Super Bowl XLI

[Guest "Go, Mordecai!"]

The Colts didn't look too hot when it came to stopping the kick returns. If they gave up big returns to the Patriots, maybe Hester can really burn them.

[cabbageboy 0]

I'm amazed at this talk of "Rex Grossman will be the MVP." My God, Grossman is the blueprint for the type of QB that will royally fuck up in the Super Bowl. I'm talking Kerry Collins against the Ravens or maybe Rich Gannon vs. Tampa here. For all the blather about the Colts having a lousy run defense they do at least have the #2 pass defense. The Bears better get some kind of early lead, because if it comes down to Grossman having to make plays, it'll get out of hand.

 

If the Bears were in the AFC they would be just about a 10-6 football team. Maybe 7-5 in the games vs. the AFC and 3-1 vs. the NFC. Have the Bears actually beaten a top team all year? Their best wins are over some sorta decent teams like the Saints and Jets. I'm not seeing these wins over NE, Baltimore, etc. The Bears beat a 9-7 Seattle team that had no business being in the playoffs, as well as a 10-6 Saints team that wouldn't sniff the playoffs in the AFC.

[Guest "Go, Mordecai!"]

The fact that the Saints lost 6 games didn't mean a fucking thing until the Bears beat them, when we went from "America's Sweethearts will surely run all over a team that barely beat Seattle" to "well come on, they sucked." I don't know what the Bears are supposed to do. Schedule a scrimmage with the Chargers on Thursday?

[The Man in Blak 0]

My God, Grossman is the blueprint for the type of QB that will royally fuck up in the Super Bowl. I'm talking Kerry Collins against the Ravens or maybe Rich Gannon vs. Tampa here.

 

Or even Trent Dilfer, right?

 

And that's four-time, four-time, four-time Pro Bowler Rich Gannon that you're smearing with that statement.

[Art Sandusky 0]

The fact that the Saints lost 6 games didn't mean a fucking thing until the Bears beat them, when we went from "America's Sweethearts will surely run all over a team that barely beat Seattle" to "well come on, they sucked." I don't know what the Bears are supposed to do. Schedule a scrimmage with the Chargers on Thursday?

Their fans could get over it since they won both of their playoff games so far?

[Guest "Go, Mordecai!"]

That'd be a good option, but I'm just trying to wrap my head around this strange serpentine analysis of the Bears' chances to win.

[snuffbox 0]

A real expert never admits when he's wrong almost all the time.

[Kahran Ramsus 0]

So the Colts could handle the Ravens D...but there's no chance against the Bears'?

 

0 TDs is handling the defence?

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

So the Colts could handle the Ravens D...but there's no chance against the Bears'?

 

0 TDs is handling the defence?

 

Exactly. The Colts couldn't do shit against the Ravens' D. It was the Ravens inept offense that cost them that game. The Bears offense is considerably better than Baltimore's.

 

I think that Indianapolis will probably win this game, but Chicago has the advantage with coaching, defense and special teams. It won't be a walk in the park for Indy.

[snuffbox 0]

I forgot how the Ravens won.

[Guest Vitamin X]

I strongly dislike both of these teams, but my Packer fandom asks me to root against the Bears and deny them a championship. However, watching the game and all the idiots here blab about how so many of the playoff teams in the NFC wouldn't even make the playoffs in the AFC (this is something seriously stupid to say) makes me believe just that much more that the Bears will crush the Colts in the Super Bowl. Maybe not even a blowout per se, but I'm thinking they'll win. We're all forgetting this is playoff Manning we're talking about here. Fine, he got past Brady and Belichick at home; has anyone forgotten they're a dome team that's now going to play out on grass and the speed they have on offense isn't as good at Pro Player as it is at the RCA dome?

 

The Bears have been the best team in the league most of the season until the Chargers exploded with a great offense and then immensely fucked it up with that home loss to the Pats. My preferable SB matchup would've been Saints-Colts or Saints-Chargers, but, New Orleans, no matter how exciting or fun they were to watch, is a team with a shaky offensive line that hasn't had that much experience playing together and not that good of a defense, which is why they were a 10-6 team. Chicago has made a habit out of destroying teams with poor offensive lines all year.

 

That said, their front seven will have a much more difficult time with the Colts' offensive line, however, not enough that it'll make much of a difference. If the Pats can put pressure on Manning, the Bears definitely can, as well. I have a feeling after this game I'll realize how Bears fans felt 10 years ago.

