Division champions from last season struggling early
02.10.2007 03:00
Sport and Travel
- Source: USA Today
It is as if someone took hold of the NFL and turned it upside down.
The Baltimore Ravens, Chicago Bears, New Orleans Saints and San Diego Chargers all earned byes as champions of their respective divisions entering last year's playoffs. Now, all could be waving bye-bye to lofty aspirations if early-season woes that have them with a combined 4-11 record continue. Defending NFC champion Chicago, trailing 4-0 Green Bay and the 3-1 Detroit Lions in the North, already faces a big game when it visits the Packers next Sunday night. "Right now we're a 1-3 ballclub and that's exactly how we've played," says Bears coach Lovie Smith. "The good part about it is that we've just finished one quarter of the season….But we have to change courses in a lot of different areas." Coaches of struggling teams often attempt to reverse their fortunes by changing quarterbacks. Smith just did that — without result. He will need much more from Brian Griese than he got last Sunday. The former backup to maddeningly erratic Rex Grossman suffered three interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter, in a 37-27 meltdown against Detroit. The Bears also must hope to get healthier on defense. They were without six starters when they visited the Motor City. At the same time, as middle linebacker Brian Urlacher says, "People on the field have to make plays." The 0-3 Saints should adopt the same mantra after star running back Deuce McAllister went down with a season-ending knee injury. "The loss of Deuce is sizable and it puts the onus on all of us to step up," says coach Sean Payton as his club looks forward to a key NFC South game vs. the visiting Carolina Panthers. Embattled San Diego Chargers coach Norv Turner, who heard hometown fans chant for fired predecessor Marty Schottenheimer during last Sunday's stunning 30-16 upset loss to the visiting Kansas City Chiefs, is keeping faith in his veteran leaders with his club in a 1-3 hole. "I know what they want to get done and they are going to do everything in their power to get it done," he says. Coach Brian Billick feels the same way about his 2-2 Ravens as they prepare to visit the San Francisco 49ers following a surprising 27-13 road loss to the Cleveland Browns. "They've got a lot of character. They've got a lot of leadership," he says. "They will process this very well."
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