Bears Game Preview: Week 1 vs. Colts

Quarterback Jay Cutler and the Bears host Andrew Luck and the Colts on Sunday. (Getty Images)

Bears vs. Colts -- Week 1

Where: Soldier Field, Chicago (grass, outdoors)

When: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET (CBS)

Spread: Bears by 9 1/2

Forecast: Partly sunny, high 70s

2011 records: Bears (8-8); Colts (2-14)

Past results: Two most recent meetings -- Sept. 7, 2008: Bears 29, Colts 13; Super
Bowl XLI, Feb. 4, 2007: Colts 29, Bears 17. Series record: Colts hold 23-18 edge.

What matters: A completely revamped Chicago Bears passing game, with new coordinator Mike Tice calling plays for the first time in his NFL career, confronts the Indianapolis Colts' new 3-4 defense under new coach Chuck Pagano. It's an offense that has been kept largely under wraps in preseason and better fits personnel, with new wide receiver Brandon Marshall and quarterback Jay Cutler having worked in something similar under new quarterbacks coach Jeremy Bates at Denver for three years. It's one that allows Cutler to call audibles, which he couldn't do last year. The running game, however, is exactly the same as last year when it amassed more than 2,000 yards for the first time since 1990 -- except Matt Forte has power back Michael Bush backing him up and running in short yardage. The Bears' line has to show it can run the ball better than in preseason, when neither Forte nor Bush could find running room behind the first-team line.

Who matters: DE Julius Peppers rested some of preseason and training camp because of tenderness in a foot, but when he did play he looked just as effective as he has in the past. The Bears need pressure from him to get Colts No. 1 draft pick Andrew Luck off his game early. Rookie QBs can rattle with early pressure -- even the best of them. Peppers usually will be facing off against talented second-year tackle Anthony Castonzo. ... Brian Urlacher is a key figure because of his recovery from arthroscopic knee surgery and also because he is now 34 years old. If he's injured again, the Bears could look silly for rushing him back onto the field against a weak opponent when Green Bay looms Thursday night. ... Defensive end Israel Idonije will be moving inside in some pass-rushing situations and may be able to exploit the Colts' biggest offensive line weakness, which is between the guards.

Key matchups: LT J'Marcus Webb blocking OLB Dwight Freeney. In terms of penalties and sacks allowed, Webb was the league's worst left tackle last year. He's trying to stop one of the game's best pass rushers. Freeney has been a defensive end and not a standup linebacker, so Webb at least has this working in his favor. The Bears will try to exploit this by working the backs, tight ends and receivers in areas where Freeney would be if he's not blitzing. ... DT Henry Melton facing Colt left guard Jeff Linkenbach. Melton is the under tackle, a critical position in the Bears' one-gap scheme. He has now had a full year of experience starting at the spot and played well in last year's season opener with his career high of two sacks against Atlanta. Much is expected of him and he has plenty of position at the spot. He'll be facing Jeff Linkenbach, an undrafted tackle who has been moved to guard and makes his first start at that position. Look for Melton to play off the pressure caused by Peppers and also run stunts with him. ... Marshall facing off against CB Jerraud Powers. There is a bit of a knee injury concern with Powers as he attempts to shut down a receiver who had an NFL record 21 catches against the Colts in his last game against them (2009). Marshall's 6-5 height on the 5-10 corner will invite Cutler to look that way in the red zone.

Injuries of note: Urlacher's recovery from left knee surgery is an issue even if the Bears insist otherwise. Going into a regular-season game with virtually no training camp and no preseason invites further injury, if not poor play. So expect the Colts to probe the middle deep part of the Bears' secondary, especially with free safety Chris Conte (shoulder) an injury concern, as well. Punter Adam Podlesh (hip-flexor) has practiced, but it's likely Ryan Quigley will replace him in at least this first game.

Inside stuff: The Colts likely will adjust their secondary to put extra emphasis on Marshall since Cutler obviously favors him when he's on the field. Anticipate a big game from Devin Hester both as a receiver and return man. It should leave Hester in one-on-one situations to exploit from the slot, which could give him room to run. The offense has a "Devin Package" in it designed to get him the ball in a place where he can be a return man on a play from scrimmage. Also, in the return game Hester will return both kicks and punts. He always had been the punt returner, and letting him return kicks gives him a chance to face the team that was last in the league in stopping kick returns in 2011.

Connections: Bears cornerbacks Tim Jennings and Kelvin Hayden were with the Colts in the Super Bowl against the Bears and now face their former team. Hayden made the critical interception and TD return that clinched the title in that February, 2007 game. ... Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri was a mentor of sorts for Bears kicker Robbie Gould when Gould was trying to break into the NFL with the Patriots as an undrafted free agent.

Stat you should know: The Bears have won 19 of the last 27 regular-season games (.704 pct) Cutler has started -- and that was without Marshall available as a target.

Record watch: Hester needs one TD return to tie Deion Sanders for the most combined TD returns (INT-fumble-kick-punt) in NFL history at 19.

Bulletin board quote: "Andrew Luck is prepared, yeah, he’s prepared. All the rookie quarterbacks, yeah, they can come out and play. Do I think they’re Tom Brady or Peyton Manning? No. They have to learn just like everybody else. Guys like Cam Newton, they’ve come out and put up some special numbers, but most quarterbacks are a dime a dozen as far as I’m concerned. There’s an elite group and then there’s guys that are learning or trying to get better or are a dime a dozen." --LB Lance Briggs

Looking ahead: The Bears have a rapid turnaround with only one practice scheduled Tuesday because they face the Packers in Green Bay on Thursday. They've struggled against Green Bay in recent years, losing the last four and six of the last seven.

Prediction: Bears 33, Colts 13