There's only one thing that has me worried about the Bears making the Super Bowl this year - the absence of Mike Brown. For some reason, the run D in the cover 2 seems to be strongly dependent on the free safety. Don't ask me why, but apparently it seems to. Look at the difference Bob Sanders has meant to the Colts run D this year, and the difference Brown has meant to the Bears D since Lovie Smith took over in 2004. Here is the Bears' record the last 3 years with and without Mr. Brown (Year/Record with Brown/Record without Brown):

2004/1-1/4-10
2005/9-3/2-3
2006/6-0/7-3
Total/16-4/13-16

Yes, many of those losses came in '04 when Lovie was still building the team around his scheme. However, just over the last two seasons the records are wildly divergent, 15-3 with Brown and 9-6 without him.

We'll beat Seattle this weekend, because they're probably the worst team to make the playoffs and were lucky to escape their own stadium with a win last weekend. I also think we'll be able to beat either New Orleans or Philly at home, but in my mind it would be a sure bet with Brown back at safety.