't be the cake-walk that some fans might expect.

It's quite possible, in fact, for the Bears to lose the season's opener.

A new wave of talent has hit the Motor City, and players like Matthew Stafford, Ndamukong Suh, and Jahvid Best don't care about previous versions of the Detroit Lions.

But let's not forget about the other division teams.

Minnesota will throw out the league's second-best rusher, a Hall of Fame quarterback, and a Pro Bowl-laden defense that could literally swallow Cutler whole (if the current play of the Bears' offensive line is any indication, they will by the first half).

But then there's the Green Bay Packers.

They have Aaron Rodgers and Ryan Grant, among others, leading an offense that is actually less-talented than its defense, which features world-beater Charles Woodson, the defending Defensive Player of the Year in the NFL.

As we stand right now, is there anyone who would give the Bears a fighting chance against either powers?

If you say "no," then we're looking at four losses right off the bat for the Bears.  One-fourth of the season down the drain.

It likely won't be the defense that is the problem, provided they stay healthy.

All signs point to a lack-luster season being the responsibility of a lack-luster offense—which Mike Martz is supposed to fix.

I realize I need to scale back my concerns and tell myself that it's only the pre-season.  The sun will rise tomorrow at Halas Hall and the Bears will still have zero losses in their win-loss record.

Scary times are in store for us fans, however, if things don't change before September 12th.

We're still waiting for Cutler and Martz to show us something, anything, that will give us hope for 2010.

The talent is there in some places, but the coaching has to deliver.

Mike Martz, Jay Cutler, are you listening?

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