Matt Bowen

The Cowboys and quarterback Tony Romo can create big-play opportunities Monday night with wide receivers Dez Bryant and Miles Austin using max-protection schemes up front. They will keep eight blockers in on protection and test the top of the Bears...

The fallout from the NFL's "bounty" scandal is centered on the Saints with coach Sean Payton banned for the year, interim coach gone for six games and general manager Mickey Loomis out for eight weeks. The Saints — one of the hot picks to contend...

Through two weeks of the season, the Rams defense has leaned on coverage schemes in third-and-7-plus situations to take away vertical concepts. Sunday at Soldier Field, the Bears and quarterback Jay Cutler can attack the Rams secondary running deep,...

Accustomed to bullying offenses with punishing hits and intimidating words, a traditionally stingy Ravens defense is suddenly vulnerable. The fear factor seems to have vanished for a unit that has regressed since last season. Heading into a pivotal game...

Ravens middle linebacker Ray Lewis' mind is bound to race wildly today, consumed with deducing the moves of unpredictable, enigmatic and gifted Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick.As the play clock ticks down and Vick barks out signals, Lewis...

I'm trying to figure out Jay Cutler. I really am. I can see the talent, the arm strength and the underrated athleticism Cutler shows with his ability to extend plays outside the pocket. He's physical. He's tough. And there isn't a route in the playbook...

After a turnover in the NFL it is time to go up top and test the secondary. That's exactly what the Bears did against the Browns on Thursday night when quarterback Josh McCown hit Dane Sanzenbacher on the Pump-Seam for a touchdown after a Jeremy Jones...

On Brandon Marshall's 21-yard touchdown reception Friday night, the Bears had their Posse personnel (three wide receivers, one back, one tight end) on the field in a "Doubles Slot" formation. How did the Giants counter? They called for their base nickel...

The first two NFL exhibitions are essentially an extension of practice. No game plans or film study to prep for an opponent. Dry, dull contests with base concepts and starters running to the bench early in the first half. Line up and play ball. That's...

Sixth in a 14-part series leading up to the start of Bears training camp. The further the Bears get away from their appearance in Super Bowl XLI, the better the offensive line for that team, built almost exclusively through pro free agency, looks. It...

I know that the first exhibition game doesn’t mean much to the starters because, as Tribune football columnist Matt Bowen writes, that first game is about basics. Yes. Well. Fine. But not for me. I don’t care about footwork. I want fireworks....

Back in the summer of 2000, I, and roughly 300 other NFL rookies, were instructed to put condoms on bananas. That's right, the NFL wanted to teach us how to properly use a prophylactic. Some guys didn't even do it, while others held up the finished...