For all the blather about the Colts having a lousy run defense they do at least have the #2 pass defense.

Okay smart guy, this is just a stat to pump up Colts fans. I know this because 2005's 4-12 Packers had the #1 pass defense in the league, and an atrocious run defense. Almost every single time you see this, it's because teams didn't feel the necessity to pass the ball on a defense that was like a sieve against the run. Not because their secondary is really all that great.

 

Think about this for this game hopefully being a good one: Both of these teams were the last ones to go down in the annual undefeated race.

[Guest Legalise Drugs and Murder]

That'd be a good option, but I'm just trying to wrap my head around this strange serpentine analysis of the Bears' chances to win.

 

 

There.

[The Man in Blak 0]

However, watching the game and all the idiots here blab about how so many of the playoff teams in the NFC wouldn't even make the playoffs in the AFC (this is something seriously stupid to say)

 

Considering the out-of-conference records of the NFC playoff teams to the AFC playoff teams, it's not really that far-fetched:

 

NFC Playoff Teams vs. AFC

Bears: 2-2

Saints: 1-3

Eagles: 1-3

Seahawks: 2-2

Cowboys: 3-1

Giants: 1-3

-------

Packers: 1-3

Panthers: 2-2

 

Combined record against AFC: 10-14

Combined record against AFC (including teams that barely missed): 13-19

_____________________________________________

 

AFC Playoff Teams vs. NFC

Colts: 3-1

Patriots: 4-0

Chargers: 4-0

Ravens: 3-1

Chiefs: 4-0

Jets: 3-1

-------

Broncos: 1-3

Bengals: 2-2

 

Combined record against NFC: 21-3

Combined record against NFC (including teams that barely missed): 24-8

 

And that's just taking a look at the playoff teams. The AFC dominated the interconference play as a whole, piling up a 40-24 record against the NFC over the regular season:

 

AFC East: 12-4

AFC South: 9-7

AFC North: 9-7

AFC West: 10-6

[imajackoff? 0]

it might just be the hangover from my Ravens choking in the divisional round, but I am thoroughly bored by this SB matchup.

[Hawk 34 0]

Someone really needs to throughly explain how this game isn't appealing because I'm not seeing it. Great offense meets great defense, with mysteries abound for the other sides of the field. A field general in Manning looking to cement his legacy against the young QB with a questionable ability to handle the pressure with nothing to lose but everything to gain. Two good rushing attacks. Special teams will play a factor. That's before getting into the dynamics of a young (in tenure) head coach against his former mentor whom has been around for awhile waiting for this moment to come.

 

Were you really wanting to see Shannon Sharpe do a remorseful yarn about Katrina? The game is a complete mystery because who knows which team shows up.

[Guest "Go, Mordecai!"]

It's the hangover. This is a great matchup.

 

I don't think the Colts' #2 pass defense matters that much against such a run-heavy team as the Bears. Hence, I'm more worried about their run defense, which really showed up to shut down KC and Baltimore, but curiously, didn't seem to be quite as strong against the Patriots. They were also suspect on special teams the other night, allowing the Pats to get some really good kick returns, so that might play in Chicago's favor. On the other hand, Indy has Manning, and he can singlehandedly torch the Bears with ease.

[Hawk 34 0]

SKOKIE, Ill. -- Chicago Bears defensive tackle Tank Johnson will play in the Super Bowl.

 

Cook County Judge John Moran approved a defense request Tuesday to allow Johnson to leave the state as he awaits trial on gun possession charges. The Bears will play the Indianapolis Colts in the Super Bowl in Miami on Feb. 4.

 

Johnson was arrested Dec. 14 after police raided his home in Gurnee, about 40 miles northwest of Chicago. Prosecutors say officers found six weapons and ammunition in Johnson's home. He faces 10 counts of possession of firearms without a state gun-owner identification card.

 

It was his third arrest in 18 months. Johnson has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

 

Earlier this month, a judge in Lake County, where his home is located, granted a defense request to allow Johnson to travel freely outside the state.

 

But Cook County prosecutors argued that Johnson's December arrest violated probation from a 2005 gun charge. A Cook County judge previously ordered Johnson to stay at home except to go to work, and he needed Moran's permission to leave Illinois for the Super Bowl.

