It's official: Colts and Bears in the Super Bowl

[Brian in Mesa]

Go Bears !!

 

[Shane]

no way do i cheer for the bears. TJ is a punk. seeing him run the ball for chicago just makes me angry, i dont think i ever saw him run that hard for us, ever. couple that with the monday night meltdown. my respect for dungy. and i say GO COLTS.

ps - damn, edge must not feel too well right now. but im sure with things like this,, it doesnt last long, he's is probably just with the mindset "damn..." but thats about it. nothing to worry about

TJ's breathing problems stopped while he was with the Cards in fact the season before his final season was the last you heard of it. If you never saw TJ run hard then you werent looking!

 

[Zeno]

This Super Bowl is sort of blah for me.

I could care less who wins and I doubt I'll be too in to it.

 

[BullheadCardFan]

Peyton is definitely the best of the lot, but I don't want Archie or Eli to ever even be able to brag that they have a SB ring in their family line....

I agree .. I can't stand what Archie did in the draft ... and Eli is riding on his brothers coat tail ...

 

[Totally_Red]

I wonder how Edge is feeling right now?

Probably he's feeling pretty wealthy which he is. It's all about the Benjamins.

 

[Pariah]

Personally, I'd like to see the Colts win. I was a quasi-Colts fan when Jim Harbaugh played there. Actually, I still have my Harbaugh jersey.

You know Harbaugh played for the Bears, too, right?

Go Bears!

I still don't understand why there's so much hate for the bears. Overhyped? They just made the #1 offense in football look like they were a college team, so I'm not sure that one holds much water. They are what we thought they were.

I'm looking forward to the someone having the balls to run the headline after they win the SB: "Crown Their Ass: Bears World Champions."

Also, I'm shocked to see the lines open with Indy as 7.5 point favorites. I'm not saying they can't win by that much, but they way the Bears played D and ran the ball yesterday, I'm willing to put down some money when Vegas is spotting me a TD.

 

[Gambit]

You know Harbaugh played for the Bears, too, right?

Go Bears!

I still don't understand why there's so much hate for the bears. Overhyped? They just made the #1 offense in football look like they were a college team, so I'm not sure that one holds much water. They are what we thought they were.

I'm looking forward to the someone having the balls to run the headline after they win the SB: "Crown Their Ass: Bears World Champions."

Also, I'm shocked to see the lines open with Indy as 7.5 point favorites. I'm not saying they can't win by that much, but they way the Bears played D and ran the ball yesterday, I'm willing to put down some money when Vegas is spotting me a TD.

It will be a tough, good matchup (hopefully). I want the Colts to win but could very well see the Bears triumphing.

 

[lobo]

Yeah, but how can you NOT root for Tony Dungy? Seems like a super guy.

so does lovie and that's why i am rooting form them!!! my neighbors would burn my house down if i put a colts flag up...by the way....

the bears won for a very "simple" reason(s)

ran the ball
stopped the run
no turnovers
no penalties

the formula for wins!!!!

unforunately for us three of these we have rarely done....that why we need to instill a new attitude and discipline.

 

[D-Dogg]

They just made the #1 offense in football look like they were a college team, so I'm not sure that one holds much water.

That offense also panicked and stopped running the ball, even though they were running it at 4.7 a carry. Indy did not stop running the ball yesterday.

I wouldn't put all the Saints offensive woes on the Bears...I think weather, weird decisions (the FG attempt) and Sean Payton coaching like a rookie played pretty big parts too.

The Bears defense is very good (though it can be run on). Their QB is terrible, and for whatever reason (probably their crappy CB) the Saints put no pressure on Grossman. Berrian's TD against any other CB (yeah, even Rolle) would have been incomplete or an INT. One of the worst shot-put passes I've seen. Grossman might as well have sky-hooked that downfield.

They aren't the '85 Bears, and I'm terribly tired of people trying to make comparisons with that team.

 

[Pariah]

That offense also panicked and stopped running the ball, even though they were running it at 4.7 a carry. Indy did not stop running the ball yesterday.

Why did they panic? Maybe because the Bears were bringing incredible pressure and causing turnovers at seemingly every possesion? Yeah, I think we can attribute what the Saints did (or in this case, didn't) do to what the Bears did on defense.

