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

[BigSlick]

Not cool, this just jinxed all my mojo.

 

delete this thread and start a new one!

 

I hear Modzilla is a Bears fan.

You hear correctly. :D

 

What movie is that disturbing avatar from?

[David]

Pinch me.

 

I still can't believe it. Wow.

 

The Bears are in the biggest game of the year. The biggest sporting event in the country, if not the world.

 

Just going to try to enjoy this for the bye and then start worrying about the Super Bowl next week. 8-)

[VanceJergins]

Just a few things:

 

1. The Saints offense is definitely not better than the Colts'. The Colts put up good numbers against the best defenses in the league all season. 34 at Denver when their defense had been off to one of the best starts in NFL history, at New England, at Baltimore (not huge numbers, but decent yardage). And no offense to the Bears but the Ravens' D is a decent amount better and they wont be playing in Chicago. The Saints had a good season but the Colts have many more weapons and are just better.

 

2. The people saying, "just run, run, run" havent been watching the playoffs. They completely shut down Johnson and Lewis in the last two games and did pretty good against NE's 3 backs. It was the passing and special teams that gave them the most trouble tonight. The Colts have gotten much better against the run with Morris, Bethea, and the superhuman Sanders.

 

I dont think the Colts are a lot better than the Bears, but they're better than the Saints and a lot of the things you heard during the regular season dont apply anymore.

[BigSlick]

Pinch me.

 

I still can't believe it. Wow.

 

The Bears are in the biggest game of the year. The biggest sporting event in the country, if not the world.

 

Just going to try to enjoy this for the bye and then start worrying about the Super Bowl next week. 8-)

 

*pinch*

 

Enjoy it, Bears fans. I love all you guys, and I love the whole Bears team.

 

I love you Rex.

 

I love you Thomas Jones/Cedric Benson.

 

I love you Offensive Line, you scrappy veterans.

 

I love you Bernard Berrian and Muhsin Muhammad (and you too Rashied!). You guys have made the plays when they needed to be made. When they needed to be made.

 

I love you Defensive Line. You guys circled the wagons and have regrouped since losing your best player. Keep it up.

 

I love you Linebackers. You guys are the best in the league. That means you too, Hillenmeyer.

 

I love you Defensive Backs. I'll always have a love hate relationship with you guys, but you're constantly put into tough situations and have come out victorious more often than not. See how good our DB's can be when we have Tillman, Vasher and Ricky Manning all healthy?

 

I love you Robbie Gold.

 

I love you Devin Hester. Most of the time.

[soccer10k]

Pinch me.

 

I still can't believe it. Wow.

 

The Bears are in the biggest game of the year. The biggest sporting event in the country, if not the world.

 

Just going to try to enjoy this for the bye and then start worrying about the Super Bowl next week. 8-)

 

World Cup Final.

 

ETA: That's for the world part.

[ChiCubsFan]

Pinch me.

 

I still can't believe it. Wow.

 

The Bears are in the biggest game of the year. The biggest sporting event in the country, if not the world.

 

Just going to try to enjoy this for the bye and then start worrying about the Super Bowl next week. 8-)

 

*pinch*

 

Enjoy it, Bears fans. I love all you guys, and I love the whole Bears team.

 

I love you Rex.

 

I love you Thomas Jones/Cedric Benson.

 

I love you Offensive Line, you scrappy veterans.

 

I love you Bernard Berrian and Muhsin Muhammad (and you too Rashied!). You guys have made the plays when they needed to be made. When they needed to be made.

 

I love you Defensive Line. You guys circled the wagons and have regrouped since losing your best player. Keep it up.

 

I love you Linebackers. You guys are the best in the league. That means you too, Hillenmeyer.

 

I love you Defensive Backs. I'll always have a love hate relationship with you guys, but you're constantly put into tough situations and have come out victorious more often than not. See how good our DB's can be when we have Tillman, Vasher and Ricky Manning all healthy?

 

I love you Robbie Gold.

 

I love you Devin Hester. Most of the time.

 

Where's the love for Brad Maynard? His punt shifted the momentum back to the Bears. Clark and McKie say they want a little bit of love too.

[Guest]

First: Before any line for the vegas bet is official, and before fans of both the Bears and the Colts make their predictions, shouldn't we wait on who Dr. Z predicts to be the winner of the Super Bowl? That way, whoever he picks as the winner, fans can put money on the other team.

