Why the Bears Will Win the Super Bowl
The Chicago Bears have a difficult task in defeating the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLI. After all, the Colts have two huge stars: former Iowa Hawkeyes TE Dallas Clark and S Bob Sanders. Here's three reasons why they'll win despite not having any Hawkeyes themselves:
1. Olin Kreutz. The Colts gave up 173 rushing yards per game this year. That was 28 yards worse than the second worst team, the Rams. Kreutz and the Bears offensive line are going to so dominate this game that it would not matter if both Thomas Jones and Cedric Benson went down with injuries, because Adrian Peterson would step in and run wild.
2. Rex Grossman. Yes, Rex Grossman. Big plays matter. In this his first full season, Grossman led the league in 100+ QB rating games, because he makes big plays. Just as he outplayed Drew Brees, he is capable of outplaying Peyton Manning. Even if he doesn't, he'll complete enough deep balls to give the Bears the big play scores they'll need.
3. The Bears' defensive line. Stopping the run, sacking Manning, and causing fumbles: they do it all, even without Tommmie Harris, as huge a loss as he was. They'll come up big again this game. Games are won and lost in the trenches. The Bears will win the trenches, and the game.
Obviously, someone hijacked
Obviously, someone hijacked this web site and wrote the above post.
Oh, well. I was at least right that Bob Sanders is a star.
My next prediction: the Cubs will win the World Series in 2007. (After all, if that's not what we're cheering for and expecting, what's the point of being fans?)
Frustrating game
In the SEC Championship in December, the Gators were trailing 21-17 in the third quarter, and were facing fourth-and-10 at their own 15 yard line. They proceeded to run the boldest fake punt I can ever remember, and picked up 17 yards for the first down. Asked about it afterwards, Florida coach Urban Meyer said:
I'm not sure the Bears coaching staff shot everything they had.
Time after time, I saw the Bears putting themselves in situations where third-and-long was the most likely outcome - at one point, they handed off to Thomas Jones in the face of a nine-man Colts front. Time after time, I saw them guarding against the big play at all costs on defense, repeatedly giving the Colts easy first downs underneath. In short, they seemed to be running the same ultra-conservative game plan on both sides of the ball that had already cost the Chiefs and the Ravens in this postseason.
We'll never know if things would have been different if the Bears had trusted their corners more in man coverage or if even the occasional play action (almost entirely absent last night for some reason) would have made a difference. It could well be that the Colts would have won anyway. Perhaps the Bears just weren't good enough. It just seemed to me that the coaches put the players in position to fail too often.
Still, on the whole, I'm grateful for a fine season, and last night's performance aside, I still feel that Coach Smith has the franchise moving in the right direction. Congratulations to the Bears for a fine season that just fell short.
Bear Fan's lawn decoration...
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Photos from Ryne Sandberg's Chicago Cubs jersey number retirement ceremony at Wrigley Field
Superbowl Centerpiece (photo)
Caption this (Part 1)
Caption: 2 Bears who aren't disappointed in the Superbowl result
Do you have a better caption? Reply here.
C'mon Diana
C'mon Diana. That Bear in the second picture? That's Rex Grossman. Where else can he go?? Back home to Indiana??! (Just joking) I feel for Rex and all the Bears. Next time they have to play harder and smarter, for sure. They failed on all sides of the ball.
Respectfully,
FEARLESS BEAR