Bears quarterback Jay Cutler clearly had his best game this season and because of that he has been named the NFC offensive player of the week. He helped the Bears upset the NFC North champion Vikings.

Cutler completed 20-of-35 passes for 273 yards and four touchdown passes to four different receivers. He threw a 39-yard game-winner to Devin Aromashodu in overtime to clinch the 36-30 victory.

Cutler has 23 touchdown passes this season, tying him with Rex Grossman for the second-most in franchise history.

Hopefully last Monday night’s victory are signs of good things to come, some say Cutler plays better in meaningless games. We’ll have to wait and see what happens next season.

32 year old defensive end Adewale Ogunleye came to the Bears in 2004 in a trade with the Miami Dolphins, which sent WR Marty Booker to Miami and Ogunleye to the Windy City.

Ogunleye had 25 sacks in three seasons with Miami and in six seasons with the Bears he has 42 sacks but has only had two seasons with nine or more sacks.

Ogunleye has his own blog on Chicagonow.com called Wale’s World and this is what he said last Wednesday when he learned his season was officially over after he broke his leg against Baltimore:

First let me say this … I will do everything in my power to return to Chicago. With that said, it’s somewhat out of my hands. In the near future my agent and the Bears’ management will sit down and discuss whether we fit into each others plans.

I look forward to resuming this blog in 2010 (fingers crossed).

‘Till then BEAR DOWN!!!

My Thoughts:

I hope Ogunleye returns next season, but it might be difficult because the Bears don’t want to give to much money to a 32 year old defensive end, who seems to be declining. Plus, Mark Anderson is young and is a cheaper option and they did give up a 2nd round pick to acquire disappointing DE Gaines Adams. We’ll have to wait and see what the Bears management does with Adewale.

Seven year veteran linebacker Lance Briggs was named to his fifth Pro Bowl today. In 14 games this season Briggs has made 106 tackles, two and half sacks and one interception.

In 108 games, Lance Briggs, who is only 29 years old has made 764 tackles, 8.5 sacks, 10 interceptions, four defensive touchdowns and nine forced fumbles over seven seasons.

Briggs has been a real leader for the Bears this season, with Urlacher out Briggs has worn that captain patch with pride. He is a fan favorite and clearly a favorite around the players and coaches of the NFL. It seems like he is one of the most consistent linebackers in the league.

Congratulations Lance, this award is very well deserved. Hopefully when Brian Urlacher comes back next season you Hunter Hillenmeyer and Brian Urlacher will be the best linebackers in the league.

Congrats again.

Here are the Week 17 Bears power rankings from various sites around the web:

Yahoo Sports: #22 (Last week: 24)

Analysis, When Jay Cutler plays like he did Monday night, is there any question as to why this franchise gave up so much to get him?

ESPN: #23 (Last week: 25)

Analysis, They came up big Monday night. Too bad that hasn’t happened more often this season.

Pro Football Weekly: #23 (Last week: 26)

Analysis, Could Lovie’s job hang on Week 17 result vs. Lions?

CBS Sports: #24 (Last week: 27)

Analysis, What they saw from Jay Cutler on Monday night is what they expected this season. He looked comfortable for a change.

Fox Sports: #23 (Last week: 25)

Analysis, Some have questioned his reputation as being diva-esque. His body language, hair style and social habits have been questioned. But 26 interceptions or not, as a fellow human being it was nice to see Jay Cutler’s 2009 train wreck of a season get some relief with that Monday night thriller against the Vikings.

Here are the Week 16 Bears power rankings from various sites around the web:

Fox Sports: #25 (Last week: 24)

Analysis, Another loss, three more picks for Jay Cutler and plenty of bad vibes in the Windy City. This season’s biggest NFL letdown team is the Bears, and player is Cutler — who is just the third NFL quarterback in the last 30 years to throw at least 25 interceptions in a season (Vinny Testaverde: 25 in 2000, Brett Favre: 29 in 2005).

