NFC Championship: Bears vs. Saints - Sun Jan 21, 2 pm CST

[CP_414]

Wrigleyville Sports likes to tempt fate

 

http://www.wrigleyvillesport.com/iStar.asp?a=29&search=Conference06

 

Oh god.. remember "Cubs 2003 NLCS Champions" sweatshirts?

 

Or the Boston Red Sox painting the World Series logo at Fenway Park before Game 7 against the Yankees in 2003.

 

Or the Super Bowl Shuffel in November of 1985. Oh, that worked out ok.

[Banedon]

I'm sure it's been asked here numerous times, but does anyone around here know of/post at any good Bears message boards?

 

I recognize a few of the posters here from over at the chicagobears.com board, but, and I'm sure those of you who have posted there will agree, that message board is pretty much trash. Very poorly moderated and lots of idiots. Much like the Cubs.com boards...

I frequent kffl.com

 

I haven't gone there a whole lot, but http://www.dabearz.com has a forum and is pretty active in having friendly rivalries with other teams message boards depending on the game of the week. Seems like a good bunch from the little I know.

 

I just don't have time to be an active member of multiple boards. This one already consumes too much of my time.

[Soul]

Well, it's over.

 

Some psychic in New Orleans read her tarot cards and declared the Saints the winner.

[Banedon]

KC Joyner has a nice ESPN Insider articleabout this game.

[CuseCubFan69]

Here's a nice article about Manning:

 

http://www.theonion.com/content/news_briefs/peyton_manning_looking

[Banedon]

Here's a nice article about Manning:

 

http://www.theonion.com/content/news_briefs/peyton_manning_looking

 

That's excellent.

[CubmanPi]

:puker: Article about the Saints :pukel:

 

The way the Katrina angle keeps getting played up, I am hoping more and more that this game is a nasty lobsided blowout. It's getting obnoxious.

[Soul]

I hear you brother. What is with these Louisiana "God wants us to win" people?

 

Can we get a few more New Orleans tea-leaf readers to pick the Saints please?

 

Wow. :lol:

[CuseCubFan69]

I hear you brother. What is with these Louisiana "God wants us to win" people?

 

Can we get a few more New Orleans tea-leaf readers to pick the Saints please?

 

Wow. :lol:

 

I wonder what the pot leaves told Vick?

[gflore34]

I agree this Katrina angle is nonsense, granted it was a terrible tragedy but, it’s got nothing whatsoever to do with the outcome of the game, or football itself. This notion of the Saints being the better team, or they're somehow more deserving because of Katrina is utter foolishness. Edited January 18, 2007 by gflore34

[wekse]

I agree this Katrina angle is nonsense, granted it was a terrible tragedy but, it’s go nothing whatsoever to do with the outcome of the game, or football itself. This notion of the Saints being the better team, or they're somehow more deserving because of Katrina is utter foolishness.

 

BUT THEY'RE PLAYING FOR THE ENTIRE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS!!!! IT'S A GREAT STORY!!!

 

/lame

[goonys evil twin]

I don't have a problem with the Katrina/Saints storylines. I think it's a nice story. I think it's great that the games are bringing attention to the situation.

 

I don't get why people have to be so cynical that they can't differentiate between the fluff piece stories and the actual game stories, and deal with the fact that both exist.

[OleMissCub]

 

I don't get why people have to be so cynical that they can't differentiate between the fluff piece stories and the actual game stories, and deal with the fact that both exist.

 

QFT

[Soul]

I don't have a problem with the Katrina/Saints storylines. I think it's a nice story. I think it's great that the games are bringing attention to the situation.

 

You're right. I had no idea New Orleans was devastated by a hurricane until the Saints starting winning football games.

[goonys evil twin]

I don't have a problem with the Katrina/Saints storylines. I think it's a nice story. I think it's great that the games are bringing attention to the situation.

 

You're right. I had no idea New Orleans was devastated by a hurricane until the Saints starting winning football games.

 

Again, why the cynicism? This country has a long history of people reacting strongly to the initial news event, but then letting the story disappear. The damage caused by Katrina is something that cannot be fixed by a flood of water bottles and canned goods to the area. It is an ongoing struggle. Causes that constantly have attention brought upon them are the ones that receive the most effort, both in man hours and financial assistance, and that is often the difference between solving a problem and letting one fester. Yes, we all know Katrina happened. But everytime a story is written about what people are still enduring, and what still needs to be done, somebody somewhere is probably reminded, and inspired to do some good.

[OleMissCub]

I don't have a problem with the Katrina/Saints storylines. I think it's a nice story. I think it's great that the games are bringing attention to the situation.

 

You're right. I had no idea New Orleans was devastated by a hurricane until the Saints starting winning football games.

 

I think he means it brings attention to the situation that the city is STILL devastated. I've been down there three times since the hurricane, and nothing really has changed. It's beyond creepy when you travel to the ninth ward and see thousands and thousands of homes that are completely abandoned and are off their foundations. It's like something out of a movie.

