I didn't know what to expect Sunday until I had a premonition on the media bus heading to the game. I turned to my colleague Vaughn McClure and said "The Bears are going to blow them out.'' My instinct with the Super Bowl is the Colts are going to win, and that seems to be just what the Bears like to hear.
Peyton Manning is the best quarterback in the NFL, and that's a big, big weapon.
The Colts' porous run defense seems to have found itself in the playoffs, but that still is in Indy's most vulnerable spot. If the Bears win, it's going to be playing smash-mouth football.
I just don't have a good feeling for the Bears, so they can leave that chip on their shoulders.
If the Bears play like they did on Sunday they will beat the Colts.
Tough physical offense with the "two-headed monster" of Jones and Benson. Keep Manning off the field. Many of the Colts losses came against tough physical teams - Dallas, Tennessee, Jacksonville....
The Bears linebackers can run with the Colts tightends - a major weapon in the Colts offense.
Manning will be nervous, he still needs to win this game so as to not be labeled as a "can't win the big one" guy.
Bears defense may give up some yardage, but I don't think they will get tired like the Patriots older players did, and I don't think the Colts can ram it down the Bears throats with the run.
There is still the grass vs. turf thing - Bears better on grass.
I predict 27 - 24 Bears, Jones MVP with over 100 yards, Grossman adequate.
I hope every media outlet give the BEARS no chance. I myself don't really have any worries about the Colts. I think they are kind of soft with the exception of Bob Sanders. All these QBs attempted a lot of throws in these two games. I think a couple of them threw twice as much as Rex did. If that's the case :why did we score more points than all of them? Keep the chip on that shoulder. The Colts receivers dropped a lot of passes. They didn't even have the elemnets to deal with. If they did I would understand. I think the BEARS have a lot of confidence. I'm sure that Manning will revert back to the Manning that showed up the first two games. Our O can pound it better than any team that played on Sunday. It's gonna take a physical game to win. The BEARS will have Bradley back by then and he was missed a lot this past Sunday. Hey,I'm drinking from Frank Lee's BEARS Kool-Aide and it's making me say these things. GO BEARS!!!
Roman responds: The Colts aren't soft. They held Larry Johnson to 33 yards in the first round, beat the Ravens in the next round and just beat the Patriots in a shootout. They're not invincible, but they're definitely not soft.
You wouldn't be a Chicago fan if you didn't have those feelings Roman.
I agree the underdog thing is working for them right now so I have no problem with it.
Its true Manning is the best QB in the NFL, definitely better than ours. But I don't think that's going to matter.
I don't see anyone beating the Bears if the defense that showed up Sunday shows up in Miami.
It seems to be common knowledge that the AFC is much stronger than the NFC. It is hard to argue that.
I think the Bears are up to the challenge and will do it using great defense and explosive special teams play.
In my dream I see Manning folding on his own like lawn chair on a windy day. He is known to do that.
I hope my vision is clear.
BEAR DOWN
Larry Johnson was all they had. The Chiefs ran Johnson too much during the season and I feel like he was tired. Same with Lewis. Neither team had a down field threat and that made them one dimensional. No one expected their D to stop the run so they didn't even plan for that. And the Pats didn't have Rodney Harrison who play them tough. They were just allowed to roam without anyone putting a hat on them. Why else would the Pats give up an 18 point lead? I saw too many times where the DBs of the Pats just put a hand up to defend the ball and the WRs didn't even fight for it. If they are not allowed to work in space they are not able to score. Look at Addai coughing the ball up with that minimal contact. The BEARS will swarm on them better than that. Soft is when you want to run and not fight to the ball. Where was Freeney and the D line? Getting mashed into corn. You had a WR cough the ball up in the air and caught it himself. The BEARS won't let that happen.Yeah, the Saints almost never blitzed because they had too many liabilities in the secondary,and the BEARS will exploit that if the Colts do it too. Remember,there won't be elements to contend with. After slipping and sliding in muck the field in Miami will be a blessing. And don't forget how many BEARS fans there are in this world. Now,that they don't have to root for the former Fugees they will root for the old faithfuls. Rooting for the Saints became the equivalent to not booing kids on Showtime at the Apollo. They might not sound good but who wants to be the one to boo a kid. No More Sympathy Votes. GO BEARS!!!
