Super Bowl XLI

[Guest "Go, Mordecai!"]

Yeah, Urlacher is overrated as hell. Shut up about how good the Bears are, ESPN, geeez.

 

naiwf, explain how there is more pressure on Brian Urlacher than anyone else. The obvious pressure is on Manning and Harrison. On the Chicago side, Jones, Hester, and the defensive line have more pressure on them than Urlacher does. Lovie just talked up his star player yesterday because if he didn't praise a Bear, who would?

[naiwf 0]

Everyone who follows football has heard about how great Urlacher and the Chicago 'D' is. If the Colts torch them, then Urlacher's gonna take the hit. If the 'D' wins the game, Urlacher's going to get all of the praise. He's basically in the same situation Ray Lewis was in when the Ravens ate the Giants for lunch. If the Bears offense plays like shit, they can still win. If the Bears defense plays like shit they'll lose by 14 or more. It's pretty simple.

 

The Colts can win even if Harrison doesn't make more than a few catches because Peyton has plenty of other options, and I think it's pretty obvious that Rex and Peyton are under the most pressure so there was no point mentioning them.

[Guest "Go, Mordecai!"]

I'm more concerned about the defensive line than Urlacher. Part of the reason he doesn't pick up sacks is because the D-line gets there first.

[naiwf 0]

With Harris out and Tank playing for the first time in a while, even more pressure will be on Urlacher to pick up the slack. He's the face of the team, so unless someone like Hester scores 2 non offensive TDs, the whole game for the Bears hinges on the defense playing a great game. If they let Peyton go something like 22 of 30 for 300+ yds with 3+ TD it won't matter what Rex does. I think the Bears either win by 3 or 4 or get blown out by halftime and it all depends on how well their defense does on the first few drives.

[Kinetic 0]

Did I ever tell you guys about the time I had a borderline homosexual experience with Cedric Benson in a public bathroom when we were both going to high school in Texas? It was wild. I actually went to the same school as Dominic Rhodes, but I never had a borderline homosexual experience with him. I never even met the guy.

 

I think it's a close game at the half, but Indy pulls away in the third quarter. Something to the tune of 31-21. But even in defeat, Rex proves the doubters wrong and I have a borderline homosexual experience with him in the offseason.

[Guest "Go, Mordecai!"]

Hub Arkush is really making it sound like Lovie Smith is leaving town.

 

Two first round draft picks and maybe more for Lovie Smith? Take it, Bears.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

Hub Arkush is really making it sound like Lovie Smith is leaving town.

 

Two first round draft picks and maybe more for Lovie Smith? Take it, Bears.

 

What? Who wants Lovie at that price? I'd agree the Bears should go for it, but only if they promoted Ron Rivera in his stead.

[Guest "Go, Mordecai!"]

That would be the idea, yeah. Rivera moves up to head coach (automatic promotion since he counts under the dumbshit Rooney Rule), we let the Cowboys have Lovie Smith, and then we rob them blind at the draft. This is all predicated on a Super Bowl win, of course. What did the Buccaneers give up for Gruden? The Cowboys would have to give up even more for a ring-wearing Lovie Smith. From a p.r. standpoint, it seems a little shady to send your head coach packing after a Super Bowl (win or loss), but since the replacement is a beloved '85 Bear, I think that would temper things.

 

In the meantime, however, Lovie is the coach of the Bears, and I hope he outcoaches Dungy in four days.

[geniusMoment 0]

I'm really hoping Peyton gets his ring. Hopefully he has a great game and finally cements his legacy.

[Guest "Go, Mordecai!"]

I hope he gets eaten for lunch and does it another time. I do want Peyton Manning to get a ring, but not this year.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

Oh no, I think Dallas would prefer to hire Rivera instead, seeing he has no deal after this Super Bowl, as opposed to Lovie, who's still under contract.

[A Happy Medium 0]

Yeah because a guy who makes 6 solo tackles a game, averages 4.5 sacks and 1.5 INTs per season and has never scored a TD is really a force to be reckoned with. Statistically, Urlacher's probably the most overrated player in the NFL.

