NFL Thoughts: Conference Championship Edition
by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Jan 24, 2011 3:00 PM CST
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PrintI didn't enjoy much of the NFC Championship game. I consider my self to be a pretty rabid Bears fan, but I found myself sitting mostly quiet for 90% of the game. Part disappointment, part disbelief, and maybe part shock. The final score didn't surprise me, but the ebb and flow of the game had such an odd feel to it.
The AFC Title game was just hard to enjoy because I wasn't in any mood to watch football after the 1st game. Pittsburgh looked like they were going to run away with it, but the Jets started to come back, and even then I just couldn't get into it. I don't think I've ever felt this way after a Bears loss. It's just a very odd feeling.
1) The Packers were the best team in the NFC all season long. They had their ups and downs, but I felt all season that they were the team to beat. They dealt with a lot of injuries and are the last NFC team standing for a reason.
2) The Super Bowl not only has the two best teams from the 2010 season playing, but also the two hottest teams. It should be an exciting game.
3) Offensively the Packers had the advantage over the Bears at every position on the field except TE and RB.
4) Staying with their offenses for a moment - If you were to rank all the wide receivers that played in the game how long til you get to a Chicago Player? Fourth? Fifth? Green Bay has a talented group of receivers. The Bears need 1 guy that they can trust to go get the ball.
5) Matt Forte played his tail off. I'm excited to see him play in 2011 with a better offensive line and with another year in the Mike Martz offense.
6) Brian Urlacher played his tail off. He may have lost a step, but he's a hell of a player.
7) As upsetting as the Bears loss was, I'm glad that their rivalry with Green Bay will mean something again. Both teams will be good again next year.
8) Maybe the Jets needed their coach to make it personal?
9) Mark Sanchez needs to improve his completion percentage, but he has all the intangibles to be a good QB in the future. To start off your career with back to back AFC Championship appearances is pretty good, even if he is just "managing" the game.
10) Pittsburgh will win the Super Bowl for a few reasons. They have the more experienced big game QB. They will be able to run the ball. And they have the better defense.
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Pittsburgh will win S.B.
Bears showed what a good defense can do against the pass only offense Green Bay has. Pittsburgh’s got a great defense and the offensive talent and guts to pull out a gritty win. Two hot teams with exciting defenses… it should be a great Super Bowl. Go Stillers
If its free, take two.
There’s a huge difference between Pittsburgh’s defense and Chicago’s defense. I mean, they take a lot more risks than Chicago, not just with blitzes either. We’ll see what happens because this game could really go either way.
Also Polamalu give the Steelers an All Pro in the Defensive Backfield
Its the difference as our DBs are ok but not his caliber. If we had Polamalu or a healthy Bob Sanders you could subtract a TD every game from the other teams final score. We did well in 2006 cause Mike Brown was the real deal, then he got hurt and it showed in the run up to the SB. That star in the Defensive secondary is huge. Major Wright could be that guy but he has some serious work to do to get there.
White Sox fans need not apply.
by Bears-Cubs Bulls on Jan 24, 2011 4:52 PM CST up reply actions
Polamalu takes tons of risks.
He’s great, probably the greatest right now, but if you break down what he does and the plays the Steelers get beat on, it’s usually from Polamalu baited into taking a risk. That said, he’s the biggest reason that the Steelers defense can dominate a game.
Effectiveness Comparison
There’s a ton of differences between Bears/Steelers defenses, but both are incredibly effective at what they do. Both were top-10 defenses during the regular season, both were middling against the pass (PIT 12th, CHI 20th), top two against the run, and top-4 in points allowed. A pass-heavy offense, even one as effective as GB, can struggle against top-rated defenses.
If its free, take two.
Really, looking back on the 3 games this year
We played arguably the best QB in the NFL (maybe Brady is there too, but still) in Rodgers, and we allowed his offense 5 TD’s in 3 games. 5, that’s it.
Our defense, while looking ugly at times, was rock solid against the Pack, giving us chances to win all three games.