Hey, you're just being fair, Roman, especially considering how tough Indy's playoff schedule has been thusfar. The Colts on the field have looked like the better team (especially after the Baltimore game); their defense is playing extremely well (first half of yesterday's game notwithstanding), and Peyton seems to have found his stride finally.
I look at this game the same way I looked at the Saints game: the Bears can win it (especially against the Colts), but they need to play hungry and play focused. If the defense does what they're best at and the offensive line does what they've done all year, we're going to see the Lombardi trophy in Lovie's hands in two weeks.
Go Bears!
Roman responds: I do think the dry track will favor Indy. The conditions Sunday I think neutralized the Saints' speed to some degree. Although Bush made a great move.
I like our cances. The Colts' WR seem tentative in the playoffs, Briggs will cover Dallas Clark like white on rice, Urlacher will prevent the little dump off to Rhodes ao Addai, and Mark Anderson won't let Manning get into his happy feet routine. If we can get Manning to throw 1 or 2 bad passes into our hands, Rex can prove himself and the league can crown our ass.
GO BEARS!!! #1 in the hood G
I heard Reggie Miller on ESPN radio talking to the other Bears haters. He said and I quote" the Bears are lucky they are getting 7" refering to the spread. He went on "The colts are gonna destroy the Bears. It will be a warm and neutral field and they will be destroyed" I almost laghed my arse off! reggie hates Chicago because of Jordan and the gang winning all those games. He is still a trash talking idiot! GO BEARS
Psychic Bear fans what a novelty?like stated earlier I dont know one real BEAR FAN WHO DOESNT HAVE THAT FEELING "EVERY" GAME,Roman.Okay we are going to the big dance ,all I can say is Dance ,baby, dance!like your "life" depended on it!(it does and dont you fuggitaboutit)smile......Da Bears going to Miami!Bringing home the gold.....
Most people are QB happy. Dig a little deeper and remember the the whole is greater than the sum of it's parts.The Bears haven't played their best game yet. Rex is going to explode for a huge game, it's coming mark my word. The Bears make you find out how much you really want to win. They bring the pain!
Roman responds: I don't know if it's just the way Rex looks or what, but I just think he's going to be pretty nervous on that big stage. At least he'll be able to hand off to Thomas Jones.
This year is fifty years since my first game at Wrigley, I was five.
DA Bears gonna beat the Colts...what you smokin, and i'd like to meet ya bookmaker the one thats givin the colts 7 in the sun-times
I really like the BEARS chances to win it all. The game will be won by the many little things the BEARS do well. Kick returns and coverage, field position and several BEARS making subtle plays to stabilize and maintain pressure on the Colts. I don't think Manning will fold or the Colts will be soft. It's going to be a team win with many key plays, just like the Saint game.
I believe Jones will be the MVP with Rex throwing for 280 yds and 2 tds. The defense will bend and give up some points, but will also make a couple of key stops. It will be an entertaining game that will adversley affect my blood pressure. I can't wait.
hard to believe the big
spender bears would offer
lovie 2.7. surely from the
bidwell/wirtz mold.
pathetic!!!!!!!!!!!
K.Brown,
I agree w/ Don. America loves the QB/Golden Boy. The sell papers and soup, but the position is way overrated for how football is played now. The Bears are 27 to 32 strong of some of the most physically gifted, well coached guys around. All three phases are needed to win a championship as we saw Sunday. Brad Maynard's punting needs to be recognized as well as our special teams specialists Ayanbedejo, Petterson, Mannelly, and of course Gould. We don't lead the league in Pro-Bowlers by chance. We have the best TEAM bar none. Indy might have the best QB, but I'll take a tough Band of Brothers over a iffy primadonna anyday.