I'm not saying it's a slam dunk for the Bears by any means. But to write off the way they played the Saints is seeing only what you want to see. Like it or not, the Bears deserve to be in the Superbowl. They ARE the best team in the NFC...I'm not sure you could make a reasonable argument that they're not. Do they have their flaws? Yes, most notibly, Grossman. But they more than make up for them with their strengths.

The Bears defense is very good (though it can be run on). Their QB is terrible, and for whatever reason (probably their crappy CB) the Saints put no pressure on Grossman. Berrian's TD against any other CB (yeah, even Rolle) would have been incomplete or an INT. One of the worst shot-put passes I've seen. Grossman might as well have sky-hooked that downfield.

Grossman is awful. All the more reason their run-game is so impressive--you know no one is scheming the defense around trying to stop the passing-game.

As for why the Saints couldn't put pressure on Grossman, it's not a mystery: The Bears have one of the best o-lines in the game.

They aren't the '85 Bears, and I'm terribly tired of people trying to make comparisons with that team.

Not sure I follow--did I make an '85 comparison? The Bears' D is very good this year, good enough to shut down the Saints (remember this time last week what people were saying about what that offense would do to the bears? They didn't), and probably good enough to give manning fits.

 

[D-Dogg]

Why did they panic? Maybe because the Bears were bringing incredible pressure and causing turnovers at seemingly every possesion?

They brought the same pressure on Seattle, and Seattle killed them with draws. Why didn't Payton call more draws? Deuce and Reggie, and no draw plays after watching Alexander slice his way through the gut of that defense the previous week? Shocking.

The Bears caused turnovers in the passing game...sacks, fumble from WR, intentional grounding, etc. RUN the ball. They were down 2, and wouldn't run the ball. For as much credit as the Bears should get, the playcalling was atrocious and played right into their hands.

As for why the Saints couldn't put pressure on Grossman, it's not a mystery: The Bears have one of the best o-lines in the game.

The Saints didn't try...but they also have one of the worst corners in the league that they were trying to protect.

Not sure I follow--did I make an '85 comparison?

You might be one of the 15 people on the planet who hasn't.

 

[Pariah]

They brought the same pressure on Seattle, and Seattle killed them with draws. Why didn't Payton call more draws? Deuce and Reggie, and no draw plays after watching Alexander slice his way through the gut of that defense the previous week? Shocking.

The a ot of the bears pressure on sunday came up the middle--I'm not sure even draws would have been all that effective.

Regardless, the Bears won the game more than the Saints lost it. (I know you know that makes sense )

 

[D-Dogg]

The a ot of the bears pressure on sunday came up the middle--I'm not sure even draws would have been all that effective.

Regardless, the Bears won the game more than the Saints lost it. (I know you know that makes sense )

I won't disagree with that completely, but I did find the playcalling and the abandonment of the running game when it was actually working to be terrible decisions.

 

[TruColor]

You know Harbaugh played for the Bears, too, right?

For what it's worth, Harbaugh was the Bears' QB when my wife went out with him.

I wonder who he's pulling for?

 

[Pariah]

I wonder who he's pulling for?

I seem to recall him getting a bum deal in Chicago, then going and haveing a couple of career-making years in Indy.

I'll bet he's pulling for Indy, even though Chicago drafted him. It'd be interesting to hear an interview with him.

 

[Jersey Girl]

You know Harbaugh played for the Bears, too, right?

Yeah, but I never had a Harbaugh Bears jersey. (For some reason, I still have my Harbaugh Colts jersey.)

so does lovie and that's why i am rooting form them!!!

True, true. Both seem like good guys. I've just always been a fan of Dungy.

 

[Longcolts]

My hatred for the Manning family runs deeper than any respect I have for Dungy....

Lordy, what did they do? Kill your oldest child??

 

[AZCB34]

They aren't the '85 Bears, and I'm terribly tired of people trying to make comparisons with that team.

If the Cards ever win the Super Bowl (they will win it eventually)in such dominant fashion as the 85 Bears team did, you would understand how the comparisons are so easily used when the next Cards team would make it back. I, for one, was buying into this team being better than the 85 guys early on but that quickly evaporated.

You just have to understand the continued presence of that 85 team in the minds of Bears fans and the woven within the city to understand why every Bears team is compared to and held up to that standard.

 

[Wild Card]

If the Cards ever win the Super Bowl (they will win it eventually)in such dominant fashion as the 85 Bears team did, you would understand how the comparisons are so easily used when the next Cards team would make it back... You just have to understand the continued presence of that 85 team in the minds of Bears fans and the woven within the city to understand why every Bears team is compared to and held up to that standard.