I'm not so mean. I wouldn't ever go out to hurt anybody deliberately - unless it was, you know, important, like a league game or something. - Dick Butkus
an observation
i agree with many of the opinions you expressed above. the whole game seemed out of sync somehow. i was kind of annoyed by some Bear fans comments critical of Urlacher not taking the Red Zone interception to the house. more than kind of annoyed, actually. also upset that Collins was 2nd string QB and not Hanie. still kind of mulling over the whole thing.
"Losers always whine about their best. Winners go home and f**k the prom queen."
Collins vs. Hanie
This is probably the most important issue to me from this game. Whoever is evaluating the QB talent needs to go. It was evident after the Carolina game that Collins shouldn’t be playing anymore. After that game they moved Collins to #3, but a little while later he was the #2 again. Why, because Lovie said that he was practicing great. Practice means nothing if you cant translate it into game play. Hanie should be #2 no matter what and I expect the Bears to draft a QB late or pick someone up as a new #3.
by I Have Bearsititis on Jan 24, 2011 4:25 PM CST up reply actions
Collins looked like
… he was in disbelief. “who? me? you really want me to do this?”
I can’t believe Bears wasted two offensive possessions on Collins. One of the many weird coaching calls that happened yesterday.
Collins position at #2 was based on the training ground.
They didn’t know Hanie was that good when it counted …. they do know. He’d thrown what, 8 passes int he NFL prior to that?
You hit it right on the head...
Collins should have been cut immediately after the Carolina game, and another veteran backup should have been signed. Hell, at worst they could have picked up Jeff Garcia or Jeff George.
Hanie played as well as could be expected given his lack of experience.
"That’s what I love about my skip, man. He’ll tell you that you suck...I know I suck. We know we suck...Yeah, we suck. But we’ll see who sucks at the end."
- Gary Sheffield
by DrGalazkiewicz on Jan 24, 2011 6:26 PM CST up reply actions
Right on with your comments
I kept waiting for it to all come together and it just didn’t. It was like we were off a synapse or two. I was also stunned when Collins was put in. The man had fear in his eyes when he stepped out on the field and it showed in how he played. Not sure how he is still in the NFL but I hope to God he isn’t with the Bears much longer than oh, today would be good.
by Bear Fan in Germany on Jan 24, 2011 4:34 PM CST up reply actions
Hopefully there is football next year.
Agree about the tone of the game. Utter deflation on the first series, then a comedy of errors until Hanie comes in. That he threw two crucial picks and looked like the best qb that day shows how bad they looked. The d did tighten up eventually which was good.
Some of the play calling was insane though. Not going fro it on their 39, down 14-0 and showing the first signs of life all day? That doesn’t tell the players you have confidence in them.
watching the game
I sat there watching the game with my Dad trying to understand how they were still in this game in the 3rd quarter. My eyes were seeing a team that looked like it was getting out played in every way imaginable, and yet they were still in it.
I credit a bit of the success Hanie had at the end of the game to them simply not having any tape on him and not having an idea of what his tendencies were. That being said, kudos to him for keeping his composure and making things interesting at the end.
as for the Super Bowl, I full expect the Steelers to win. Mendenhall has impressed me as of late, and that Steelers D is scary.
---AC 00 00 00 - Believe
I go to school here in Wisconsin
As a whole the fans were ridiculously jack a**sed, saying there were no more real Bears fans and that Jay was a B***H…but they had nothing to say when I stood up to them and replied that I was still a Bears fan and would be through thick and thin. Also, several “doctors in training” have had to be informed that a 2nd and 3rd degree sprain is a tear. But I did encounter a few fans who were respectful and admitted that neither team played that well and Aaron Rodgers isn’t the greatest QB to walk this earth
"Word of advice, don’t join, Bears fans are crazy."--- D-Jackfan10
Two solid defenses is why it wasnt a shoot out
We just cant win games when Forte is the only guy who can make a play. The defense kept us in it as usual, we just failed to answer the bell when the offense was called to do some business. How many times did we see this this season? at least the Giants, Redskins, and Seattle loses all could have been won with a number 1 receiver making a big play. Also the Two Packer loses could have been wins, in it until the end and no late game offense, once we solve this problem we will win it all nasty style.