SHUFFLIN' ON DOWN BABY!!!!
Ok, I could be wrong but I haven't heard or read anything in the Chicago press about the horrendous, hurtful, hate-filled attacks the Bears fans directed at Saints fans who traveled all the way to your fair city to support their team. It was not an isolated incident but was very widespread. This is not sour grapes. The Bears won and they deserve it. Many of these Bears fans brought up Katrina, referring to FEMA trailers and government assistance and death. Many of the New Orleans fans lost everything to Katrina including family members. A significant portion or your fan base would make Karl Marx happy. Completely Class-Free!!
.
Peyton Manning Playoff Performance
TDs 2, INTs 6, Rating 63.5
Rex Grossman Playoff Performance
TDs 2, INTs 1, Rating 75.0
Could you imagine Devin Hester lining up with the offense? If he just ran as fast as he could from scrimmage? At least one guy would have to come with him. He would be an excellent decoy. Just his presence would make the other team wary. You might even throw the bomb and let him catch up to it.
As far as field conditions on 2-4-7;Pray for rain!
.
Manning = Darth Vader: “ I sense something; a presence I've not felt since...”
Colts = Death Star: “The battle station is heavily shielded and carries a firepower greater than half the star fleet.”
Han Solo = Media (pregame): “Traveling through hyperspace isn't like dusting crops, boy! “
Lovie = Obi Wan Kenobi: “ In my experience, there's no such thing as luck.... The Force will be with you, always. “
Rex = Luke Skywalker: “ I'm not such a bad pilot myself.”
Rex(in Miami) = Luke: “It's not impossible. I used to bull’s-eye womp rats in my T-16 back home...”
Solo = Media (post game): “Great shot, kid, that was one in a million!”
Nice win by Bears. saints made a game of it there in the third quarter.
Sincere apologizes to Garry V if someone offended some visiting saints fan somehow. I'm sure no saints fan would make any comments or do any talking to bears fans which may have contributed to the exchanges. that whodat chant and song you got from cincinnati may have gotten on someone's nerves too. Anyway, no excuse, very sorry. Maybe bears fans are just used to exchanges with packers fans which get pretty heated, saints fans may not be accustomed to that sort of rivalry. Packers fans may just have thicker hides, often fur covered in fact. Guess saints fans are just more sensitive. So i'm sure no saints fans would try to paint all bears fans as bad just because of a few comments, or continue to repeat the story just to stir up hard feelings and post on message boards to provoke a response. I'm sure you're aware of all the support from chi and many bears fans to gulf coast after katrina. I'm a red cross vol myself and know how many of us went down there and tried to help. Course red cross got critized quite a bit for their efforts there anyway. Oh well, good luck.
If it aint broke don't fix it, as my granma used to say. If the bears get all lathered up by being underdogs and disrespected then go get it. That us against the world thing does get a little tiresome to hear all the time, especially for lifelong bear fans but if it works for this current group of players then so be it. As long as they keep it together and give it their best shot, i doubt any bear fans will complain. Doesn't mean won't be critical about things but that is part of being a fan. As my granma also used to say "if it ain't ants, it's cockroaches".
In response to the New Orleans fan with the "widespread hatred " comments:
Were you at the game ?
Did you speak with every New Orleans fan at the game ?
If it is widespread, then how come the national media didn't make a big deal about it ?
A handful of distasteful signs and abusive incidents does not condemn a whole city of football fans, let alone Bear fans all across the country. A few idiots does not constitute a signifigant portion. I'm sure there are Bears fans who lost loved ones, or know of people that were affected by Katrina. A football game has nothing to do with such a tragedy anyway. Anyone connecting the two events together is ignorant. The few idiots that did deserve your scorn. The rest of us are caring human beings rooting for our Bears.
Every sports city has idiots in the stands(drunken idiots at that), even New Orleans.
