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

[goonys evil twin]

From ESPN Page 2's AM Jump:

 

Kyle Orton already listed as "doubtful" for Super Bowl with severe hangover

 

 

 

(DJ Gallo has overtaken The Sports Guy in humorous sports-related writing)

[BleedCubbieBlue81]

I was impressed with the way Indy stopped the Chiefs running attack. But the Ravens were not a good running game, and Lewis is just a shell of his former self. While they shut down Maroney yesterday, he's never really impressed me all that much. And two other mediocre backs had some big averages. People were critical of Herm for just running it into the middle, but the fact is KC only had 17 rushing attempts in that game. New England had just 24 and Baltimore had 20. These are teams that averaged 30+ rushes per game. The Bears averaged 31.5 in the regular season and have gone 34 and 46 in the two playoff games. The Bears have to stick with the run, even if Indy stops the first few, and I think even if they get down by double digits early.

I wouldn't say they exactly shut down the Patriots running game. The first running play that I can remember was a 40 yard scamper on a play that the Bears run quit well with both Jones and Benson. They have improved their D tremendously since the end of the regular season, but all it takes is one missed tackle or one well timed block to break a big run.

 

Run the ball early to open up the field for Grossman. And he needs to hit his tight ends often. They also need to throw that slant route over the middle. That is Grossman's best ball.

[CubColtPacer]

I was impressed with the way Indy stopped the Chiefs running attack. But the Ravens were not a good running game, and Lewis is just a shell of his former self. While they shut down Maroney yesterday, he's never really impressed me all that much. And two other mediocre backs had some big averages. People were critical of Herm for just running it into the middle, but the fact is KC only had 17 rushing attempts in that game. New England had just 24 and Baltimore had 20. These are teams that averaged 30+ rushes per game. The Bears averaged 31.5 in the regular season and have gone 34 and 46 in the two playoff games. The Bears have to stick with the run, even if Indy stops the first few, and I think even if they get down by double digits early.

I wouldn't say they exactly shut down the Patriots running game. The first running play that I can remember was a 40 yard scamper on a play that the Bears run quit well with both Jones and Benson. They have improved their D tremendously since the end of the regular season, but all it takes is one missed tackle or one well timed block to break a big run.

 

Run the ball early to open up the field for Grossman. And he needs to hit his tight ends often. They also need to throw that slant route over the middle. That is Grossman's best ball.

 

All he said was that they shut down Maroney. Maroney had 8 carries for 13 yards. Dillon got free for 2 or 3 big plays, but the biggest one was the carry on 4th and 1, which is always a risk for a huge play because of everybody at the line (if you break through the line, it's a huge run). The Colts still held the Patriots as a team under 100 yards, which for the Colts is a massive accomplishment (and one that's been done 3 weeks in a row). The Colts won't shut down the Bears running, but the Bears probably won't be able to live off the running game almost exclusively like some teams did to the Colts in the regular season.

[CubmanPi]

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.

 

Shucks, I forgot about Maynard. Clark and McKie get some love too.

Maynard was definitely one of yesterday's sexiest Bears. Also, I've been down on Jones quite a bit, and never gave him his due. I'm glad he made me look stupid yesterday.

[BleedCubbieBlue81]

All he said was that they shut down Maroney. Maroney had 8 carries for 13 yards. Dillon got free for 2 or 3 big plays, but the biggest one was the carry on 4th and 1, which is always a risk for a huge play because of everybody at the line (if you break through the line, it's a huge run). The Colts still held the Patriots as a team under 100 yards, which for the Colts is a massive accomplishment (and one that's been done 3 weeks in a row). The Colts won't shut down the Bears running, but the Bears probably won't be able to live off the running game almost exclusively like some teams did to the Colts in the regular season.

Agreed. If the Bears are going to win, Grossman is definitely going to have to make some big plays.

[Soul]

I was impressed with the way Indy stopped the Chiefs running attack. But the Ravens were not a good running game, and Lewis is just a shell of his former self. While they shut down Maroney yesterday, he's never really impressed me all that much. And two other mediocre backs had some big averages. People were critical of Herm for just running it into the middle, but the fact is KC only had 17 rushing attempts in that game. New England had just 24 and Baltimore had 20. These are teams that averaged 30+ rushes per game. The Bears averaged 31.5 in the regular season and have gone 34 and 46 in the two playoff games. The Bears have to stick with the run, even if Indy stops the first few, and I think even if they get down by double digits early.