White Sox fans need not apply.
by Bears-Cubs Bulls on Jan 24, 2011 4:58 PM CST up reply actions
I learned alot about our Bears this season
First and foremost, this team has heart and doesn’t quit. I was really impressed with the overall attitude and approach from start to finish this season. Unlike other teams in our division, our boys didn’t make excuses. They manned up when they played like crap and then went about fixing what went wrong.
Second, we have alot of fair weather fans out there. I was pi**ed off reading the BS some of these bubbas were posting on our thread. We all have the right to be bummed but Damn it, this is our team and we are supposed to be fans when the sh*t hits the fan as well as when we are stomping peoples guts out. I think we had a kick *ss year especailly since all the experts were predicting us to be wallowing in the gutter long before yesterday.
Todd Collins should have been given his walking papers after the Carolina game. When he came in my first thought was that the coaching staff had given up. Why else would they put him in and not Hanie?
Speaking of Hanie. I wouldn’t be surprised to see another team make a run for him. He looked great, no fear, great composure. I have been hoping yet not hoping to see him at some point as that would mean Jay was hurt.
Speaking of Jay. I can understand the enlightened sports announcers at ESPN and some of the meatheads that play on other teams to question his toughness, but not our fans. Everyone of us who actually watches the games should know just how damn tough he is. If taking 9 sacks and more hits in one half of football doesn’t prove it, then nothing will. The guy is a stud and wants to win. It’s an insult to him and us to think he wimped out. Would love to see Dilfqueen or Schelerdouche take that beating and keep coming back.
Martz needs to pull his head out. We play our best when the TEs are involved. We got three pretty damn good ones in Davis, Clark, and Olsen, let’s use them. Insanity is doing the same damn thing over and over and expecting a different result.
Julius Peppers is worth every damn dime. Period.
Matt Forte was the game MVP. He outplayed everyone on both teams. He is like the second coming of Sweetness. I’m waiting for a game when he runs, passes, punts, receives, kicks off, cooks pizza, deliver a baby, and stop an armed robbery…. STUD and quiet professional. There’s a whole lot a players out there that can learn from his example.
Loved seeing Urlacher flying around but even more, loved seeing him defend Jay. Team, that’s what it’s about and that’s why this team will be back in the playoffs next year and we’ll be pounding beers and cheering them on as they smoke the Pack in both games and roll on to the SB.
BEAR DOWN!!!
by Bear Fan in Germany on Jan 24, 2011 4:57 PM CST reply actions 1 recs
Could we get a 2nd and a 3rd for Hanie?
Would be worth it this draft if we could stack some more Oline beef. We cant get enough picks this draft, would love to have a few extra picks from somewhere. Does BB and the Pats need a backup QB, they have picks to spare this draft. In fact 2 number 1s, 2 number 2s, and 2 number 3s. If Gaines Adams went for a 2nd Hanie is def worth a 3rd rounder.
White Sox fans need not apply.
by Bears-Cubs Bulls on Jan 24, 2011 5:02 PM CST up reply actions
Hahaha
I wish we could get a 2nd or a 3rd for Hanie, but if anyone were to trade for him, they’d probably give up like a 5th rounder or less for him…Gaines Adams was a 4th overall pick in the first rounder…Hanie undrafted free agent out of Colorado State. And the Pats are good at finding low round QB’s and cultivating their talent, why would they trade for one when they could find someone with comparable talent and train him in their system only, rather than trade for Hanie and have to have him unlearn Martz system
"Word of advice, don’t join, Bears fans are crazy."--- D-Jackfan10
You got me on that one
Alot of wishful thinking there and I actually meant a second or a third rather than a second and a third but doesnt really matter as I was pipe dreaming. unfortuneately JA only works for us, we cant trade to us from us or it might be possible.
