Soul

The Saints have nothing to be disappointed about. They will be a team to take seriously next year. Not that they shouldn't have been taken seriously this year. They were the team I was most afraid of in the NFC this year. Brees is an awesome QB. If Brees had time he could have done a lot of damage. I'm not sure why the Saints abandoned the running game just to ease the pressure but Peyton knows his team and I'm sure he had a reason. Can you really say they abandoned the run when they never really ran in the first place? Deuce and Reggie combined for 10 carries. Brees threw the ball 49 times. Didn't Payton say to the press he was going to mainly attack with the pass? This was after halftime, I believe? Maybe I'm imagining things. Sounded more like the gameplan than a Deuce injury. Deuce is a tough kid. If he's out there, he can run if called upon.

This will be a real feel good SB for this area of the country. I just don't see alot of bad blood developing. There's too much joy for both Chicago and Indy. That, and neither team has players who like to rub it in other people's faces. I expect both teams will be respectful of each other-----I'm sure that means the media will think it's boring. I'm definitely happy the Colts are there. I just think there were also some advantages to having the Pats instead of the Colts---namely, I wasn't impressed with the Pats offense outside of Brady, and the Bears had played them tough right down to the wire, and the Bears were on the road in that game. Colts: I think there's a real sense if they can get momentum early they can put points up and we won't be able to match. That's the fear.

Don't do it. Luol Deng is pretty close to Pau right now and is the one getting better. Is he? He's definetly improved, but is he so much better than Noc or Thomas that we wouldn't give him up for a low post scoring threat? I think so, I could be wrong. I just think it is a young team. Let the team grow together. If anything they need to trade one of the two combo guards and get a real point or a big two. Isn't Thabo that guy, though? I think he is, but there's no way to be sure at this point. People are still going to knock us because Wallace is our "big man" and he's 6'9" with the fro and is basically limited to clean up duty on offense. Honestly, the rest of the club is pretty good. It's just that one hole, and it's a glaring one, IMO.

So Bear fans: are you happier to be facing the Colts, or would you rather have faced the Pats? I'm on the fence. 1) Pats have Belichek, and would have had 2 weeks to prepare for the SB, which is way too much time for a great coaching mind like Belichek's to dissect an opponent 2) Pats have Brady, who is clutch, and has a ton of experience in big games. 3) Pats are experienced to the teeth in big games, more so than any other team. No possibility of rattling them, no possibility of them giving you anything. 4) Pats also have bad, bad receivers. Sorry, but it's true. They also have a marginal running game that they almost never used. Maroney's decent, but Dillon is done and the blocking's just not all that impressive. Pats are also an aging ballclub, with a lot of mileage on it and perhaps not the most motivation in the world to win yet another Super Bowl (which may partially explain why they allowed the Colts to engineer the greatest comeback in AFC Championship game history). 5) Colts have an awesome array of offensive weapons. There's not one thing, or two, or even three, that you can focus on. Solid all the way around, with playmakers and the league's crowned prince at QB. 6) Colts have a good pass rush---the one thing they do well on defense, and it just so happens that's the one thing the Bears don't handle well on offense. 7) This Colts team happens to have a good running game, as well as great passing. Nice combo. 8) The Colts will be favored, and most people around the country will be rooting for Peyton to get his Super Bowl because he's generally an all-around good guy and people like his commercials (LOL----hey, it's true). 9) Colts do have actual, palpable weaknesses on defense that can be exploited. 10) Bears can cling to some faint hope that maybe Manning doesn't have his best game----if only because it's his first super bowl. yeah yeah I know, pretty shaky to be hoping for that, but it IS the guy's first shot so he hasn't been here any more than the Bears have. Which set of factors did you prefer? Either way, it's the super bowl so you know you need to play a good club to win it. There's no getting around that.

Thanks. Furthermore, in private I asked McDonough about mending bridges with Sosa and he said he said that would be something that should happen. He said Sosa has made some indirect overtures toward that goal, but that he hadn't spoken to Sosa directly. He did acknowledge that the divorce from the Cubs with Sosa was a messy, but stated that "Sosa was one of the most powerful forces in baseball (not just the Cubs) over the past ten years" and stated it would be unfortunate if the Cubs didn't mend that bridge. When I stated that I'd love to see a flag with #21 on the fould poles along with those for Banks, Williams, Sandberg and Santo he said that someday in the future that should happen. In my talks with McDonough, I was really impressed with him. I understand he's a marketing guy, so maybe he just knows how to spin things, but I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt for the time being. I'll give him the benefit too. He does talk a good game. Good stuff Vance.

We're lucky that Hendry found a taker but what does that say about Hendry when that fool signed him to that contract in the first place? What a dimwit. Not only is Neifi terrible, but he never gets hurt. Why, dear Lord, is is always the terrible players who never get hurt?!?

All the better for a SP :) All he needs are a few scars and some undergrowth and he'll give Randy Johnson a run for his money

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-)

Colston ranks as one of the greatest scouting failures since Kurt Warner and Tom Brady.

Wow, I wasn't aware ANY other clubs were interested in Floyd...

Vance, you should submit your notes to the Tribune. I think Sunday had to have been the least-covered Cub convention day in history. 8-)

He might look pretty nasty with a go-tee and some scraggly growth ;)

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.