Don't generalize.
Peyton, the best QB in the NFL? Ok with that said let's go back in time a minute. Fran Tarkington, one of the best scrambling QB in history: 4 Super Bowl appearances, 0 rings
John Elway: 5 Super Bowl appearances, 1 ring on try #5 conclusion: Rex doesn't have to be the best QB, just the one that gets it done. Final score: Bears 27, Colts 17, Hester with 1 K/O return and 1 Punt return for TD's and Tillman 1 INT returned 36 yards for a TD; Urlacher, Briggs and Johnson 1 sack apiece.
Roman responds: It's true, and it's been well-documented that some teams have won with mediocre QBs. I'm not saying the Bears don't have a chance, I'm just saying my gut tells me Colts are going to win, and it's because of Manning.
To> erokwaily
No, I was not at the game. I couldn't afford to take off work and the price of the tickets was outrageous. However, I am basing my comments on people I know, friends & acquaintances who DID go as well as much coverage in the New Orleans media. Just because the aggressive behavior & insults didn't make it into the national media doesn't mean it didn't happen or wasn't an important story. We know from the last several years that the media sometimes "self-censors" itself for a number of reasons. All I can say is that I do realize that the mean-spirited behavior of some of the Chicago fans isn't representative of Chicago as a whole. Still a number of our fans have indicated that they will never set foot in your city ever again if they can help it. And, yes people from the South tend a be a little more sensitive than northerners. We like our coffee with milk & sugar, so to speak. Ok, I'm done and the Red Cross did wonderful work here following Katrina. I have no complaints.
I've been a Bears fan for most of my 48 years on this earth, but I currently live in Indianapolis. My life would be complete if my Bears destroy the Indianapolis Colts for the Super Bowl championship. Half the Colts fans wouldn't be fans if the team had an outdoor stadium. Go Bears and our true football fans!
I made my comment about lowlife saints fans down here in new orleans on the last blog so i won't even respond to ignorance.Now to the Super Bowl.We put a beat down on the number one offense and the all pro qb.I firmly believe that indy's O is not better then the saints.I know the conditions helped us out but like an earlier post mention the colts are nowwhere the team they are against phsyical teams on grass as they are in the dome.The only thing that bothers me is the dungy is the father of the cover 2 and he could find a way to exploit it to the fullest.True manning is the best qb in the game but his recievers are not having a good playoff run except for clark.A couple of good hits on harrison and you will not see him the rest of the game.They only scored 5 field goals against a team in baltimore that is a lot like chicago except i feel we have a better O.Indy will come in feeling overconfident and the bears will win 28 to 17.
If you go to any Colts-centric message board you will see many of their fans popping off at the mouth, the majority of them wholeheartedly believe the Lombardi trophy is already theirs because they beat the Patriots and they think playing the Bears is just a formality. The Ravens fans did this too (I'm living near Baltimore) before they played the Colts. Look at them now... that sea of purple across the city dissolved instantly after the game and you could feel the depression the next day. It was really funny to laugh at them and watch them eat their crow. And if the Bears win, it'll be funny to watch the Colts fans tripping over themselves to pretend they took the Bears seriously and act like they weren't talking trash.
Bears have to forfeit the game beacuse too many players get arrested in Miami for the Bears to field a team.
Roman, If you look at any of those games against the Ravens and Chiefs they tried to overpower the Colts with straight up iso plays straight up the middle based on the belief that the colts were soft. They really didn't do their homework. The Jaguars and other teams were successfull using lead draws and cutback runs taking advantage of the colts over pursuing. New England was having success using this stratagy in the first half but went away from it in the second half. I think Thomas Jones will be key because he is an excellent cutback runner. The Bears will win 27-17 I think. Peyton will throw for a ton of yard but the Bears D should Sack him at least a couple of times.
Colts record vs. top 10 teams in NFL 8-2
Bears record vs the top 10
2-1
Bears Sched. was 29th hardest in the NFL
Colts Sched. was 5th hardest
Who's been tested?