White Sox fans need not apply.
by Bears-Cubs Bulls on Jan 24, 2011 5:49 PM CST up reply actions
Pretty sure Hanie
is a free agent after this season
by Patriotbball5460 on Jan 24, 2011 5:45 PM CST up reply actions
Correct he is a free agent
So he probably will sign elsewhere, only kink being this CBA issue and how that all comes down. But you never know, the Bears may try to keep him. Todd Collins isnt capable to carry the footballs down to the practice field. Sadly Collins prob made millions in his 10+ years in this league. Guess it pays to stink up the league for this long.
White Sox fans need not apply.
by Bears-Cubs Bulls on Jan 24, 2011 5:52 PM CST up reply actions
Well since my team
has lots of QB problems and needs a good young guy. I hope the Titans try and sign him after what I saw Sunday I’m more than sold that he could get the job done throwing to Cookie, CJ2K, Britt and maybe Moss if we resign him.
by Titans_Firefighter on Jan 25, 2011 3:20 AM CST up reply actions
He is a restricted free agent
I doubt he’ll go anywhere
If you go in the bathroom, turn off the lights, and say "Da Coach" 5 times while facing the mirror... Ditka will appear and slap the wussy right out of you.
by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Jan 25, 2011 8:28 AM CST up reply actions
Good Jimminy are you serious ?
We’ve been complaining about having a quality backup and now that it seems we have one you want to trade him? Trade Olsen if you want picks so bad. Knox. Not the QB.
#10..
Yup..I’d throw the bank on that bet. Packers looked “decent” while we just looked downright bad. Steelers just dominated for most of that game vs the Jets
The whole team is going to benefit from another year under Martz.
Except for Collins. He should never have seen the field yesterday.
Why did MArtz run on first down all the time?
How dumb is that to tip your hand like that? More often than not 2nd down was a run too, leaving us third and long and hello Clay Matthews.
Because Matt Forte is the best Bears threat
If you go in the bathroom, turn off the lights, and say "Da Coach" 5 times while facing the mirror... Ditka will appear and slap the wussy right out of you.
by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Jan 25, 2011 8:29 AM CST up reply actions
RT @skjensen: Spoke to the head physician of the L.A. Dodgers. He said #Bears QB Jay Cutler is lucky he didn't tear his ACL http://bit.ly/e2yRkg
by Patriotbball5460 on Jan 24, 2011 5:41 PM CST reply actions
Is the Spinal Cord connected to the MCL?
From the Sun Times and the head Dr. of the Dodgers
"With a little bit more force, the next thing to go, in that situation, is the ACL," said Dr. Neal ElAttrache, the orthopedic surgeon at Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic in Los Angeles and team doctor for Dodgers. "So anybody who has a Grade II or Grade III that doesn’t have an ACL injury is lucky."
If you go in the bathroom, turn off the lights, and say "Da Coach" 5 times while facing the mirror... Ditka will appear and slap the wussy right out of you.
by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Jan 25, 2011 9:03 AM CST up reply actions
"we're so bad we know we're good. Blowning your minds like we knew we would"
The line of the sbs somes up this season.
Not really on topic but.
I saw that picture of the guy holding the NFC Championship sign and wanted to punch something.
When you go to somebody's house, you don't crap on their floor. Being a fan of one team does NOT give you license to be a dick to fans of another.
Corollary: When people are visiting your house and behaving themselves, them being a fan of a different team is NOT a reason for you to piss in their beer.
Brought to you by Carl's Jr.
I can relate
I had to leave the room to prevent punching something expensive.
by TheotherDane on Jan 24, 2011 9:06 PM CST up reply actions
Dammit
1 freaking game to the Super Bowl … and now we gotta wait 7 months. I hate myself.
"That's life, that's what all the people say.
You're riding high in April,
Shot down in May
But I know I'm gonna change that tune,
When I'm back on top, back on top in June."
- Big boy Frankie
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