I wouldn't say they exactly shut down the Patriots running game. The first running play that I can remember was a 40 yard scamper on a play that the Bears run quit well with both Jones and Benson. They have improved their D tremendously since the end of the regular season, but all it takes is one missed tackle or one well timed block to break a big run.

 

Run the ball early to open up the field for Grossman. And he needs to hit his tight ends often. They also need to throw that slant route over the middle. That is Grossman's best ball.

 

They did, after all, give up 30+ points yesterday. I think most Colts fans understand their offense is where their route to a SB victory lies.

[CubColtPacer]

And they are also gaining more yards on punt and kickoff returns. Again, it's apples and oranges, but I am pleased with the way the Colts are playing.

 

If they cover kicks the way they did yesterday, Hester will have 3 returns for TD.

 

Yeah-the Colts kick return has been spotty all year. They did better the first two weeks by putting starters back on ST, but they were horrible last night. I have to imagine they might do something like the Seahawks and simply give up good field position to not let Hester break one.

Punts I'm a little worried about as well-Hunter kicks it about as far as any kicker in the league, but that can cause a long return as well (Hunter had 3 punts of 58, 58, 56 that had 10+ yard returns last night). Hester getting a head of steam behind him is not something I want to see, so I could see them working with Hunter on trying to punt it out of bounds.

[CuseCubFan69]

All he said was that they shut down Maroney. Maroney had 8 carries for 13 yards. Dillon got free for 2 or 3 big plays, but the biggest one was the carry on 4th and 1, which is always a risk for a huge play because of everybody at the line (if you break through the line, it's a huge run). The Colts still held the Patriots as a team under 100 yards, which for the Colts is a massive accomplishment (and one that's been done 3 weeks in a row). The Colts won't shut down the Bears running, but the Bears probably won't be able to live off the running game almost exclusively like some teams did to the Colts in the regular season.

Agreed. If the Bears are going to win, Grossman is definitely going to have to make some big plays.

 

Or no stupid ones.

[BleedCubbieBlue81]

Shucks, I forgot about Maynard. Clark and McKie get some love too.

Clark made some of the biggest blocks I've seen a Bear make all year yesterday. He was seemed to be in the right place at the right time on every one of them.

[BleedCubbieBlue81]

All he said was that they shut down Maroney. Maroney had 8 carries for 13 yards. Dillon got free for 2 or 3 big plays, but the biggest one was the carry on 4th and 1, which is always a risk for a huge play because of everybody at the line (if you break through the line, it's a huge run). The Colts still held the Patriots as a team under 100 yards, which for the Colts is a massive accomplishment (and one that's been done 3 weeks in a row). The Colts won't shut down the Bears running, but the Bears probably won't be able to live off the running game almost exclusively like some teams did to the Colts in the regular season.

Agreed. If the Bears are going to win, Grossman is definitely going to have to make some big plays.

 

Or no stupid ones.

I'm not sure if Rex just playing safe is going to do it. The Colts are going to put up points. Rex might have to answer the call on one or more occasions.

 

The one thing I'm nervous about is the mystique of the Super Bowl getting to a guy like Grossman. Manning seems to be the seasoned vet that might thrive under Super Bowl pressure. (Although I am aware of his past playoff problems) This is the type of game that could define Rex Grossman's career. If he does well under this type of pressure, I can see him becoming great. If he folds, well, lets not get into that.

[thedaymen]

Special teams loomed huge yesterday, but it wasn't Hester and Bush that were the showstoppers, it was the difference in placekicking (automatic Gould vs. Rally-killer Cundiff and invisible Carney) and punting (gameball to Maynard, and not just for that one punt in the third).

 

I got a top secret memo from ESPN on how they're going to tell stories before the Super Bowl

 

1) Tale of two qb's: Legenday Payton Manning vs. Drunk and perhaps legally-blind Rex Grossman

2) How the NFL and Lovie Smith conspired to keep Tony Dungey from becoming the first black head coach to win a Conference Championship

3) Why the NFL should allow the Chargers to take the Bears' spot in the Super Bowl

4) ESPN doesn't support gambling, but lay the points. What are you, stupid? Its free money!

5) Can Tank Harris, Brian Uhrlacher, and Lance Briggs prove they didn't personally use Katrina as cover to vandalize Archie Manning's house?

6) Mike Brown...actually hurt, or insurance scam?