 

I'm sorry you have to put up with the "feel good" stories, and I don't like them either because I think they detract away from the fact that the Saints are actually a damn good team, but Katrina didn't affect you in any way, so I think it's a bit of a jerky thing to constantly bitch about the stories. I've got about a dozen friends who lost everything they ever had thanks to the hurricane. Two elderly people that I knew perished as a result of Katrina, and another lost a leg due to gangrene as a result of losing her insulin.

 

Just deal with it.

[Chocolate Milk]

I just wish the fluff pieces weren't getting mixed in with the game pieces.

[David]

I just wish the fluff pieces weren't getting mixed in with the game pieces.

 

Or with the actual predictions of the outcome.

[BigbadB]

I don't have a problem with the Katrina/Saints storylines. I think it's a nice story. I think it's great that the games are bringing attention to the situation.

 

You're right. I had no idea New Orleans was devastated by a hurricane until the Saints starting winning football games.

 

Again, why the cynicism? This country has a long history of people reacting strongly to the initial news event, but then letting the story disappear. The damage caused by Katrina is something that cannot be fixed by a flood of water bottles and canned goods to the area. It is an ongoing struggle. Causes that constantly have attention brought upon them are the ones that receive the most effort, both in man hours and financial assistance, and that is often the difference between solving a problem and letting one fester. Yes, we all know Katrina happened. But everytime a story is written about what people are still enduring, and what still needs to be done, somebody somewhere is probably reminded, and inspired to do some good.

 

Not to mention the fact the people of New Orleans actually have something to be somewhat cheerful about. I can't imagine the feeling of waking up everyday in what looks like a war ravaged city, and knowing that it will probably look that way again tomorrow.

 

If the Saints season brightens even just a few people's days and weeks, it's more than they had before football season.

 

Go Bears! If the Bears lose, I'll be cheering on the Saints to Super Bowl victory. I hate the Pats and Colts.

[OleMissCub]

http://www.superbowl.com/news/story/9937316

 

This will be the 11th time since the merger that a conference's top-ranked offense (New Orleans) is facing the top-ranked defense (Chicago). In the first 10 such matchups, the top offense has defeated the top defense seven times. In two of those games, the top offense shut out the top defense (Cowboys over Rams in 1978; 49ers over Bears in 1984).

 

Saints QB Drew Brees has a passer rating of 99 in two career playoff games -- he's 51 for 74, for 562 yards, three TDs and one INT. He needs 100 total attempts to qualify, but this pace would give him the third-best passer rating in playoff history.

 

For Chicago, the defensive line has to play its game of the year. The Bears play a lot of Tampa 2 defensive schemes, and without pressure from the front line, it becomes tough for the secondary in pass coverage. On offense, they need to handle the Saints' blitz scheme.

 

Key matchups for Chicago: LT John Tait versus Saints DE Will Smith, and WR Bernard Berrian versus CB Fred Thomas.

 

For New Orleans, Brees needs to be the difference-maker. The Saints need to control the football, and I think they will. Sean Payton is a very good play-caller and will have a good gameplan for the Bears.

 

Both teams have very good kicking games. Weather is a key factor. If it's windy and cold, that helps the Bears.

 

Still, the loss of DT Tommie Harris is a problem for the Bears. In the last four regular-season games without Harris, they allowed a total of 105 points. In the previous 12 games, they had allowed 150.

 

I like New Orleans.

[Banedon]

http://www.superbowl.com/news/story/9937316

 

This will be the 11th time since the merger that a conference's top-ranked offense (New Orleans) is facing the top-ranked defense (Chicago). In the first 10 such matchups, the top offense has defeated the top defense seven times. In two of those games, the top offense shut out the top defense (Cowboys over Rams in 1978; 49ers over Bears in 1984).

 

Saints QB Drew Brees has a passer rating of 99 in two career playoff games -- he's 51 for 74, for 562 yards, three TDs and one INT. He needs 100 total attempts to qualify, but this pace would give him the third-best passer rating in playoff history.

 

For Chicago, the defensive line has to play its game of the year. The Bears play a lot of Tampa 2 defensive schemes, and without pressure from the front line, it becomes tough for the secondary in pass coverage. On offense, they need to handle the Saints' blitz scheme.

 

Key matchups for Chicago: LT John Tait versus Saints DE Will Smith, and WR Bernard Berrian versus CB Fred Thomas.

 

For New Orleans, Brees needs to be the difference-maker. The Saints need to control the football, and I think they will. Sean Payton is a very good play-caller and will have a good gameplan for the Bears.

 

Both teams have very good kicking games. Weather is a key factor. If it's windy and cold, that helps the Bears.

