Showing posts with label Bears. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bears. Show all posts
Sunday, February 4, 2007
Worst. Super Bowl. Ever.
Clearly, 41/XLI was the worst of them all and what I have yet to hear is how gutless Lovie Smith was for not pulling Rex Grossman, by far the worst QB ever to play in the Roman numeraled-one and the worst performance in one, quite a daily double! If Lovie pulls him at the half, he gives the Bears a chance to win. If he pullls him late in the third quarter, the Bears still have a chance to win. If he pulls him at the start of the fourth quarter, he gives his Bears a chance to win. But he was gutless and went with a guy who played pathetically bad. For weeks now his defense and his special teams and his running game and even Grossman playing just well enough to not lose, had Lovie and the Bears saying all the right things. Rex is our quarterback, Rex is 15-3. Rex is the starter. Bull! And the team closed ranks and parrotted their coach. Football is all about lockstep. But I'd like to hear what Urlacher has to say now. What anybody on that defense that was on the field all day has to say now. What Devin Hester has to say now. The defense gave up 22 points. Not bad to the #1 offense in the NFL and not bad for not sacking Manning till the end. And not bad for being on the field forever and giving up field position often when the offense, read Grossman, gave the ball up. (Although Benson and the receivers put the ball on the ground quite a bit.) But Rex, you were no Wonder-Dog. You were simply a dog. And Lovie, your job is to put players on the field who give your team the best chance to win. At the half everyone knew it wasn't Rex's night. Like Brando in On the Waterfront, it wasn't his night. But he won't get the big fight in the ballpark ever again. Bears, drop him, sign Jeff Garcia, and with that defense, you will be back next year. And you will win. On the good side, I did win my three bet teaser - Colts +2.5, Bears +14.5 and under 56.5. Yes. Vegas, baby!!!
Saturday, February 3, 2007
super bowl-my god, i've seen them all!!!
So this is my XLIst Super Bowl and included in that is the great game in person with family and friends at the Rose Bowl when the Giants beat the Broncos 39-20 with Simms going 22 for 25 and my Giants finally winning the Lombardi Trophy (first of two! remember Scott Norwood?). I love this match-up - anytime you have the #1 offense going against the #1 defense you have the makings of a great game. Amazingly, when this has happened in Super Bowls past, 4 or 5 times I think I read, the #1 DEFENSE has always won. I actually think it has a good chance of happening again. And here's why:
The Bears are going to play the Colts the same way that Giant team beat the Bills once upon a time. Sadly, the rules prevent them from mugging Andre Reed, I mean Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne, downfield, but they will use their Cover 2 and rely on Urlacher downfield to watch Dallas Clark. I actually like the Bears two-headed running back, Jones/Benson, better than Addai/Rhodes of the Colts right now. They run very hard, very strong. And the Colts will not be able to stop them for the entire game. While I feel the Bears D will be able to stop Addai and Rhodes. If Manning throws 40 times, Bears win. The Bears rotate defensive ends, have the two best linebackers on the field (Urlacher and Briggs), Harper has the high-ankle sprain, Bob Sanders is dinged, Devin Hester is the X-factor providing field position on punts and kickoffs, and the pressure is all on Peyton to win. The Bears can just play as full touchdown underdogs, both teams have great kickers, although Vinatieri is special, and Grossman, as lame as he has been, does not make his team lose. And he is back in Florida where he played college ball. I think there are so few expectations of him that if Hester gives him a short field two or three times Sunday, Grossman and the running backs will come through. I look for a 2 or 3 point game, hopefully decided at the end. And don't be surprised if it ends up Bears 26, Colts 24. And even though he isn't the coach any longer, as they used to say on SNL, Ditka'd find a way!
BTW, congrats to Thurman Thomas, who almost beat the Giants himself back in that Norwood game, on making the Pro Football Hall of Fame. To Roger Wehrli, a great DB back when the Cardinals always had an interesting white guy back there - Larry Wilson, Wehrli, Pat Fisher - congrats, Charlie Sanders, great tight end for the Lions back in the day, always liked him on those Thanksgiving games, congrats. Gene Hickerson, you blocked for the best, Jim Brown, and then for Leroy Kelly. Congrats. And Bruce Mathews, all those years, all those positions, all those consecutive games. Wow. Congratulations.
The Bears are going to play the Colts the same way that Giant team beat the Bills once upon a time. Sadly, the rules prevent them from mugging Andre Reed, I mean Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne, downfield, but they will use their Cover 2 and rely on Urlacher downfield to watch Dallas Clark. I actually like the Bears two-headed running back, Jones/Benson, better than Addai/Rhodes of the Colts right now. They run very hard, very strong. And the Colts will not be able to stop them for the entire game. While I feel the Bears D will be able to stop Addai and Rhodes. If Manning throws 40 times, Bears win. The Bears rotate defensive ends, have the two best linebackers on the field (Urlacher and Briggs), Harper has the high-ankle sprain, Bob Sanders is dinged, Devin Hester is the X-factor providing field position on punts and kickoffs, and the pressure is all on Peyton to win. The Bears can just play as full touchdown underdogs, both teams have great kickers, although Vinatieri is special, and Grossman, as lame as he has been, does not make his team lose. And he is back in Florida where he played college ball. I think there are so few expectations of him that if Hester gives him a short field two or three times Sunday, Grossman and the running backs will come through. I look for a 2 or 3 point game, hopefully decided at the end. And don't be surprised if it ends up Bears 26, Colts 24. And even though he isn't the coach any longer, as they used to say on SNL, Ditka'd find a way!