 

Johnson's bodyguard, Willie B. Posey, was arrested on felony drug charges after the raid on Johnson's home; Posey was shot and killed two days later during an early morning fight while he and Johnson were at a nightclub in Chicago.

 

The Bears suspended Johnson for one game for being out at the club.

 

Good for Chicago. BAD for Miami.

[naiwf 0]

Someone really needs to throughly explain how this game isn't appealing because I'm not seeing it. Great offense meets great defense, with mysteries abound for the other sides of the field. A field general in Manning looking to cement his legacy against the young QB with a questionable ability to handle the pressure with nothing to lose but everything to gain. Two good rushing attacks. Special teams will play a factor. That's before getting into the dynamics of a young (in tenure) head coach against his former mentor whom has been around for awhile waiting for this moment to come.

 

Were you really wanting to see Shannon Sharpe do a remorseful yarn about Katrina? The game is a complete mystery because who knows which team shows up.

 

Some people actually like to be able to root for (or against) one of the teams involved in a game to be excited by it. Just a thought.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

I think I'm going to be crushed under the weight of the Rex Grossman hate for the next two weeks.

 

Kurt (Ohio): Which is more likely to show up: Colts regular season defense or Rex Grossman 0.0 QB rating?

 

Rodd Newhouse: (1:36 PM ET ) Grossman's 0.0 rating. If Grossman is asked to win the game for the Bears, it will not happen. If the Colts continue to play as they have, it will rattle Grossman and force him to do things he cannot do.

Goose (Chicago): Aside from Manning, and the two WRs, name one facet of the game the Bears don't have a clear advantage?

 

Rodd Newhouse: (1:40 PM ET ) The Bears' QB is enough to swallow itself.

 

While the Bears' defense is outstanding, I think Grossman's play is the deciding factor. If Freeny gets pressure on Grossman, he will be done for.

[snuffbox 0]

Ugh.

[KingPK 0]

They were also suspect on special teams the other night, allowing the Pats to get some really good kick returns, so that might play in Chicago's favor.

 

It wasn't just the title game; Indy's towards the bottom in return yardage allowed for the season, so Hester may have a good chance to break one or two good ones.

 

Saying this comes down to Grossman sucking vs. Manning dominating is not looking at the matchup deep enough. I don't care if anyone calls this an excuse, but as the second half progressed, New England's defense was dropping like flies due to exhaustion, forcing them to put in second and even third string guys that Manning tore apart. With two weeks to rest up, I doubt that we'll see many Bears defensive players stumbling off the field sucking wind like Hoovers after a couple of long drives (though it'll probably be warm in Miami).

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

I think the Bears' distinct advantage on defense and in special teams will have much more of a neutralizing force on the game than the play of the quarterbacks.

[Brett Favre 0]

The Patriots falling apart on defense and tiring out had to do with the Colts no huddle, and holding the ball for so long. That can still happen against the Bears. Plus the game is in Miami, so it will be warm.

[KingPK 0]

Sure, but I'm just saying that the Bears will have much fresher legs with a two week rest as opposed to a team that had a game on the opposite coast the previous week and only had three or so days of rest. Manning can wear them out, but it's going to take a lot more to do it.

[Guest Legalise Drugs and Murder]

Tank's going to be back? Awesome. He should seriously buy a tank. He's got the money and the penchant for armaments. Make it a personality extension, as well as a phallic one (in a symbolic sense).

[naiwf 0]

Since it more than likely won't be snowing/sleeting in Miami, I don't see the Indy players fumbling away this game the way NO did. If Manning and Co. get a 10 point lead or so, the game will be in Grossman's hands and I don't see the Colts' DBs routinely getting burned the way that scrub Fred Thomas did.

[snuffbox 0]

Brutal tackling had more to do with those fumbles than the weather.

[naiwf 0]

I don't recall any of those fumbles coming on the end of a brutal tackle. The Saints were allergic to the pigskin for most of the game.

[snuffbox 0]

Yeah. When Ogunlyhe smashed Brees and grabbed the ball as they fell...weather.

[naiwf 0]

That wasn't a fumble caused by a devastating hit. The ball didn't even pop loose, as it was still in contact with Brees until Ogunleye just grabbed it. The announcers didn't even realize Brees had lost the ball until they saw Ogunleye throw it on the floor. Even if I count that, 1 out of 5 fumbles was caused by a big hit. That doesn't account for all of the times a Bears player just barely reached a hand in and the ball fell out, or all of the drops in the first half.