Super Bowl XLI: Bears vs. Colts, Sun 2/4, 5:30 pm CT

[David]

How good is Indy's O-line? Obviously, it has to be at least decent, considering how good the Colts are on offense. Is there any chance the Bears can get good pressure on Manning without having to bring the kitchen sink? Can the d-line do it?

 

I noticed the Bears went away from the Cover 2 a bit and went more toward a blitz oriented style for the NFC Championship game, but, as others have mentioned, it'd be best if they avoid doing this as much as they can get away with against Manning.

[Banedon]

OMG...a pro-Bears article! Flee! Flee!

 

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/em_swift/01/23/bears/index.html?cnn=yes

 

You know that deer-in-the-headlights look that Manning can get after throwing a couple of picks? You haven't seen the last of it this year.

[David]

The article makes a comparison to the 2001 Super Bowl, and that's really what's been coming to mind for me since this matchup materialized.

 

It wouldn't be as much of an upset, but there are a lot of similarities in terms of the way the teams matchup. People were doubting the young QB could get it done, even though he helped get his team into the Super Bowl. There was no way the Pats defense could stop the high-powered dome offense in perfect/controlled weather conditions. I could go on with these, admittedly, loose comparisons.

 

Maybe if the Bears win this one and Rex has a solid game, people will finally start to take this team seriously. It certainly seemed to change peoples' opinions of the Pats (of course, now its 5 years and two more rings later).

[BigbadB]

How good is Indy's O-line? Obviously, it has to be at least decent, considering how good the Colts are on offense. Is there any chance the Bears can get good pressure on Manning without having to bring the kitchen sink? Can the d-line do it?

 

I noticed the Bears went away from the Cover 2 a bit and went more toward a blitz oriented style for the NFC Championship game, but, as others have mentioned, it'd be best if they avoid doing this as much as they can get away with against Manning.

 

The presence of Reggie Wayne and Marvin Harrison will make blitzing too often a poor choice. Cover 2 will be the way to go. Try to avoid giving up the big play for a touchdown. The Bears are one of the best in the red zone. Let them have their yardage between the 30's, but BEAR down beyond that.

[goonys evil twin]

OMG...a pro-Bears article! Flee! Flee!

 

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/em_swift/01/23/bears/index.html?cnn=yes

 

You know that deer-in-the-headlights look that Manning can get after throwing a couple of picks? You haven't seen the last of it this year.

 

I can't say that article is all that good. He seems to use a lot of silly reasoning for why the Bears will win. Reminds me of the article last week where somebody had to come up with 3 reasons why the Bears could beat the Saints, and pretty much made it look like they didn't believe the Bears could beat the Saints.

[TruffleShuffle]

All I have to say about this game is....run, run, run, play action. And then run some more.

 

If Bears are one-dimensional they will lose. And I don't mean throwing in a play-action pass every 5 runs, I mean they have to throw it about as much as they run.

 

I completely disagree with the "as much as you can" talk. That's playing into Indy's hands. They've won in the playoffs when teams' abandoned the run and went to the pass. The Bears need to run it 30+ times. Getting into a shoot-out with Indy is a losing battle.

 

No, teams abandoned the run and went to the pass when they were behind by a lot and didn't have several minutes to blow by running the ball every team. The Chiefs weren't running the ball effectively at all, because the Colts were loading up the box. Larry Johnson had 32 yards on 13 carries - you really want the Chiefs to keep feeding him the ball when they couldn't run the ball well and were down two scores in the fourth quarter?

 

The Ravens, you could argue they abandoned the run too early. But they also only ran the ball effectively on one drive. The Colts have recognized that their biggest weakness is their ability to stop the run, and since the playoffs started they've been selling out to stop the run. If you try to consistently pound the ball into an 8-man or 9-man front, you will lose.

[TruffleShuffle]

OMG...a pro-Bears article! Flee! Flee!

 

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/em_swift/01/23/bears/index.html?cnn=yes

 

You know that deer-in-the-headlights look that Manning can get after throwing a couple of picks? You haven't seen the last of it this year.

 

the national media hates the colts!

[David]

OMG...a pro-Bears article! Flee! Flee!

 

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/em_swift/01/23/bears/index.html?cnn=yes

 

You know that deer-in-the-headlights look that Manning can get after throwing a couple of picks? You haven't seen the last of it this year.

 

I can't say that article is all that good. He seems to use a lot of silly reasoning for why the Bears will win. Reminds me of the article last week where somebody had to come up with 3 reasons why the Bears could beat the Saints, and pretty much made it look like they didn't believe the Bears could beat the Saints.

 

Yes. It's a lot like that Clayton article. Like they had to have some guy write a positive piece on the Bears.