(Pats back in slightly arrogant smugness) Over at ESPN Bears MB, I go under the name of doctazycrazy. In the last couple of days, I decided to make my "predictions" of the Bears/Saints game. Originally, I said the Bears would win 28-14. But after doing some research, and looking at the score of previous Conference Championship, in which a dome team on the road was involved, I averaged out the scores, and my second predictions was 27-10. http://boards.espn.go.com/boards/mb/mb? &tid=444610&tsn=6&rls=Chicago+Bears And I made that post, HOURS before the game even played. But alas, I am not the only Bears fan, who believe the Bears would hold the Saints to below 10 points. A guy by the screenname of noonthirtyjoe, "prediciting 31-10" and was closer them my predictions. Nonetheless, there was atleast TWO Bears fans who believe the Bears would hold the Saints to below 20 points. (Tooting my own horn) BTW, I know it was fortunate that it worked out the way I wanted it to, but....I played on the fact that dome teams on the road in the NFC Championships +rookie head coaches leading teams to the NFC Championship +Saints playing all but 1 game in the last 5 friggin' yrs, in cold weather like the game they just played +Drew Brees being 0-3 lifetime (before Sunday) in his pro career in weather below 40 degrees +SI's Dr. Z picking the Saints to win (we ALL know who Dr. Z is, right fellas? Equals, Bears beating the Saints down. I wish Dr. Z picked us to finish last in the NFL every year. Seriously. He's like some kind of reverse jinx. Maybe Dr. Z is the one who picks the SI covers. Guess who was on the cover of SI last week? Oh yea that's right baby you guessed it: Brees :D :D :D

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.

Yep, he said it. The safety, IMO, was a direct result of the Saints completely disregarding the need to run the ball. They ran 4 times in the 2nd half, and 3 times in the 2nd quarter (not including the Brees scramble). And this was when the game was 6-0 and 16-14. Still very manageable for the Saints. Really no reason for everybody on the Dline to be able to pin back when you are at your 5 yard line, because they know you aren't gonna run the ball. Those passes deep in their own end were not good calls, agreed. Part of all this is the experience factor too. Lovie went to the playoffs last year---that whole team did---and pretty much got plastered by a more experienced club. It makes a difference. You know what to expect the 2nd time around.

I got no problem with the Bears being dogs. :) Seems like everyone's had us losing all year long, so I suppose it's only fitting that it remains the same for the big one. We play better when everyone's doubting us, like I said before the Saints game. I prefer it this way. Let the national pundits pick against us once again!

Well, after this season I wouldn't have it any other way. The Bears are just going to be underdogs, and that's all there is to it.

I'd love to be playing the Texans for all the marbles, but someone told me once that's not how it works 8-) This will be an exciting game, and a very difficult one to win. It's been 21 years for the Bears, and longer for the Colts. 2 black head coaches going head-to-head---not only that, but Lovie is a Dungy disciple. Peyton's first shot since he's been in the league. Urlacher's first shot since he's been in the league. The stories will be almost endless. AWESOME :shock:

What? More sarcasm? Now I've made you touchy. I'm seriously sorry for jumping on you dude.

Wow, I come into the thread to offer my congratulations and to say that I'm proud the Bears beat us and not some other team and how I'm going to be pulling for the Bears now. I was talking smack about the Bears just like y'all were talking smack about the Saints. That's the way things go in pre-game discussions. That's sports. But after the game is done, that smack talk should cease. From my days of playing collegiate athletics, I learned to take losing in stride and always look at the bright side and to congratulate the victors and be empathetic toward the losers. Alright, my bad. I saw this one post, and it sounded like you were saying the Bears didn't really win, it was the Saints that lost. I mean, the score was 39-14-----that would be a ridiculous assertion. Sorry.

Give it a rest man Nope. I kept my mouth shut during the week. I just sat back and listed to how the Saints were going to come into Chicago and light up the BEars, and I just kept it quiet. To think the Aints could actually come into Chicago and get a victory, whatta joke. If the Saints hadn't shot themselves in the foot and fumbled so many times, they might would have beaten you in Chicago. So why don't you be a humble victor and be thankful that you are going to witness your team in the Super Bowl. There are 30 teams with all their millions of fans who won't get that opportunity. Wow man. SORE LOSER. Not cool. Are you serious? Totally. Why don't you just admit the Bears beat the Saints fair and square today instead of playing the what if game? You were the one talking smack all week long "oh the Bears will never stop our offense" and all that. Give me a break.

Give it a rest man Nope. I kept my mouth shut during the week. I just sat back and listed to how the Saints were going to come into Chicago and light up the BEars, and I just kept it quiet. To think the Aints could actually come into Chicago and get a victory, whatta joke. If the Saints hadn't shot themselves in the foot and fumbled so many times, they might would have beaten you in Chicago. So why don't you be a humble victor and be thankful that you are going to witness your team in the Super Bowl. There are 30 teams with all their millions of fans who won't get that opportunity. Wow man. SORE LOSER. Not cool.

Largest comeback in AFC Championship game history, wow. Nice job Colts. Going to be a great Super Bowl. A midwest fight!! Take that you NY analysts----time to pack up your fancy clothes and head on out to "fly over" country, 'cuz the stories in the NFL? They're in Chicago and Indy this year 8-)

It's just unforgivable to give up 50 yard returns. My God.