Pro Football Weekly: #26 (Last week: #23)

Analysis, Jeremy Bates, Mike Martz … fans will take anyone at this point.

ESPN: #25 (Last week: 23)

Analysis, What’s left to say about the Bears?

CBS Sports: #27 (Last week: 25)

Analysis, Jerry Angelo said no decision has been made about Lovie Smith. Has it been made about Angelo?

Yahoo Sports: #24 (Last week: #23)

Analysis, This can’t be good news for Lovie Smith, can it (and, while we’re on the subject … can we be sure that Jerry Angelo’s fate has been decided).

The Chicago Bears running back Adrian Peterson has spent all eight of seasons in the NFL with the Bears ever since he was drafted by them in 2002 in the sixth round.

Peterson hasn’t played much this season, even with all the injuries at the position. He is a free agent this off-season and I don’t know if the Bears really want to keep him with the depth they have. Matt Forte, Kevin Jones, Kahlil Bell and Garrett Wolfe are all better than Peterson in my mind, but I still like the guy and I think he deserves a look somewhere. If we decide to resign him I wouldn’t be mad, but it’s not a priority to bring him back especially with the other needs on the team.

Love Smith had this to say about Peterson and his future:

“Adrian has been a contributor on our team every year that I’ve been here, he’s had different roles, being the No. 2 running back and the No. 3. He’s the No. 3 running back now playing all special teams.

“I don’t know why he would feel that way. I would see why a guy would feel he’s not in the plan if he’s not getting time. But he’s playing the same amount. We like the (Forte-Bell) combination we have now, but we like Adrian too.”

The Bears have a lot of cap room this off-season, but I don’t if Peterson is a top priority for them because of free agents to be Adewale Ogunleye, Mark Anderson, Danieal Manning, Pisa Tinosamoia, plus the need at WR, OL, and S.

Peterson was a solid player for us and I’m glad we had him, but the numbers game says he is gone next season.

All quotes from chicagotribune.com

Here are the Week 15 Bears power rankings from various sites around the web:

ESPN: #23 (Last week: 24)

Analysis, Even if coach Lovie Smith isn’t in trouble, offensive coordinator Ron Turner definitely is.

Yahoo Sports: #23 (Last week: 24)

Analysis, After wasting a pair of timeouts in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s defeat to the Packers, is Lovie Smith headed for a 2010 season with an abundance of time off?

CBS Sports: #25 (Last week: 25)

Analysis, They’re officially eliminated from playoff contention, which will bring even more scrutiny on Jay Cutler. Is Lovie Smith safe?

Pro Football Weekly: #24 (Last week: 23)

Analysis, Right when you think Jay Cutler will have a good game ..

Olin Kreutz, an 11 year veteran has been voted to six pro bowls, played in 170 games and has blocked for about I don’t know how many quarterbacks. A lot! Anyway he is not having the greatest season so far, but you can’t put all the blame on just him. Packers rookie DT B.J. Raji who was a first round pick out of Boston College didn’t play in the season opening game in Green Bay, but he had lots to say about Bears center Olin Kreutz.

Here’s what he said:

“It’s nothing physical, it’s all technical, I’m stronger than the guy. I mean, that’s not really talking (smack), he’s just fast. That’s not his game, really, strength. He’s more trying to out leverage you, get around you. Once I get the feel of that then the game will come a lot easier.

“It’s not going to take me a whole lot to get used to him moving. Football’s football. He’s not going to change the way he plays because there’s a new nose on him. He’s going to play the way he’s been playing. So what I watch on film, it’s probably going to help me out the most, really.”

I hope Kreutz does something to shut this rookie punk up. I know the 32 year old Olin Kreutz might not have much left in him, but you still have to have some respect for a guy, who has been one of the best centers for arguably the last decade. Kreutz will show him what blocking is about on Sunday, Raji is an overrated cocky guy anyways.

all quotes from Millwauke Sentinal