 

Still, the loss of DT Tommie Harris is a problem for the Bears. In the last four regular-season games without Harris, they allowed a total of 105 points. In the previous 12 games, they had allowed 150.

 

I like New Orleans.

 

Completely ignoring HFA and just glossing over the weather.

[gflore34]

http://www.superbowl.com/news/story/9937316

 

This will be the 11th time since the merger that a conference's top-ranked offense (New Orleans) is facing the top-ranked defense (Chicago). In the first 10 such matchups, the top offense has defeated the top defense seven times. In two of those games, the top offense shut out the top defense (Cowboys over Rams in 1978; 49ers over Bears in 1984).

 

Saints QB Drew Brees has a passer rating of 99 in two career playoff games -- he's 51 for 74, for 562 yards, three TDs and one INT. He needs 100 total attempts to qualify, but this pace would give him the third-best passer rating in playoff history.

 

For Chicago, the defensive line has to play its game of the year. The Bears play a lot of Tampa 2 defensive schemes, and without pressure from the front line, it becomes tough for the secondary in pass coverage. On offense, they need to handle the Saints' blitz scheme.

 

Key matchups for Chicago: LT John Tait versus Saints DE Will Smith, and WR Bernard Berrian versus CB Fred Thomas.

 

For New Orleans, Brees needs to be the difference-maker. The Saints need to control the football, and I think they will. Sean Payton is a very good play-caller and will have a good gameplan for the Bears.

 

Both teams have very good kicking games. Weather is a key factor. If it's windy and cold, that helps the Bears.

 

Still, the loss of DT Tommie Harris is a problem for the Bears. In the last four regular-season games without Harris, they allowed a total of 105 points. In the previous 12 games, they had allowed 150.

 

I like New Orleans.

 

Completely ignoring HFA and just glossing over the weather.

 

Or the fact that the NO run defense was amongst the worst in the NFC, and their overall defense is fairly weak.

[Butterscup1679666578]

I have no problem with everyone besides John Clayton picking against the Bears. It'll be that much more fun when the Bears stomp the Saints.

 

PREDICTION:

Bears 31

Saints 16

[David]

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/6379136

 

Hope the quotes aren't too big...

 

Last week, we quoted a Chicago scribe who wrote that the Bears were a very good team but a rather dull story. The Bears responded with a thrilling 27-24 overtime victory in the rain against the Seahawks, a game that provided its fair share of drama, intrigue and even offense. With Rex Grossman throwing perfect strikes to Bernard Berrian and Devin Hester mixing nerve-frying fumbles with breathtaking returns, the Bears are definitely not a team you want to turn your back on.

 

But the not-so-boring Bears have a bigger problem: they are not the cuddly, lovable Saints. Bears players know that while everyone in Soldier Field will be rooting for them, most of America is rooting for the boys from the Bayou. ''You can't blame people at all,'' running back Cedric Benson said of the national obsession with the Saints. ''That city went through a lot of things last year, and that team has done a great job in rebuilding that city and giving that city some hope. That's a very wonderful thing going on down in New Orleans, but we aren't going to lay down for them. It's still going to be a fight.''

 

 

Grossman's performance was an eye-opener. He bore two weeks of intense criticism after admitting he wasn't prepared for the Packers game. He swore that the negative press didn't have an effect on him — "you give yourself too much credit how you affect me," Grossman told reporters — and his passing backed up his talk. Grossman did make some mistakes, including an ugly second-quarter fumble, but the Bears only need a competent quarterback to win games. And Grossman looked better than competent. "What I've learned is that he knows how to bounce back from tough situations," Lovie Smith said in one of this season's greatest understatements.

 

When the Bears win on Sunday, they won't ruin the feel-good sports story of the decade. They won't dash the hopes of Louisiana residents still struggling with the Katrina aftermath. The story of the Saints is uplifting without a Super Bowl appearance or a win. Hope transcends victory and defeat on the gridiron. It's born of the belief that no problem is insurmountable, no comeback too far fetched. The 2006 Saints are winners, now and forever.

 

But the Bears are the better team. And the better team will beat the better story on Sunday.

Edited January 18, 2007 by David

[OleMissCub]

 

Or the fact that the NO run defense was amongst the worst in the NFC, and their overall defense is fairly weak.

 

11th in the NFL is pretty good.

 

Over their last 7 games, including the Eagles playoff win, but not including the throwaway Panthers game, the Saints D are only allowing 14.5 points.

 

Over that same span, not including the throwaway Packers game, the Bears D is giving up 22 points. In that span, the Bears D gave up 31 points to the 29th ranked offense in the league (TB), gave up 22 points to the 21st ranked offense(DET), and then 24 points to the 19th ranked offense(SEA).

 

In their last 7 game span, Saints gave up 13 points to the 12th ranked offense(ATL), 17 points to the 5th ranked offense (DAL), and 7 points to the 13th ranked offense (NY), and 24 points to the 2nd ranked offense (PHI).