BTW, congrats to Thurman Thomas, who almost beat the Giants himself back in that Norwood game, on making the Pro Football Hall of Fame. To Roger Wehrli, a great DB back when the Cardinals always had an interesting white guy back there - Larry Wilson, Wehrli, Pat Fisher - congrats, Charlie Sanders, great tight end for the Lions back in the day, always liked him on those Thanksgiving games, congrats. Gene Hickerson, you blocked for the best, Jim Brown, and then for Leroy Kelly. Congrats. And Bruce Mathews, all those years, all those positions, all those consecutive games. Wow. Congratulations.
Sunday, January 14, 2007
okay, okay, more football
Why did I ever think that a Marty Schottenheimer-coached team, seeded first in the AFC, playing at home, with the best running back in pro football, could possibly win a playoff game and advance to the Super Bowl? To be played in San Diego???
The Chargers had field position repeatedly and got nothing. Dropped passes played a big part, but somehow I blame Marty for that as well. And the single biggest play of the game - an interception by San Diego that leads to a fumble and a takeaway, thanks to Troy Brown. Huge. Was it my imagination but with few exceptions, have defensive backs completely lost the ability to catch the ball? I know that's why they're DBs in the first place, but my god, they really can't catch. And Marty burning a timeout challenging the call that it wasn't a fumble... I'll bet that will sit well with the Chargers owner as he prepares to fire him. If you had an old 6 inch blaack and white TV you could tell the fumble was not going to be reversed. Bye Marty. Dream of Elway. Well, I've learned my lesson and now, since I can't imagine the Indy defense playing like the Ravens defense for a third straight week, I like New England next Sunday at Indy. More on this later.
As for the NFC, today's game was Seattle's to win and they blew it. Grossman played a good quarter and a bit at the start but then was a dog most of the day. But still the Seahawks couldn't manage. Well, as with the AFC, I see a team showing up from out of town and if Seattle, with limited weapons, could put up 20+ on Da Bears, I see the Saints matching that, and more. I see overall team speed as the biggest factor in the game, with once again, Reggie Bush being the X factor. I like the Saints. And then what a Super Bowl - 2 of Bill's Boys, Parcells that is - Pats and Saints. 3 out of 5 vs. never-ever in Super Bowl 41. In San Diego. Without Marty Schottenheimer.
As for our insane junta in Washington now going on friendly-to-them media and saying the Dems are irresponsible for not having a plan - I'll just say Kennedy has offered a plan, Biden has offered a plan, and John Murtha has offered a plan. Probably others as well including the bi-partisan Iraq Study Group. All plans. All offered. Oh, but none included invading Iran so their viability was questioned. Silly Democrats, don't you know any plan for peace in Iraq MUST include war somewhere else. Remember, Oceania is always at war with Eurasia. (Thanks, Keith)
And you remember, War is over if you want it.
Reagrds, MLK Jr. Know that in 2006 there are high school students in America who think you freed the slaves. If I remember correctly, this was stated 2 years ago in a History class at Taft High taught by my good friend, Mark Mishkin. Even without the man who is still not my President, I worry about the future of American democracy.
Later, (after the two-minute hate)
The Chargers had field position repeatedly and got nothing. Dropped passes played a big part, but somehow I blame Marty for that as well. And the single biggest play of the game - an interception by San Diego that leads to a fumble and a takeaway, thanks to Troy Brown. Huge. Was it my imagination but with few exceptions, have defensive backs completely lost the ability to catch the ball? I know that's why they're DBs in the first place, but my god, they really can't catch. And Marty burning a timeout challenging the call that it wasn't a fumble... I'll bet that will sit well with the Chargers owner as he prepares to fire him. If you had an old 6 inch blaack and white TV you could tell the fumble was not going to be reversed. Bye Marty. Dream of Elway. Well, I've learned my lesson and now, since I can't imagine the Indy defense playing like the Ravens defense for a third straight week, I like New England next Sunday at Indy. More on this later.
As for the NFC, today's game was Seattle's to win and they blew it. Grossman played a good quarter and a bit at the start but then was a dog most of the day. But still the Seahawks couldn't manage. Well, as with the AFC, I see a team showing up from out of town and if Seattle, with limited weapons, could put up 20+ on Da Bears, I see the Saints matching that, and more. I see overall team speed as the biggest factor in the game, with once again, Reggie Bush being the X factor. I like the Saints. And then what a Super Bowl - 2 of Bill's Boys, Parcells that is - Pats and Saints. 3 out of 5 vs. never-ever in Super Bowl 41. In San Diego. Without Marty Schottenheimer.
As for our insane junta in Washington now going on friendly-to-them media and saying the Dems are irresponsible for not having a plan - I'll just say Kennedy has offered a plan, Biden has offered a plan, and John Murtha has offered a plan. Probably others as well including the bi-partisan Iraq Study Group. All plans. All offered. Oh, but none included invading Iran so their viability was questioned. Silly Democrats, don't you know any plan for peace in Iraq MUST include war somewhere else. Remember, Oceania is always at war with Eurasia. (Thanks, Keith)
And you remember, War is over if you want it.
Reagrds, MLK Jr. Know that in 2006 there are high school students in America who think you freed the slaves. If I remember correctly, this was stated 2 years ago in a History class at Taft High taught by my good friend, Mark Mishkin. Even without the man who is still not my President, I worry about the future of American democracy.
Later, (after the two-minute hate)
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