[goonys evil twin]

All he said was that they shut down Maroney. Maroney had 8 carries for 13 yards. Dillon got free for 2 or 3 big plays, but the biggest one was the carry on 4th and 1, which is always a risk for a huge play because of everybody at the line (if you break through the line, it's a huge run). The Colts still held the Patriots as a team under 100 yards, which for the Colts is a massive accomplishment (and one that's been done 3 weeks in a row). The Colts won't shut down the Bears running, but the Bears probably won't be able to live off the running game almost exclusively like some teams did to the Colts in the regular season.

Agreed. If the Bears are going to win, Grossman is definitely going to have to make some big plays.

 

Or no stupid ones.

I'm not sure if Rex just playing safe is going to do it. The Colts are going to put up points. Rex might have to answer the call on one or more occasions.

 

The one thing I'm nervous about is the mystique of the Super Bowl getting to a guy like Grossman. Manning seems to be the seasoned vet that might thrive under Super Bowl pressure. (Although I am aware of his past playoff problems) This is the type of game that could define Rex Grossman's career. If he does well under this type of pressure, I can see him becoming great. If he folds, well, lets not get into that.

 

The Bears have won with great Rex, the Bears have won with terrible Rex, and the Bears have won with mediocre Rex. I'm not going to put any "they can only win if Rex...." type restraints on this team. The Bears' chances of victory almost definitely reside in their defense and special teams. If they are at the top of their game, they could probably win this game without Rex doing anything.

[ctcf]

Special teams loomed huge yesterday, but it wasn't Hester and Bush that were the showstoppers, it was the difference in placekicking (automatic Gould vs. Rally-killer Cundiff and invisible Carney) and punting (gameball to Maynard, and not just for that one punt in the third).

 

I got a top secret memo from ESPN on how they're going to tell stories before the Super Bowl

 

1) Tale of two qb's: Legenday Payton Manning vs. Drunk and perhaps legally-blind Rex Grossman

2) How the NFL and Lovie Smith conspired to keep Tony Dungey from becoming the first black head coach to win a Conference Championship

3) Why the NFL should allow the Chargers to take the Bears' spot in the Super Bowl

4) ESPN doesn't support gambling, but lay the points. What are you, stupid? Its free money!

5) Can Tank Harris, Brian Uhrlacher, and Lance Briggs prove they didn't personally use Katrina as cover to vandalize Archie Manning's house?

6) Mike Brown...actually hurt, or insurance scam?

...

[CuseCubFan69]

All he said was that they shut down Maroney. Maroney had 8 carries for 13 yards. Dillon got free for 2 or 3 big plays, but the biggest one was the carry on 4th and 1, which is always a risk for a huge play because of everybody at the line (if you break through the line, it's a huge run). The Colts still held the Patriots as a team under 100 yards, which for the Colts is a massive accomplishment (and one that's been done 3 weeks in a row). The Colts won't shut down the Bears running, but the Bears probably won't be able to live off the running game almost exclusively like some teams did to the Colts in the regular season.

Agreed. If the Bears are going to win, Grossman is definitely going to have to make some big plays.

 

Or no stupid ones.

I'm not sure if Rex just playing safe is going to do it. The Colts are going to put up points. Rex might have to answer the call on one or more occasions.

 

The one thing I'm nervous about is the mystique of the Super Bowl getting to a guy like Grossman. Manning seems to be the seasoned vet that might thrive under Super Bowl pressure. (Although I am aware of his past playoff problems) This is the type of game that could define Rex Grossman's career. If he does well under this type of pressure, I can see him becoming great. If he folds, well, lets not get into that.

 

I heard one expert say that Grossman had a very good game yesterday. I suppose 11-26 and a little over a hundred yards is a very good game in some peoples book but I do think he got away with a couple of bad passes. He reminded me of Trent Difler yesterday. The running game and defense won that game and Rex made no mistakes.

[da bears]

Shucks, I forgot about Maynard. Clark and McKie get some love too.

Clark made some of the biggest blocks I've seen a Bear make all year yesterday. He was seemed to be in the right place at the right time on every one of them.

 

Clark was incredible blocking yesterday. Two stick out in my mind. First the Jones scamper for 33 yards where he got one guy to fall behind TJ and then blocked a guy in front of him. And secondly, on Jones 15? yard touchdown run where Jones ran one way and then reversed field. He saw Jones coming back and made a big block on the DB. Great job by him.