 

Second: Don't the Bears and the Gators have the same color scheme of blue, orange, and white? The only difference being the Bears having NAVY blue, and not reg. blue?

 

Third: The last time one of the league best offense, took on one of the league's best defense....the best defense won handedly. You remember TB defeating Oakland, convincingly. So, I don't put much into the Colts being early favorites. In fact, I relish the Bears being the underdogs, cause it helps the Bears keep "their edge." (Unlike the Colts, if you catch my drift.)

Edited January 22, 2007 by NorthsideAvenger

[David]

Jeran at the Bears.com boards put together & posted this awesome, IMO, background/desktop pic. Just thought I'd pass it along to you guys in case anyone wants it.

 

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g114/thenaughties/bearssbxli_wp2.jpg?t=1169459494

[CuseCubFan69]

If the Pats could run kickoffs that well against the Colts I'm a little worried on how well the Bears will....yikes.

[NCCubFan]

First: Before any line for the vegas bet is official, and before fans of both the Bears and the Colts make their predictions, shouldn't we wait on who Dr. Z predicts to be the winner of the Super Bowl? That way, whoever he picks as the winner, fans can put money on the other team.

:lol:

[fiver]

What a comeback by the Colts last night! Beautiful...The line is Colts -7, huh? If I were a betting man, I might be inclined to take the Bears. That said...

 

Go Colts!

[Soul]

Already posted in the NFC Championship thread, but I think it needs to be posted here too. Wojo eats crow:

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=wojciechowski_gene&id=2738549

 

That's awesome!!!!

 

Now THAT is outstanding 8-)

 

I figured Gene would have something special after Lovie called him out yesterday in the post-game press conference.

[Chocolate Milk]

Wow, page 10 allready!

[illiniguy]

Predict the course of unneccesary Super Bowl hype...

 

1) Peyton Manning

2) Lovie and Tony: 2 Black Head Coaches

3) Rex Grossman

4) Brian Urlacher / Marvin Harrison

5) '85 Bears

The hype of the '85 crew isn't ever unneccesary. :P

[soapy]

wow. this is amazing. i haven't been this excited about one of my teams in a long time. as a bears fan living in indy, this is going to be interesting.

 

here's hoping the bears D plays like they did yesterday. also, watch out for Freeney and Mathis.

[Soul]

wow. this is amazing. i haven't been this excited about one of my teams in a long time. as a bears fan living in indy, this is going to be interesting.

 

here's hoping the bears D plays like they did yesterday. also, watch out for Freeney and Mathis.

 

Long, sustained drives with the running game to take time off the clock.

 

Pressure on Manning.

 

 

Those would be the two obvious things that Bears need to do to have a shot at this thing. If they try to get into a pass-for-all with Manning like Brady just tried to? Big mistake.

[CubColtPacer]

wow. this is amazing. i haven't been this excited about one of my teams in a long time. as a bears fan living in indy, this is going to be interesting.

 

here's hoping the bears D plays like they did yesterday. also, watch out for Freeney and Mathis.

 

That's one huge key for the Bears also in this game. Their OT's vs the Colts DE's. As you may have noticed several times last night, Freeney and Mathis got in several times, but Brady did a very good job of eluding them, stepping up, and making passes. Grossman has not been nearly as consistent in evading the rush like that (although I was impressed with a couple evades in the last game). Also, when Freeney or Mathis get to a QB, they are the league leaders in forced fumbles. For example, the Bengals game. Freeney had 3 sacks, and on all 3 sacks he also forced a fumble. The Bears OL will have to step up and block these two in order to protect Grossman, especially if the Bears get into some passing downs.

 

As a Colts fan, I will say that I am scared to throw the ball over the middle. I'm sure the team will not be (as they are very precise on their routes over the middle, and usually hang on to the ball) but those linebackers for the Bears are such ballhawks that I am worried about a turnover or two.

 

The Colts D is going to make the Bears beat them with their short to intermediate passing game. The Colts are going to load up against the run, and their defense is designed to not give up the deep ball. There will be some openings underneath (or sometimes down the seam), it will just be up to Grossman to take them.

