CubColtPacer

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.

I guess I don't understand your question. On the majority of days, the number 1 bat off the bench is Floyd, then number 2 is Ward, then 3 is Theriot (although Theriot could be moved up if they are leading off an inning and need a pinch hitter), number 4 is Pagan, and 5th is Blanco.

Usually right DE opposite the LT. So it will be Mathis vs. Fred Miller? ugggh, that could get ugly for the Bears, and fast. No, that's Tait. No, he was saying that if Freeney goes against the LT (Tait), then that leaves Fred Miller on the other side against Mathis.

108

Usually right DE opposite the LT.

Yeah, he probably would have signed by now with somebody else, but Floyd's mission has been to sign with the Cubs all offseason, and he didn't want to sign unless the door to the Cubs was completely shut.

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 .

Correct or not, I see the Bears as something like the Ravens. The Colts have to minimize turnovers on offense and try to score a few points (although I think the Bears secondary is a little more vulnerable than the Ravens), and the Colts have to stack up against the run and force Grossman to beat them on defense (where the Bears have better big play capability then the Ravens did). I don't think that the Bears will be able to run the ball consistently down the Colts throats, although they will be successful with the run. Key Matchups: Colts offensive line vs Bears front 7 rushing the passer Bears WR vs Colts DB's The Colts also run a cover 2, so I wouldn't be surprised to see Desmond Clark catch 3 20 yard passes or so also.

I'd diagnose him as questionable to return, but a day to day injury there.

I would agree, but I doubt this one is overturned, and the Colts have to find some way to come back again. I don't think it's greater than 50/50 he would have come down though.

Yeah, but I can't blame Marvin too much. His wrist is messed up-bad. The only reason that he's not on the injury report is that he refuses to let the trainers look at it. Even with a few drops, he still is too much of a threat to bench.

I don't remember the fourth, but three of Manning's incompletions were good throws (the one Addai dropped and then the two good defensive plays on the deep passes to Wayne and Harrison). He's played better today so far. The other one was the tough throw to the sideline that Harrison almost got and Samuel knocked down (an 8-10 yard throw). Agreed that Manning looks very good so far on his decisions and throws.

The Patriots DB's can't make great plays like that all day-if the Colts keep exploiting those matchups and Manning puts it on the money like that, the Colts will likely catch 1 or 2 of them before the day is out.

AFC has been far superior to the NFC over the course of the year. Doesn't mean the Bears can't beat either of these teams, but as a whole the AFC has been better. Agreed, the AFC has been much better than the NFC, but that advantage is equalized in the Super Bowl. It's not the entire AFC playing the entire NFC anymore, it's 1 team playing 1 team, and the differences between the 3 teams left are slim.

That's a typical Patriot bounce of the ball.

Agreed-that's a huge break for the Patriots as Addai had plenty of chance to catch that for a huge gain.

He's been complimenting the Bears like crazy ever since about the safety (especially with the Grossman TD drive for example), it was just hard to see it because all of you have been so nervous :D . I know how that feels-my stomach is tightening up for the game here in a few minutes. Congratulations, and I hope that the two teams get to play and have a true Midwestern Super Bowl.

I'm just bumping this thread up-I know what Bears fans meant about being nervous. I can't believe I passed up tickets to this game (although I would have to drive 7 hours to go to it). Oh well, my parents will both be there-the Dome will be as loud as maybe it has ever been, and hopefully that will be in victory!

I would agree with that-I don't think Brees counts for him being down, but Faine certainly does.

Even better, it's Nantz and Simms! Anything's better than Buck. I guess I don't understand the anti-Bears sentiment by Buck. I've heard it for months, so I've been listening hard for it the last two weeks when I've heard him call Bears games, and I simply haven't heard much to call him anti-Bears. I guess every fanbase has their announcers that they simply don't like though.

I looked at it again, obviously it's a terrible angle so I could be wrong, but the original view certainly looked like he was down-a replay may say something different though.

This news is absolutely wonderful. It now sounds as if they are not going to trade Jones, and if Soriano does play center that cuts off people like Finley or Erstad from being signed to play the position. Also, the signing of Floyd gives us another big bat off the bench, and it sounds like he is going to replace both Murton and Jones almost equally, which is better than we here had expected (because we thought that Jones was going to play center, and Soriano was not going to sit out that many games). If this is all really true, the offense just became locked in, and it looks pretty good right now (not great, but pretty good).

Actually, UConn got beat by Marquette in their last game at home, ending a 31-game win streak at home. Still, that's a program defining win. Kelvin Sampson will be in Bloomington for as long as he wants the job. Amazing effort by the boys in red. They got manhandled on the UConn end of the boards, but they hit their free throws. 20-21 from the line, including 6 for 6 down the stretch. UConn was just 17 of 28 from the line, which was the difference. IU did a great job sharing the ball, with 18 assists on 24 baskets. The experienced stars stepped up with White having a monster 1st half and Wilmont doing it in the 2nd. I worry about going back on the road again on Tuesday to face the Illini. U of I hasn't been very good this year, but DJ is gonna be spent having played 38 minutes today and again having to face an athletic front line. I'm worried about the emotion of that game as well. U of I fans don't exactly like IU's program right now, and it will be a really tough enviornment to go in and win. I'd love the win, but I'm not incredibly hopeful. Looking forward, that Wisconsin game at home in a week or two is huge. The only game IU plays them this year at Bloomington-a win there gives us a possible huge tiebreaker advantage while protecting the homecourt.

A Wisconsin player drove in with about 35 seconds left and about the same time he released the ball he crashed into an Illinois player. A classic charge/block situation (and a charge this time) but the referee stepped in, gave the basket to Wisconsin, and called a foul after the shot on Wisconsin's player and gave Illinois 2 free throws. It was actually a charge during the shot though, so it should have been Illinois ball with no basket.

If the Bears win this game and make it to the Super Bowl, think how long that thread will be with 2 weeks off inbetween games. Especially if they play the Colts-with the Patriots, there will just be a great amount of people agreeing with each other :D