[CuseCubFan69]

Man....I still can not watch any of the Viking Super Bowl games. Some old wounds just never heal.

[goonys evil twin]

I heard one expert say that Grossman had a very good game yesterday. I suppose 11-26 and a little over a hundred yards is a very good game in some peoples book but I do think he got away with a couple of bad passes. He reminded me of Trent Difler yesterday. The running game and defense won that game and Rex made no mistakes.

 

The difference between Rex and a typical game manager is that Rex completed multiple big time passes. A game manager is just supposed to complete short passes and not screw up. Rex provides an opportunity for big plays.

[bukie]

All he said was that they shut down Maroney. Maroney had 8 carries for 13 yards. Dillon got free for 2 or 3 big plays, but the biggest one was the carry on 4th and 1, which is always a risk for a huge play because of everybody at the line (if you break through the line, it's a huge run). The Colts still held the Patriots as a team under 100 yards, which for the Colts is a massive accomplishment (and one that's been done 3 weeks in a row). The Colts won't shut down the Bears running, but the Bears probably won't be able to live off the running game almost exclusively like some teams did to the Colts in the regular season.

Agreed. If the Bears are going to win, Grossman is definitely going to have to make some big plays.

 

Or no stupid ones.

I'm not sure if Rex just playing safe is going to do it. The Colts are going to put up points. Rex might have to answer the call on one or more occasions.

 

The one thing I'm nervous about is the mystique of the Super Bowl getting to a guy like Grossman. Manning seems to be the seasoned vet that might thrive under Super Bowl pressure. (Although I am aware of his past playoff problems) This is the type of game that could define Rex Grossman's career. If he does well under this type of pressure, I can see him becoming great. If he folds, well, lets not get into that.

 

I heard one expert say that Grossman had a very good game yesterday. I suppose 11-26 and a little over a hundred yards is a very good game in some peoples book but I do think he got away with a couple of bad passes. He reminded me of Trent Difler yesterday. The running game and defense won that game and Rex made no mistakes.

 

I will say Grossman had a very good series yesterday when the Bears needed him to, while the Saints were simply playing to stop the run and daring Grossman to beat them.

 

The rest of the game, the playcalling was on the extreme side of conservative, and the running game was working so well (combined with insanely good field position) that Grossman didn't have to do much of anything else.

 

He made one really bad throw, and the TD pass to Berrian wasn't so much a bad throw as a jump ball where Fred Thomas jumped early and Berrian fell down.

[CuseCubFan69]

I heard one expert say that Grossman had a very good game yesterday. I suppose 11-26 and a little over a hundred yards is a very good game in some peoples book but I do think he got away with a couple of bad passes. He reminded me of Trent Difler yesterday. The running game and defense won that game and Rex made no mistakes.

 

The difference between Rex and a typical game manager is that Rex completed multiple big time passes. A game manager is just supposed to complete short passes and not screw up. Rex provides an opportunity for big plays.

 

True he does have that ability to go long but they ran the ball enough to keep the game out of his hands.

 

That pass that the Bear WR made a wonderful play for a TD on should have been an interception.

[goonys evil twin]

I heard one expert say that Grossman had a very good game yesterday. I suppose 11-26 and a little over a hundred yards is a very good game in some peoples book but I do think he got away with a couple of bad passes. He reminded me of Trent Difler yesterday. The running game and defense won that game and Rex made no mistakes.

 

The difference between Rex and a typical game manager is that Rex completed multiple big time passes. A game manager is just supposed to complete short passes and not screw up. Rex provides an opportunity for big plays.

 

True he does have that ability to go long but they ran the ball enough to keep the game out of his hands.

 

That pass that the Bear WR made a wonderful play for a TD on should have been an interception.

 

Somebody else wrote something very wise about the "should have been an interception" theory. It just doesn't hold true. The only time you can say that is when a guy is standing still and it hits him in the chest. DBacks are not receivers. QBs can take risks because they know their WR are the better receivers back there, and the vast majority of the time, the pass will end up complete or incomplete. There's no reason why that "should have been an int". It wasn't, and the only way it could have been is if the DB made an amazing play. I don't think you can assum players should be able to make amazing plays.

[woodchip2153]

I heard one expert say that Grossman had a very good game yesterday. I suppose 11-26 and a little over a hundred yards is a very good game in some peoples book but I do think he got away with a couple of bad passes. He reminded me of Trent Difler yesterday. The running game and defense won that game and Rex made no mistakes.