So Chicago's D is build off of stats against some of the worst teams in the league. The Colts played the Bears 2 years ago and it was 41-10 with the Colts rushing for 200+ yards and Manning throwing 4 TD's and not playing in the 4th quarter. Yea you didn't have Urlacher or Rex than....but your overrated.
I think someone sighted Rex's QB rating vs Mannings in the playoffs this year. Hmmmm - COlts played #1 scoring defense Baltimore and # 2 scoring defense in New England and the Bears played Seattle and New Orleans - how much easier does that get???? Now comes the # 3 defense Chicago has....# 3 since it played the 29th cupcake schd.
Manning is 11-1 vs NFC in games that matter and had 19 TD's 1 INT vs your division in 2004.
last but not least:
Peyton Manning vs. Rex Grossman is like Michael Jordan vs. Brand Miller (no offense Miller)
Let's face it, the national media hates the Bears. Even if the Bears win the Superbowl, the "experts" are going to say that the Bears didn't play anyone all season. They'll make excuses as to why the Colts lost. They won't give credit to the Bears for winning. They'll say, the Colts road to the Superbowl took a lot out of them. They had a tougher schedule. Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah....
Don Banks over at SI can kiss Chicago's butt calling Grossman the worst Superbowl quarterback ever. The kid is in his first full season and took his team there - that's got to say something about him. Unlike Mr. I historically choke in the playoffs QB Peyton Manning who has had a shot at the title for the last 7 years or so.
I didn't like the Bears' chances against the Saints. Hell, after that game against the Packers I was really concerned. I didn't know if their defense would show up or if good/bad Rex would appear. Who really knew?
After the mauling insued upon THE best quarterback this year Drew Brees (not Peyton Manning), I am confident in the Bears again. The running game will prove strong, Rex will do just enough, the defense will stop the run, the Bears's special teams will play great along with a TD by Hester, and Peyton Manning is going to look like a deer in headlights just like everytime he does when his line breaks down. He's never experienced pressure like this before. The Bears will bring it - BIG TIME!
Bears 30 Colts 21
MVP Brian Urlacher
You'll have to forgive me, Roman, but I don't believe you. I called 35-10...
Now, I'm calling a shutout of the Colts. That's right. shutout. At least 40 to nothing. THAT's called going out on a limb. Not claiming to have said something after the fact...
Fellas fellas fellas. You're talking about the Bears right? The same Bears that are in the NFC? The same Bears that play teams like the Vikings, the Lions, and the Packers? Please, admit you're out matched. Admit yet another Chicago team will walk off the field losers. Chicagoans were made to suffer.
Colts 34 Bears 13
Roman responds: Made to suffer? Six NBA titles and a World Series title. And now a Super Bowl. Yeah, that's a lot of suffering.
Roman,I'd like to respond to the blogs about negative fans towards The Saints fan last game: ignorance does not represent an entire city just like it wouldn't represent a race,sex or creed. Those people who are ignorant are usually fueled with alcohol and probably don't even remember that they did it. In the ARMY we called it "liquid courage". Not all BEAR fans would've did or said a lot of the things those few did. I can't apologize for something I didn't do and I won't defend that ignorance. That's just the world we live in. I'm sorry that it happened. Someone will realize one day that the midwest isn't tame like it used to be. That's why players in small towns get into trouble so much. They only mirror where we are as a society. GO BEARS!!!
Roman, I thought this blog was about the Super Bowl between the BEARS and the COLTS!!!??!!! Can we please stop talking about the last game??? I "AINT" even going to mention there name because its over! Time to move on!
There are tons of other forums and blogs where they can cry and whine about how they were mistreated... or how the refs blew it, or how the field sucked... sour grapes! What do they want? An apologize from me for all the knuckleheads at the game! OK, I'm sorry! Now lets talk about the super bowl! See... already wasted half of my blog on this old news...
