What should the Bears do?  Why should they continue starting a rookie when they have a veteran QB of three years ready to play?  Isn't it logical that a three year veteran would be a better QB than a rookie?

And here are the answers to those questions:  1)  Continue to start Kyle Orton.  2)  Kyle is winning games, enhancing the Bears' level of play, and as funny as it may sound, he has actually played MORE games than Rex Grossman has, and 3) While it is logical, it is not necessarily true in this case.  Rex Grossman has only started SIX games in his NFL career.  Kyle Orton actually has more starts.

So here is my case for the Chicago Bears to continue to start Kyle Orton.  First off, I think he is enhancing the level of play of the people around him.  This is because the offense and defense realize that they do not have much margin for error with a rookie QB, and they have to give him all the help they can give him.  Thus, the offensive line is doing absolutely everything they can to protect Orton and give him time to throw, his receivers are doing everything they can to help him throw the ball, and his running backs are trying to buy him time by pass blocking, and taking pressure off the pass by running the ball as well as they can.  In the meantime, the defense is keeping the opponents off the scoreboard because they know that it's up to them to win the game, since the offense doesn't have much scoring potential, and by doing this, they are relieving some of the pressure off of Kyle Orton.  So playing Kyle Orton is elevating the play of the other 21 starters on the offense and defense.

Also, Kyle Orton has been playing most of the season, and he has established a bit of a connection with his receivers.  He has been working with Muhsin Muhammad, Justin Gage, Thomas Jones, and Desmond Clark.  He's been taking snaps with those guys and the rest of the starting offense for the whole year, and he knows what to expect of them, and they know what to expect of him.  Throwing Rex Grossman in would mess up the the offense, because they wouldn't know what to expect of one another.  This late in the season, when a team is trying to get into the playoffs, is not the time to change something that is already working.

Besides that, Rex Grossman seems to have a tendency to get injured.  He has been on injured reserve most of last year, and has spent all of this seaon (so far) on the bench because of a leg injury.  Is it really wise to start a QB that is prone to getting injured, and in fact, has been injured probably about 1 out of every 10 games he's played in for the NFL (counting preseason, to be fair)?  I would say the Bears should start Kyle Orton, as he's showing potential, and has established himself with the other guys on offense.  And they should continue to start him next year, and he'll grow into the role, establish a rapport with his receivers, and be as good as anybody else, if not better.  This is far fetched, but he could be the next Carson Palmer with a bit of time.

Rex Grossman, as much as he gets hurt, should be traded for a receiver or a draft pick.  He isn't the guy to lead this team deep into the playoffs.  Sorry Rex. 

Saturday

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New England Patriots:  No, the defending Super Bowl champions aren't that good, and there is no way they would beat Tampa Bay- if they were playing in Florida.  With the temperature projected to be around 35 degrees, and the fans in Foxborough coming out in full force, Tampa will have its hands full, even if Tom Brady is hurt.  New England 24, Tampa Bay 17

Kansas City Chiefs at New York Giants:  I like the Chiefs.  Larry Johnson is running all over the place, and Trent Green is doing a great job of managing the team.  New York though, has Plaxico Burress, Tiki Barber, and Eli Manning.  Both teams are loaded on offense, and the Giants are doing well on defense.  Thus, the Giants are the safe bet.  Even so, I just have a feeling about this game....   Kansas City 35  New York 31

Denver Broncos at Buffalo Bills:  Denver has to win out to be sure of hanging onto a first round bye.  Can they do it?  They certainly can this week.  Buffalo has been struggling all season long, and Mike Shanahan will make sure his team doesn't play flat like they did last week against Baltimore.  Denver 21, Buffalo 6

Sunday.....

Arizona Cardinals at Houston Texas:  Do the Texans lose just to get Reggie Bush?  Well, what they really need is an offensive line, but there probably isn't a lineman worth a first overall pick.  Nonetheless, Houston will lose whether they try to or not.  Arizona 17, Houston 10

San Diego Chargers at Indianapolis Colts:  Here's the question:  Should Indianapolis go for history and 16-0, or should they keep their key players out of dangerous situations to ensure their health for a Super Bowl run?  Perhaps Dungy will figure out a way to do a bit of both.  Indianapolis 31, San Diego 24

San Francisco 49ers at Jacksonville Jaguars:  And Jacksonville gets another warm up for the playoffs, while San Fran stays in the running for the top draft pick.  Jacksonville 28, San Francisco 3

New York Jets at Miami Dolphina:  This game is in nice hot Florida, and the Jets is one of the few teams in the NFL with a QB situation worse than Miami's currently is.  Going through five guys in a season is definately not a good sign.  Miami 24, New York 13

Pittsburgh Steelers at Minnesota Vikings:  The love boat scandal has resurfaced in Minnesota, and Pittsburgh's back is against the wall.  Brad Johnson is doing good, and the Vikings' defense may have figured out a few things, but it's not quite enough....  Pittsburgh 24, Minnesota 17

Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints:  Todd Bowman is starting at QB for New Orleans, and the Saints have a possibility of pulling the upset.  However, Carolina is in a tight battle for playoff positioning, and they realize that they cannot afford to lose.  Carolina 21, New Orleans 17

Philadelphia Eagles at St. Louis Rams:  Both of these teams have had a horrible season.  Philly's situation totally broke down with Terrell Owens, and McNabb is out for the season after getting surgery.  Meanwhile, in St. Louis, Mike Martz has had enough, and the assistant hasn't done too well.  Marc Bulger is also out.  Nonetheless, his backup is doing well.  St. Louis 28, Philadelphia 24

Seattle Seahawks at Tennessee Titans:  Seattle's offense has come alive, and the Titan's defense is rather easily exploited.  This game could have the highest victory margin of any NFL game this week.  Seattle 42, Tennessee 7

Cincinnati Bengals at Detroit Lions:  Though I'd love for the Bengals to lose out to give Pittsburgh a shot at the division title, it's not going to happen.  Especially with Cincinnati playing Detroit, only needing one win to clinch the AFC North.  Consider it done.  Cincinnati 35, Detroit 14

Cleveland Browns at Oakland Raiders:  Right now, I think the Browns are playing better football than Oakland.  Droughns has over 1000 yards running, and Charlie Frye is making good decisions on the ballfield.  Even though Oakland has several great offensive weapons, they seem to have an inability to use them.  Cleveland can use their weapons, though.  Cleveland 23, Oakland 20

Dallas Cowboys at Washington Redskins:  Dallas really wants that Monday night game back.  That score has been haunting them all season, especially since they were beating Washington by 2 scores with only 3 minutes left to play.  Here's their chance at revenge.  They'll gladly take it.  Dallas 17, Washington 14

Atlanta Falcons at Chicago Bears:  Early in the season, it appeared that nobody from the NFC North was even going to have a winning season.  Now it appears that the NFC North may have two teams in the playoffs.  Chicago has been beating some very solid NFC teams that nobody would have ever thought that they would beat.  Carolina and Tampa Bay both lost to the Bears.  Atlanta will experience the same fate, especially with it being really cold in Chicago.   Chicago 14, Atlanta 7

Monday night

Green Bay Packers at Baltimore Ravens:  This is one of the worst games of the week, and it managed to get a spot on Monday night.  Perhaps the NFL should plan the Monday night games two weeks ahead of time instead of nine months ahead of time.  It is what it is though.  And Brett Farve is a much better QB than Kyle Boller can ever hope to be.  Even if Farve is struggling, he is also the only reason Green Bay has won any games at all.  Give the man another win.  Green Bay 20, Baltimore 14

  In fact, if you want to talk about pressure, the Steelers are already in the playoffs.  No, they aren't playing for a Super Bowl ring right now.  They are playing just to stay alive.  Because from this point on, a loss pretty much ends their season.  They might have a game or two left, but it would still all but eliminate them from postseason play.  So the Steelers MUST go 11-5 to get a playoff berth.  Here's the schedule:

@ Minnesota Vikings-  Yes, this is the team that had that infamous love boat incident.  Daunte Culpepper is done for the year, but Brad Johnson is getting the job done.  The defense has stepped up in Culpepper's absence, and the Vikings have 6 straight wins.  This is the toughest game left.  However, it is still winnable.  Keep in mind Chicago had won 8 straight before going to Pittsburgh.  But, this is the game that makes or breaks the season.  I expect Pittsburgh to come out and play since their backs are against the wall.  Pittsburgh 24, Minnesota 16

@ Cleveland Browns-  This is another possible toughie.  The question is this:  Do the Browns pull out all the stops and give an all out effort like they did against Cincinnati, or do they come out a bit flat against Pittsburgh?  I think the Bengals almost became the victim of an upset due to the intense rivalry between them and the Browns for the battle of Ohio, just like Pittsburgh fell victim to Baltimore's tough effort since the Ravens pull out all the stops for Pittsburgh.  I don't know if Cleveland's up for this task like Baltimore was.  However, it looks as though Charlie Frye is doing a bit better at QB than Kyle Boller generally does.  Pittsburgh should win.  My pick:  Pittsburgh 27, Cleveland 17

vs. Detroit Lions-  Mooch got canned, Joey Harrington sucks, and Jeff Garcia is going to be starting.  The defense couldn't stop my grandma from 10 yards out.  This team just doesn't have it together.  And as long as Matt Millen is there, they will never get it together.  Detroit is going to come to Pittsburgh just wanting to get the season over with.  And that they will, though it will be in humiliating fashion.  But they'll turn over a new leaf next year, right?  Well, only if they fire Matt Millen.  Pittsburgh 34, Detroit 10

The important thing here is that ONE loss all but ends the Steelers hopes of a playoff berth.  So even though the schedule looks easy enough (except for Minnesota, which still isn't bad), the pressure is on.