 

This should be a great ballgame. Both teams still have a lot to prove, and they will be doing it on the biggest stage. Remember the Super Bowl factor also-Super Bowls tend to start a little slower than other games as the two teams feel each other out, neither side wanting to make the huge mistake. My optimism says that should help the Colts, as they have been a 2nd half team all year long, but really, anything could happen and I wouldn't be surprised. Good luck to all the Bears fans, let's keep it civil (before and after the game), most of all, let's enjoy it-it's been quite a while since either of our teams have made it this far, and I am going to enjoy the win yesterday for a few more days :D .

[Soriano12]

Does Freeney play Left DE or Right DE?

[CubColtPacer]

Does Freeney play Left DE or Right DE?

 

Usually right DE opposite the LT.

[Derwood]

over/under on # of pages in this thread by kickoff?

[CubColtPacer]

over/under on # of pages in this thread by kickoff?

 

108

[Soriano12]

Does Freeney play Left DE or Right DE?

 

Usually right DE opposite the LT.

 

So it will be Mathis vs. Fred Miller? ugggh, that could get ugly for the Bears, and fast.

[nt3d]

Here are somethings that people need to be especially mindful of in my opinion.

 

1. OT and OG vs. Freeny, can they contain Freeny, I'm sure they are going to double team him so, we'll see how that works.

 

2. Rex Grossman, I'm sure he's not going to come out, gunslinging, and doing stupid stuff, but he will he find the apparent hole in the Colts secondary for the third downs?

 

3. Devin Hester, I'm sure most people think he is the X factor in the game, and he may very well be, but you guys have to remember Hester muffs catches a lot like almost every game I've seen, and I've seen most Bears games this season, will he be anxious to make something happen, and fumble the football?

 

wow. this is amazing. i haven't been this excited about one of my teams in a long time. as a bears fan living in indy, this is going to be interesting.

 

here's hoping the bears D plays like they did yesterday. also, watch out for Freeney and Mathis.

 

That's one huge key for the Bears also in this game. Their OT's vs the Colts DE's. As you may have noticed several times last night, Freeney and Mathis got in several times, but Brady did a very good job of eluding them, stepping up, and making passes. Grossman has not been nearly as consistent in evading the rush like that (although I was impressed with a couple evades in the last game). Also, when Freeney or Mathis get to a QB, they are the league leaders in forced fumbles. For example, the Bengals game. Freeney had 3 sacks, and on all 3 sacks he also forced a fumble. The Bears OL will have to step up and block these two in order to protect Grossman, especially if the Bears get into some passing downs.

 

As a Colts fan, I will say that I am scared to throw the ball over the middle. I'm sure the team will not be (as they are very precise on their routes over the middle, and usually hang on to the ball) but those linebackers for the Bears are such ballhawks that I am worried about a turnover or two.

 

The Colts D is going to make the Bears beat them with their short to intermediate passing game. The Colts are going to load up against the run, and their defense is designed to not give up the deep ball. There will be some openings underneath (or sometimes down the seam), it will just be up to Grossman to take them.

 

This should be a great ballgame. Both teams still have a lot to prove, and they will be doing it on the biggest stage. Remember the Super Bowl factor also-Super Bowls tend to start a little slower than other games as the two teams feel each other out, neither side wanting to make the huge mistake. My optimism says that should help the Colts, as they have been a 2nd half team all year long, but really, anything could happen and I wouldn't be surprised. Good luck to all the Bears fans, let's keep it civil (before and after the game), most of all, let's enjoy it-it's been quite a while since either of our teams have made it this far, and I am going to enjoy the win yesterday for a few more days :D .

[Soul]

Does Freeney play Left DE or Right DE?

 

Usually right DE opposite the LT.

 

So it will be Mathis vs. Fred Miller? ugggh, that could get ugly for the Bears, and fast.

 

Run the football, Bearz 8-)

[CubsLadyinSTL]

I still cant believe they are going to the Super Bowl. Its been a long time coming and I cant help but think they can pull out a win after getting this far. What a great superbowl. I still can already see how the Bears will be the "worst team" in the superbowl. Meaning they (sports analysts and fans alike) havent given them any respect yet so why would they now??? I am so tired of not hearing about the Bears. Maybe someone will talk about them now HUH???

 

 

Oh ya, and I hate to make the point, but this is the second all midwest team championship. World Series was Detroit and Saint Louis, Superbowl is Chicago and Indianapolis. Not bad midwest, not bad. Now if the Cubs could do something................