AZCB:

I think that anyone still comparing the current Chicago team to the '85 version needs to watch some old game film. I still have the Bears' sole Super Bowl win on tape--the only one I've recorded beginning to end and kept--as well as a mint factory VHS copy of the "Super Bowl Shuffle." I'd been a fan of Walter Payton for years, and I was thrilled that he finally had a championship-caliber team around him. The only time I rooted against that Bears team all season was when they played the Dolphins in Miami, and came up short in their sole loss as Dan Marino carved up Buddy Ryan's 46 defense to the tune of 38-24. (I still wonder how the Super Bowl would've played out if Marino and the 'Phins had made it past the Patriots in the AFC Championship, and the Bears had faced that offense again.)

But other than that one game in Miami, the '85 Bears were awesome. Defense ranked #1 in the league for both yards- and points-per-game allowed, offense not far behind at #2 ppg and #6 ypg. Nine Pro Bowlers, four of them from the offense (including QB Jim McMahon). And after rolling through a 15-1 regular season, they DESTROYED the teams they faced in the playoffs. 21-0 over the Parcells-coached 10-6 NY Giants, who came back to win it all the following year. 24-0 over John Robinson's 11-5 LA Rams, featuring a running back named Eric Dickerson. And 46-10 over the 11-5 Patriots, who got in as a wildcard and beat the Jets, Raiders and Dolphins on the road to reach the Super Bowl. That's a point differential of 91-10 in three games against playoff-caliber teams.

This year's Bears had a good regular season, played well enough to win two playoff games at home, and deserve their shot at the Super Bowl. But comparing this squad to the '85 world champions is absurd.

WC

 

[D-Dogg]

You just have to understand the continued presence of that 85 team in the minds of Bears fans and the woven within the city to understand why every Bears team is compared to and held up to that standard.

That's quite an unrealistic standard. It's like if every newborn child was compared to Jesus and expected to die for our sins.

 

[AZCB34]

That's quite an unrealistic standard. It's like if every newborn child was compared to Jesus and expected to die for our sins.

I never claimed it to be a realistic standard but of the flip side, why shouldn't fans set a high standard? The simple fact is, the 85 Bears are still, to this day, a strong presence in the city of Chicago and amongst Bear fans. Every team, right or wrong, is compared to that team. None will measure up defensively but the comparisons still exist.

 

[AZCB34]

But comparing this squad to the '85 world champions is absurd.

When you take the entire season as the measuring stick, you are right, it would be absurd to say this defense was as good as that one. During the early season however, this Bears defense was ever bit as dominant (although not as intimidating) and the offense was much better than the 85 Bears. Then "Bad Rex" came along and that quickly evaporated and the defense showed the cracks, especially after Tommie Harris went down (the Harris injury has been much more damaging than the Mike Brown injury).

So, yes, to compare it now seems absurd given how the season played out but there was a time when the comparison was not only easy but maybe not so off base.

 

[Skkorpion]

I despise the Bears fans but not the Bears. A few years back, when the Bears sucked, they were having up to 17,000 no shows at some home games. In a metropolitan area of that size, that's an embarassment. Yet Bears fans who live in Phoenix call us frontrunners.

 

[Wild Card]

During the early season however, this Bears defense was ever bit as dominant (although not as intimidating) and the offense was much better than the 85 Bears. Then "Bad Rex" came along and that quickly evaporated... So, yes, to compare it now seems absurd given how the season played out but there was a time when the comparison was not only easy but maybe not so off base.

AZCB:

I'm not sure I accept the premise that this year's Bears offense was ever "much better" than the '85 team's. Let's not forget that the Bears had the #1 rushing offense that season, with Walter Payton going to his eighth Pro Bowl after rushing for 324-1,551 and 9 TDs. The passing game was less impressive, but still efficient, with the league's fifth-highest yards-per-attempt at 7.65. Jim McMahon had what was arguably his best season--and went to his only Pro Bowl--with stats of 178-313-2,392 with 15 TDs. The Bears finished the season ranked second for points scored and sixth for yards gained.

I'll grant you that the scores of some of the Bears' early games looked impressive, and that Rex Grossman had isolated games that opened some eyes. But "much better" than Payton, McMahon and company? Not at any time.

WC

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Colts, they are the lesser of two evils in my mind.