 

 

EDIT - On the other hand, I will say, at least it does point out the major weaknesses of the Colts to wipe out some of this Indy mystique that reminds me a lot of the Saints love that was all over last week. It's not just the type of, "Oh, the Bears are due for some turnovers," crap of Clayton's piece last week.

 

Considering we could've wound up facing the Chargers or Ravens in this Super Bowl, I'm not going to complain about the matchup.

Edited January 23, 2007 by David

[goonys evil twin]

OMG...a pro-Bears article! Flee! Flee!

 

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/em_swift/01/23/bears/index.html?cnn=yes

 

You know that deer-in-the-headlights look that Manning can get after throwing a couple of picks? You haven't seen the last of it this year.

 

the national media hates the colts!

 

Seriously, what's with the trolling? You're acting more and more like an Eagles fan every day. The national media has unloaded almost an unprecedented level of hate on the Bears this postseason. To pretend otherwise, or that Bears fans are paranoid for thinking this is just complete ignorance of the facts.

[Andy]

OMG...a pro-Bears article! Flee! Flee!

 

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/em_swift/01/23/bears/index.html?cnn=yes

 

You know that deer-in-the-headlights look that Manning can get after throwing a couple of picks? You haven't seen the last of it this year.

 

the national media hates the colts!

 

Seriously, what's with the trolling? You're acting more and more like an Eagles fan every day. The national media has unloaded almost an unprecedented level of hate on the Bears this postseason. To pretend otherwise, or that Bears fans are paranoid for thinking this is just complete ignorance of the facts.

The Bears aren't even the most criticized team to play for a title in 2007 - the Florida Gators take that honor, and they take it miles ahead of the Bears.

[CubColtPacer]

How good is Indy's O-line? Obviously, it has to be at least decent, considering how good the Colts are on offense. Is there any chance the Bears can get good pressure on Manning without having to bring the kitchen sink? Can the d-line do it?

 

I noticed the Bears went away from the Cover 2 a bit and went more toward a blitz oriented style for the NFC Championship game, but, as others have mentioned, it'd be best if they avoid doing this as much as they can get away with against Manning.

 

The D-Line by itself might be able to get pressure on Manning occasionally, but not often. The O-line for the Colts is usually very solid, especially in pass blocking.

 

I'm really not sure how to stop Manning with a 4-3 defense. I've seen it done with a 3-4 before, but never even close to consistently with a 4-3. The Eagles have tried both ways against Manning-one game they blitzed him constantly, and he torched them. This year they went into nickle the whole game, and the Colts just ran the ball every play. If the Bears play soft, the Colts will just throw their 10-12 yard outs every play. I think the Bears will have to try to mix it up in this game, and throw a huge number of different looks at the Colts. While they may not confuse Manning, just the time figuring them out may slow him down, and possibly allow the Bears to get out to a lead. The Colts have been a 2nd half team all year, so it wouldn't surprise me to see the Bears defense dominate a little bit early.

[CubColtPacer]

OMG...a pro-Bears article! Flee! Flee!

 

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/em_swift/01/23/bears/index.html?cnn=yes

 

You know that deer-in-the-headlights look that Manning can get after throwing a couple of picks? You haven't seen the last of it this year.

 

the national media hates the colts!

 

Seriously, what's with the trolling? You're acting more and more like an Eagles fan every day. The national media has unloaded almost an unprecedented level of hate on the Bears this postseason. To pretend otherwise, or that Bears fans are paranoid for thinking this is just complete ignorance of the facts.

The Bears aren't even the most criticized team to play for a title in 2007 - the Florida Gators take that honor, and they take it miles ahead of the Bears.

 

I would definitely agree with that sentiment.

[Derwood]

OMG...a pro-Bears article! Flee! Flee!

 

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/em_swift/01/23/bears/index.html?cnn=yes

 

You know that deer-in-the-headlights look that Manning can get after throwing a couple of picks? You haven't seen the last of it this year.

 

the national media hates the colts!

 

Seriously, what's with the trolling? You're acting more and more like an Eagles fan every day. The national media has unloaded almost an unprecedented level of hate on the Bears this postseason. To pretend otherwise, or that Bears fans are paranoid for thinking this is just complete ignorance of the facts.

The Bears aren't even the most criticized team to play for a title in 2007 - the Florida Gators take that honor, and they take it miles ahead of the Bears.

 

correct. Let's hope the game turns out for the Bears like it did for the Gators

[TruffleShuffle]

OMG...a pro-Bears article! Flee! Flee!

 

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/em_swift/01/23/bears/index.html?cnn=yes

 

You know that deer-in-the-headlights look that Manning can get after throwing a couple of picks? You haven't seen the last of it this year.

