How ‘Bout Dem Bears? » Brats & Beer

October 17, 2006
posted under: effin Bears

That was one hell of a game last night, certainly a lot more of a game than anyone, including ESPN, thought it was going to be. If only the Bears could have somehow lost it would have been perfect, but it is the Cardinals we’re talking about here. And don’t forget Dennis Green, the man who lost a an NFC Championship game at home because of a missed field goal.

This is the third year for Green in Arizona and I have to think his status with the Cardinals is riding on this season. They’re playing in a brand new stadium, and Bill Bidwell actually did the unthinkable drafting a first round quarterback and signing a big time free agent like Edgerrin James. If the Cards end up with just two or three wins this season, the meltdown on Monday night will be pretty hard to ignore in the offseason.

But lost in all the hoopla about Arizona’s choke job has been the miserable performance turned in by the Bears. In the first half, Chicago looked like the Bears of just a few years ago playing the Packers on Monday night. Rex Grossman was back to playing like Wrecks Grossman, heaving up four picks and losing two fumbles. The running game was attrocious. The defense, compared to the ‘85 squad so often in the pre-game that even Mike Ditka was getting a little annoyed, allowed 20 points.

So what are we to make of all this? Are the Bears really as good as we thought they were? They certainly looked like it against Seattle and Buffalo. It also helped that Chicago opened the season against Green Bay and Detroit. But I think this team is starting to come back down to Earth and there might be a surprise or two left in store before the end of the season. Plus, the Bears have to play both the Giants and the Patriots on the road, so the ‘72 Dolphins will be popping champaign before too long.

Unfortunately, it looks like Chicago will still finish with 11 or 12 wins, which might be good enough for home field advantage in the NFC. Thankfully, though, recent history does not favor the Bears in the playoffs, even at home, so maybe we can all be spared Super Bowl Shuffle II.