Anyways, the bears again are underdogs, and that is fine, whatever they need to pump themselves up! I believe the bears rush offense can do the same, if not more damage to the colts run D... And what might decide the game will be the bears excellent special teams play, from hester to the punting game (which was key last week). I am worried about the safety play, but if the defensive line put the same pressure as last week, then eveything else falls in place.... Bears did hold the #1 Offense to 14 points last week... what was the name of that team again???? ;-)
Bears 27 colts 17
Don't get mad because I see things that you won't. You are Bears fans and will never see the bad calls going against the other team. The fans are rude and most are ignorant. That's a fact. If not for these fans, I would be happy to see the Bears win, after all, I live here. i will never be a Bears fan (I haven't mentioned my team...they lost and they are no longer a factor) but it would be nice to se them win for the other fans. The ones that are respectul and have confidence that their team will win without being the typical Chicago retard. I do think that the Bears are overrated and overhyped, but that doesn't mean they can't win.
In response Roman, if the Cowboys were going to Miami this year, I would be scared as hell (the AFC is a better conference), I would not be that obnoxious fan like the ones that I run into each day. if you win, then talk away...if you don't, then everyone that isn't a fan will let you hear it (not everyone deserves it, but that's Chicago...a few idiots always stand out).
Colts 14
Bears 3
Mr.Barranco,you fail to see the point: no one wants to hear about your opinion because you approached it the wrong way. If you weren't already a Dallas fan and You came here and said what you said after the game it would have been somewhat different. But you are a Dallas fan and it all comes off like sour grapes. Your team isn't in it any longer and they are rubbing your nose in it. It wasn't even an hour after the game where you came out with those silly accusations. Why did you watch the last game? To see the Saints win and the BEARS lose,right. And since it didn't go down like you wanted you're pi$$ed. Dude, we were celebrating and you were throwing the cold water. Not one fan who expected them to lose came out and expressed outrage. Even guys who doubted them came out and said congratulation and admitted that they were eating crow. Basically you were the only one everyone had heard from before who was mad about the outcome. No one's mad because you see things we don't. They're mad because you see things that just aren't there. Saints weren't ready. They did a lot to lose this game. EVERYONE had to play on that field. You should've seen it before they resodded. It was worse. No one got an advantage. BEARS just prepared outside in the cold and The Saints stayed indoors all week. You had guys hot-dogging and pumping up the BEARS to play better. The main reason you're mad is because you wanted the BEARS to lose and they didn't. You should be glad that the team that knocked your team out got knocked out by the BEARS.But you're just hating. How can you live in a city where the home-team is loved by so many? Who lives in the heart of BEAR country and hate the BEARS? The only idiots here are the ones who hate the home team. Please leave this blog and saddle up with the opposition. They need all the fans they can get. Coming back here only shows that you will be crowned the king of silly and stupid. Why,why,why? If my opinion flys in the face of the masses I'm better off finding people who see things my way.You're mad at the fans because they have something to celebrate and you don't. Stop while you're so far behind Robert. Your anger changes absolutely nothing. With all the hate you have for the BEARS chances are they will win and hurt you even more. Hate away fine sir. GO BEARS!!!
Second city? From what we hear from thousands,not hundreds,you people went way above and beyond when the Saints played the bears....wishing death on people,drowning,etc..this may seem humorous to you morons,but for those of us who lived,thank /God,through this nightmare,THAT is BEYOND THE LINE.MANY people lost EVERYTHING they had, lost loved ones, all pictures,momentos,pets,EVERTHING>can you MORONS even comprehend that????Apparently not.I am glad you got disgraced in the superbowl.....just what ya had coming. I would never wish on my worst enemy what this entire region has gone through...an explanation would be wasted on your pathetic understanding of humanity.Glad i live here. All it,s problems,all it's shortcomings,at least i live in a city with character,humanity, spirit,and most of all CLASS. Second city will always be 2nd....2nd place, 2nd CLASS. you people have a lot to learn.