 

the national media hates the colts!

 

Seriously, what's with the trolling? You're acting more and more like an Eagles fan every day. The national media has unloaded almost an unprecedented level of hate on the Bears this postseason. To pretend otherwise, or that Bears fans are paranoid for thinking this is just complete ignorance of the facts.

 

and you're acting more like a bears fan every day

[goonys evil twin]

OMG...a pro-Bears article! Flee! Flee!

 

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/em_swift/01/23/bears/index.html?cnn=yes

 

You know that deer-in-the-headlights look that Manning can get after throwing a couple of picks? You haven't seen the last of it this year.

 

the national media hates the colts!

 

Seriously, what's with the trolling? You're acting more and more like an Eagles fan every day. The national media has unloaded almost an unprecedented level of hate on the Bears this postseason. To pretend otherwise, or that Bears fans are paranoid for thinking this is just complete ignorance of the facts.

The Bears aren't even the most criticized team to play for a title in 2007 - the Florida Gators take that honor, and they take it miles ahead of the Bears.

 

Did everybody pick the Gators to lose the SEC title game? Did everybody say their QB was the worst to ever play in a national title game? I don't think the Gators were as criticized as the Bears. There were definitely as many people picking against them in the big game, but that was more of a case of people overhyping OSU. Whomever they played would have been considered a huge underdog. These taunts are Bears specific. Had the Saints moved on, they'd be getting a lot more respect. Had the Eagles beaten the Saints and then the Bears, they would be the ultra-hot team with a poised veteran QB ready to given Manning a real test.

 

Ever since Grossman had a couple bad games, the national media decided that the Bears could not win in the postseason with him. They brushed aside the many outstanding games, and ignored the couple decent games and focused slowly on the disaster games. The Bears scored as many points as Indy in the regular season and gave up a whole lot less, yet all people are talking about is how boring and inept the run-only offense is and how weak the defense was down the stretch.

 

Regardless, it's unprecedented as far as NFL talk is concerned, I wasn't really comparing them to college football, where the discussion often centers around a whole lot more than the game (ie, polls/BCS controversy, etc)

[CuseCubFan69]

OMG...a pro-Bears article! Flee! Flee!

 

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/em_swift/01/23/bears/index.html?cnn=yes

 

You know that deer-in-the-headlights look that Manning can get after throwing a couple of picks? You haven't seen the last of it this year.

 

the national media hates the colts!

 

Seriously, what's with the trolling? You're acting more and more like an Eagles fan every day. The national media has unloaded almost an unprecedented level of hate on the Bears this postseason. To pretend otherwise, or that Bears fans are paranoid for thinking this is just complete ignorance of the facts.

The Bears aren't even the most criticized team to play for a title in 2007 - the Florida Gators take that honor, and they take it miles ahead of the Bears.

 

Did everybody pick the Gators to lose the SEC title game? Did everybody say their QB was the worst to ever play in a national title game? I don't think the Gators were as criticized as the Bears. There were definitely as many people picking against them in the big game, but that was more of a case of people overhyping OSU. Whomever they played would have been considered a huge underdog. These taunts are Bears specific. Had the Saints moved on, they'd be getting a lot more respect. Had the Eagles beaten the Saints and then the Bears, they would be the ultra-hot team with a poised veteran QB ready to given Manning a real test.

 

Ever since Grossman had a couple bad games, the national media decided that the Bears could not win in the postseason with him. They brushed aside the many outstanding games, and ignored the couple decent games and focused slowly on the disaster games. The Bears scored as many points as Indy in the regular season and gave up a whole lot less, yet all people are talking about is how boring and inept the run-only offense is and how weak the defense was down the stretch.

 

Regardless, it's unprecedented as far as NFL talk is concerned, I wasn't really comparing them to college football, where the discussion often centers around a whole lot more than the game (ie, polls/BCS controversy, etc)

 

I don't understand why you even care if they are respected. If the Bears win the Super Bowl who cares what the "experts" think? At least they get a chance to prove it on the field unlike college football.

[Chris]

"Manning can't win the big game"

 

:wtg:

[Banedon]

I don't understand why you even care if they are respected. If the Bears win the Super Bowl who cares what the "experts" think? At least they get a chance to prove it on the field unlike college football.

 

We have two weeks to discuss this game. Some media articles and who they choose and what they think is going to be prime discussion. It's less a matter of caring what they think, than an observation of a trend in reporting.

[Andy]

Apart from the stupidity of everyone at ESPN picking the Saints to win last week, I just haven't seen this flat-out disrespecting.