 

The difference between Rex and a typical game manager is that Rex completed multiple big time passes. A game manager is just supposed to complete short passes and not screw up. Rex provides an opportunity for big plays.

 

True he does have that ability to go long but they ran the ball enough to keep the game out of his hands.

 

That pass that the Bear WR made a wonderful play for a TD on should have been an interception.

 

Somebody else wrote something very wise about the "should have been an interception" theory. It just doesn't hold true. The only time you can say that is when a guy is standing still and it hits him in the chest. DBacks are not receivers. QBs can take risks because they know their WR are the better receivers back there, and the vast majority of the time, the pass will end up complete or incomplete. There's no reason why that "should have been an int". It wasn't, and the only way it could have been is if the DB made an amazing play. I don't think you can assum players should be able to make amazing plays.

 

that was last week's TMQ. Sorry, no link.

[CuseCubFan69]

I heard one expert say that Grossman had a very good game yesterday. I suppose 11-26 and a little over a hundred yards is a very good game in some peoples book but I do think he got away with a couple of bad passes. He reminded me of Trent Difler yesterday. The running game and defense won that game and Rex made no mistakes.

 

The difference between Rex and a typical game manager is that Rex completed multiple big time passes. A game manager is just supposed to complete short passes and not screw up. Rex provides an opportunity for big plays.

 

True he does have that ability to go long but they ran the ball enough to keep the game out of his hands.

 

That pass that the Bear WR made a wonderful play for a TD on should have been an interception.

 

Somebody else wrote something very wise about the "should have been an interception" theory. It just doesn't hold true. The only time you can say that is when a guy is standing still and it hits him in the chest. DBacks are not receivers. QBs can take risks because they know their WR are the better receivers back there, and the vast majority of the time, the pass will end up complete or incomplete. There's no reason why that "should have been an int". It wasn't, and the only way it could have been is if the DB made an amazing play. I don't think you can assum players should be able to make amazing plays.

 

I don't think by any means the DB would have had to make an amazing play to intercept that ball.

[CubColtPacer]

I heard one expert say that Grossman had a very good game yesterday. I suppose 11-26 and a little over a hundred yards is a very good game in some peoples book but I do think he got away with a couple of bad passes. He reminded me of Trent Difler yesterday. The running game and defense won that game and Rex made no mistakes.

 

The difference between Rex and a typical game manager is that Rex completed multiple big time passes. A game manager is just supposed to complete short passes and not screw up. Rex provides an opportunity for big plays.

 

True he does have that ability to go long but they ran the ball enough to keep the game out of his hands.

 

That pass that the Bear WR made a wonderful play for a TD on should have been an interception.

 

Somebody else wrote something very wise about the "should have been an interception" theory. It just doesn't hold true. The only time you can say that is when a guy is standing still and it hits him in the chest. DBacks are not receivers. QBs can take risks because they know their WR are the better receivers back there, and the vast majority of the time, the pass will end up complete or incomplete. There's no reason why that "should have been an int". It wasn't, and the only way it could have been is if the DB made an amazing play. I don't think you can assum players should be able to make amazing plays.

 

IMO, any average corner knocks that ball down. Any good corner picks that ball off. It would not have required an "amazing" play to be an INT. At the same time, Grossman was going for the jugular on that play, and if it hadn't worked out the Saints would have had the ball deep in their own territory, and that probably wouldn't have worked out for them either. Grossman was not good yesterday, but he wasn't awful either.

[Soul]

Rex was clearly picking on that poor CB because he knew he wouldn't be able to make a play.

 

Saying it should have been intercepted and trying to draw some kind of conclusion from it ignores the fact that, if it was a decent cornerback, the pass would likely have not been thrown to Berrian on that play...

[David]

Rex was clearly picking on that poor CB because he knew he wouldn't be able to make a play.

 

Saying it should have been intercepted and trying to draw some kind of conclusion from it ignores the fact that, if it was a decent cornerback, the pass would likely have not been thrown to Berrian on that play...

 

Exactly. One thing I love about Rex is that he hasn't been shy to pick on weaker defensive players at all this year.

 

The Giants game was another example of this. Rex just kept going after the guy in the second half, regardless of what receiver the guy was covering. Was it Sam Madison? Corey Webster? Granted, you don't want to be predictable in where you're going, but if there's a weakness, I love the idea that we're going to relentlessly attack and try to exploit it.

Edited January 22, 2007 by David