 

Brian Urlacher caught a touchdown in 2001. His job isn't to score touchdowns, anyway. He leads his defense and leads it well. He almost beat the Cardinals single-handedly on their Monday night win . I don't care if it's the Cardinals. He went one on one with Edge and the rest of the running game, and was key in sparking the Bears' miracle comeback.

 

With Harris out and Tank playing for the first time in a while..

 

Tank has played throughout the playoffs, even sacking Matt Hasselbeck in the divisonal round. Also Israel Idonije looked good last week. While Tommie Harris is sorely missed, Idonije and even Boone have stepped in his place and worked hard to bring something to the table. When you can get one sack per week from your DTs, you are not doing too bad.

[Guest "Go, Mordecai!"]

I don't think naiwf has watched a Bears game before.

[A Happy Medium 0]

True...I just felt the need to finally make a post like that.

[Guest Princess Leena]

I don't think naiwf has watched a Bears game before.

I wish I was so lucky.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

As of last weekend, I was leaning slightly towards a Colts victory, but after hearing everyone and their mother pick the Colts in a landslide, I'll go with the Bears. Whenever the masses lean this strongly on a team when there's no justifiable reason to do so, things usually swing the other way. This isn't Bears-Patriots of 85, or 49ers-Chargers in 94. The Bears had a better team most of the season and have all the tools to win on Sunday.

[sfaJack 0]

Under no circumstances do I want to see the Cowboys part with two first round draft picks for Lovie Smith or anybody else to be the head coach. I would hope Jerry Jones has learned a lesson on how well that works after getting fleeced in the Joey Galloway trade a few years back.

 

Then again, with Jerry running the draft again the two first round picks are likely to be wasted if we keep them so maybe it's 6 of one, half dozen of another.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

Under no circumstances do I want to see the Cowboys part with two first round draft picks for Lovie Smith or anybody else to be the head coach. I would hope Jerry Jones has learned a lesson on how well that works after getting fleeced in the Joey Galloway trade a few years back.

 

Then again, with Jerry running the draft again the two first round picks are likely to be wasted if we keep them so maybe it's 6 of one, half dozen of another.

 

Like I said earlier, I think if Cowboys hires a head coach out of the Chicago organization, it's going to be Rivera, because the only thing they would have to worry about is the $ (for a new contract), as Rivera becomes a free agent at the end of the Super Bowl.

[Guest "Go, Mordecai!"]

But maybe Jerry Jones wants Lovie Smith anyway. I think Rivera has a good chance of going to Dallas, but I wouldn't be surprised if Jerry Jones asks for permission to speak with Lovie.

 

[Hawk 34 0]

What's with the sudden shift? Look around and you'll notice alot of people are tearing Manning right now going back to the "He's a choker" defense or that his stats mean nothing. 2 weeks ago, the media was jumping up and down for Peyton like high school cheerleaders and now they are back to burying him. Is it a preemptive measure in case he does collapse under the pressure in order to say "we told ya so!" or setting up the media created "He defined the odds" type aftermath?

 

The good news is that the idiots seem to have reduced the "Grossman is the worst!" chat into a mere backstory. Amazingly enough, more people seem to be talking about the "exploitation" of those American Idol rejects from Jimmy Kimmel. Why does Kimmel always manage to piss people off during the Super Bowl? Who is even paying attention to what that imbecile does anymore?

[2GOLD 0]

What's with the sudden shift? Look around and you'll notice alot of people are tearing Manning right now going back to the "He's a choker" defense or that his stats mean nothing. 2 weeks ago, the media was jumping up and down for Peyton like high school cheerleaders and now they are back to burying him. Is it a preemptive measure in case he does collapse under the pressure in order to say "we told ya so!" or setting up the media created "He defined the odds" type aftermath?

 

Both. If the Colts fail, they can blame it all on Manning and claim it wasn't their faults the picks were wrong. If he wins, he's a god among men because he overcame the pressure of a powerhouse Bears defense and march his Colts singlehanded to a Super Bowl trophy.