 

And as a Panthers fan, I've seen firsthand how ridiculous ESPN can get when they decide they like a particular team - not a soul that I can recall picked against them in last year's NFC title game, in 2004 when they were coming back from 1-7 to nearly make the playoffs, they were calling them the team with the best chance to stop Philly in the NFC, and this year they were referred to as the best team in the NFC pretty much anytime they won a game. Why anyone takes them seriously anymore is beyond me.

[CuseCubFan69]

I don't understand why you even care if they are respected. If the Bears win the Super Bowl who cares what the "experts" think? At least they get a chance to prove it on the field unlike college football.

 

We have two weeks to discuss this game. Some media articles and who they choose and what they think is going to be prime discussion. It's less a matter of caring what they think, than an observation of a trend in reporting.

 

Well it seems to help the Bears as they seem to like this "I have a chip on my shoulder" thing.

[David]

The problem is, most non-Bears fans buy into the same media garbage and don't recognize the crap they're being spoon-fed. They've seen one or two national games and have made their conclusions about the Bears already.

 

FWIW, Mike Murphy on the Score just had this guy he has on every week who runs a statistical analysis site (I wish I remembered the name of it). He has some sort of model to predict games, and claims to have correctly predicted 14 out of the last 16 Super Bowls. Last week, the model had the Bears on top of the Saints, and pointed to turnovers probably being the big difference in the game.

 

For the Super Bowl, the Bears win 9 categories, the Colts 2, and they tie in another.

 

Just take it for whatever it's worth (maybe nothing). I wish I could elaborate more on it, but I wasn't paying close enough attention. Maybe someone else here was listening?

[BleedCubbieBlue81]

All I have to say about this game is....run, run, run, play action. And then run some more.

 

Also be careful blitzing Manning too much...he can make you pay.

The Bears are not a blitzing team. They haven't been all year. They get the majority of the pressure from their front four, while Briggs, Urlacher, and Hillenmeyer drop back into their coverages. Occasionally you'll see Briggs or Urlacher come on a blitz, but it's pretty rare. They do show blitz quite often and back off into coverage though.

 

And yes, the problem with blitzing the Colts is, if you don't get to Manning, he will make you pay because there is now an open spot somewhere on the field.

[CubColtPacer]

OMG...a pro-Bears article! Flee! Flee!

 

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/em_swift/01/23/bears/index.html?cnn=yes

 

You know that deer-in-the-headlights look that Manning can get after throwing a couple of picks? You haven't seen the last of it this year.

 

the national media hates the colts!

 

 

 

Regardless, it's unprecedented as far as NFL talk is concerned, I wasn't really comparing them to college football, where the discussion often centers around a whole lot more than the game (ie, polls/BCS controversy, etc)

 

It's unprecedented as far as NFL talk goes? What about the Patriots first Super Bowl (first thing I thought of)? I thought that the Patriots in 2001 were disrespected a lot more than the Bears are right now. Nobody even gave them a chance to be close in that game, while I've heard praise for the Bears (even from the people who are not picking them to win) from at least a couple national outlets just yesterday. Even if you think the Bears disrespect measures up to that Patriots disrespect, this sort of talk is certainly not "unprecedented as far as NFL talk is concerned".

[CuseCubFan69]

The problem is, most non-Bears fans buy into the same media garbage and don't recognize the crap they're being spoon-fed. They've seen one or two national games and have made their conclusions about the Bears already.

 

FWIW, Mike Murphy on the Score just had this guy he has on every week who runs a statistical analysis site (I wish I remembered the name of it). He has some sort of model to predict games, and claims to have correctly predicted 14 out of the last 16 Super Bowls. Last week, the model had the Bears on top of the Saints, and pointed to turnovers probably being the big difference in the game.

 

For the Super Bowl, the Bears win 9 categories, the Colts 2, and they tie in another.

 

Just take it for whatever it's worth (maybe nothing). I wish I could elaborate more on it, but I wasn't paying close enough attention. Maybe someone else here was listening?

 

I'm a non Bear fan and I could care less about what some hack says. The chance to play in the Super Bowl is earned and not voted on by these same morans.

[Banedon]

I don't understand why you even care if they are respected. If the Bears win the Super Bowl who cares what the "experts" think? At least they get a chance to prove it on the field unlike college football.

 

We have two weeks to discuss this game. Some media articles and who they choose and what they think is going to be prime discussion. It's less a matter of caring what they think, than an observation of a trend in reporting.

 

Well it seems to help the Bears as they seem to like this "I have a chip on my shoulder" thing.

 

Sure...it's an easy motivational tool. I think Bears fans were prepared to be underdogs in this game...I think there's some surprise at the level of it though.

 

For example this guy... http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/6392628

 

He's doing a 5 reasons why each team will win article, and he puts in this little nugget...

 

Five reasons why the Bears can win

(Listed after several hours of reaching)