 

The media is desperately looking for a way to be right no matter who wins the game.

[Vern Gagne 0]

From the always reliable Whatifsports.com

 

Chicago 49

Indianapolis 10

 

Jones and Benson both go over 100 yards.

[Guest Vitamin X]

I don't think it'll be quite that decisive, but I don't see Jones and Benson going over 100 yards as too far of a stretch.

 

For some reason I always get this feeling when I've watched numerous Bears games this season that there's something that Love Smith and his coaching staff have been waiting to unleash all year but have held back on their offense from doing anything too crazy. Part of it I would believe is Grossman's inconsistent play, but his receivers haven't done much for him either. I think we're going to see something really unexpected out of their offense on Sunday.

 

Representin the NFC North!

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

Everyone has been hailing the return of Bob Sanders as the miracle of the Colts' defensive recovery. Now, as a Safety, doesn't Sanders have to commit to playing deep or staying in the box to stop the run? Since those are the only two things Chicago can do on offense, won't one of them be open all day (deep ball or run up the middle)? I don't think one guy can turn around a subpar defense in a matter of weeks. You are who you are.

[Brett Favre 0]

Well, he's pretty fast, but their tackling has more to do with it. They are actually getting people down now.

[KingPK 0]

Yeah, Freeney and Mathis (or whoever's on the other side) on the edges aren't just screaming upfield on the snap and taking themselves right out of plays; they are coming in at an angle and letting the inside rush get to the ballcarrier. They still are VERY susceptible on the outside for that very reason, but it is hard to get there when there's a linebacker in the backfield when the RB gets the ball. NE was able to get some success off draw plays, which is another way to beat a speed rush.

 

I think I said this already, but if Chicago's o-line can hold the rush at bay long enough, I think Grossman can get some deep balls off since he likes to do stuff like that.

Edited February 2, 2007 by KingPK

[MFer 0]

Here's my breakdown

 

QB-Colts(obviously)

 

RB/FB-Bears(Chicago's #2, Benson is better than Indy's #2, Rhodes)

 

WR/TE-Colts(Two Pro Bowlers, including 1 future HOF'er and a TE in Clark who's played great lately)

 

OL-Push(Colts are good at pass-blocking, Bears with run-blocking)

 

DL-Bears(Colts can rush the passer but aren't as balanced as the Bears)

 

LB-Bears(All about Urlacher and Briggs)

 

CB/S-Colts(Corners are a wash but Bob Sanders makes the difference)

 

S.T.-Bears(Vinatieri's the best, but coverage units are suspect, and Bears have 3 Pro Bowlers on special teams)

 

Coaching-Push(Dungy and Lovie know each other, similar styles, Dungy has more experience, Lovie's done more with less)

 

Intangibles-Bears(Colts could have a letdown after the N.E. game, Bears have the underdog vibe going for them)

 

EDIT: By my account, the Bears have the edge. I'm not sold on the Colts run D and the Bears will be committed to running the ball. Special teams is the biggest key for me. My initial thought was to go with the Colts but right now I'll say Bears 28-24.

[Guest "Go, Mordecai!"]

Super Bowl bet proposal:

 

Bears win, Indiana gets stuck with Jim Belushi. Colts win, Chicagoland gets stuck with John Mellencamp.

[Special K 0]

Go Bears. ENN EFF CEE! I'd like a rabid football city win. Plus I have a major boner for underdogs.

[Prime Time Andrew Doyle 0]

Man if this game drags on long I will be pissed. for the last 2 years I have watched this game at the All star Cafe/Steakhouse Bar at Crown Casion in Melbourne. You got 3 big screens, dancing girls and 2 dollar Buds with an awesoem atmosphere. However I got a job interview Monday afternoon at 2.30 with the game starting at roughly 10.30am Australian time. So if the game is close and the clock goes slow and isn't finished at about 2.00pm which is the time I will be leaving to be comfortable in walking to where my interview is I'm gonna miss out on the ending of the game. Also to make matters worse, it is meant to be about 38 degrees celcius which is roughly 100 degrees fahrenheit, so I will be walking in that heat as well.