Bears kiss their sister

by WCG on Dec 17, 2006 10:50 PM CST in News Comment 12 comments

I know what everybody gets at when you use that phrase, but I can't say I actually have ever attached it to anything, but I can now. With a 34-31 overtime win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Bears move to 12-2 and have clinched home field advantage throughout the playoffs, but it just felt odd.

There was a lot to like about the game. The Bears D held Tampa to 2 first downs through two and a half quarters.

Grossman has his best statistical game yards wise. He had been flirting with the 300 yard mark all season, but it took game 14 to get there. He had two TDs and had his second straight with 0 INTs.

Grossman also rediscovered his tight end as TE Desmond Clark went for 125 and 2 TDs. Three other receivers had 5+ receptions.

Benson and Jones both ran hard and found their way into the end zone.

You can even make the statement that the Bears didn't prepare to play Rattay. Rattay isn't as bad as some think, but we still should have been able to stuff them.

Even new media darling Devin Hester had an odd day. He had 139 yards in retruns, but also coughed up 3 fumbles one of them lost and led to a quick TD by Tampa.

I'll take the win and just say this was one of those games, but I can't say it didn't worry me a bit heading toward the playoffs. Something to say about the Bears though is if this didn't cement the Bears as the NFC best, I don't know what will. We have won games we should have won, games we shouldn't have won and games in which we let teams make a run at us.

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buying a muscle car with a V-6 instead of 8

was the last time i dusted that phrase off.

if the D was at full strength I would be really worried, but I doubt they even score in the second half if Vash and Johnson are playing. Seemed like two big plays on bad angles and bad coverage.

grossman played well, i wish he would stop overthrowing short routes and underthrowing the deep routes.

davis didn't catch it.

a bears team that beats the teams it should beat is nice to have for once.

I'll be eating Portillo's and Giordano's in 10 days.

by mike b on Dec 17, 2006 11:22 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

i agree

The tackling angles were awful by the safeties...once Vasher and Todd Johnson return, the prevent will be a little bit better. The "rook" Danieal Manning looked like a rook today.

I also think Tank Johnson will be back, and his presence will help too.

Fleece the Pig, Flog the Pony

by james@lifeinthecell on Dec 18, 2006 1:15 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

agree

with what you all said. We were missing 5 defensive starters out there. Of course we arent going to look our best. Vasher, Johnson, Tank Johnson, Harris, and Mike Brown were all out. Once we are back to full strength, I think our defense will be fine. It's wierd that NO commentators have mentioned that. They only mention the abscence of our defensive lineman. Vasher is a pro-bowler and Todd Johnson aint no slouch.

So now that we have clinched home field throughout, do you think we will play tough and try to improve as a team going into the playoffs, or will we rest players and back into the postseason with possibly another loss. I think our starters could use some rest, but we do have a bye week and this team needs to improve if they want to get anywhere in January.

http://theonsidekick.blogspot.com/

by OnsideKicks on Dec 18, 2006 6:14 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Need to play at least a half ...

of each of the last two games as if they meant something. I thought that Lovie's strategy last year was too conservative - the D especially looked rusty against Carolina after sitting down that last Vikings game and another bye week on top. So in short I'd like to see the defense get healed up but also play some snaps to stay fresh. Same with the O, although I think Griese should get over half the snaps at least in the final reg season game so that if Rex goes down in the playoffs Griese is somewhat fresh.

And Benson should get the majority of the carries these last two games to get him confident for the playoffs. TJ was solid but he needs some rest as well.

I wouldn't ever go out to hurt anybody deliberately - unless it was, you know, important, like a league game or something. - Dick Butkus

by iowaBear on Dec 18, 2006 7:57 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

hurt depth

The final Vikings game last year also hurt our depth on defense some. Brandon McGowan was doing a pretty good job (for a rookie) filling in for Mike Brown, but he went down with a knee injury and was unavailable for the playoff game. After Brown left the playoff game, the Bears certainly could've used an extra safety.

Unleash your inner Grabowski.

by jrm78 on Dec 18, 2006 8:21 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

"Full strength"?

> Once we are back to full strength, I think our defense will be fine.

Only... we won't ever be back to full strength this year. Mike Brown and Tommie Harris aren't coming back.

(Don't get me wrong: With these guys already out for the year, missing Vasher, Johnson & Johnson hurts just that much more.)

by Danimal on Dec 18, 2006 10:43 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Rattay ...

is as bad as people think. He got traded from a 49ers team that already sucked. He is not a good QB and if he can do that against our D what's going to happen when we play against teams with legitimate QB's? Admittedly, though, our D is not even at half-strength considering who sat out, and Joey Gallaway, who burnt us non-stop in that 2nd half, is still a legitimate WR.

And after our play against the Vikes and Rams, I was nervous for the playoffs anyway. They're simply not going to do anything here on out to reassure us, so we might as well prepare to be jittery come January.

I wouldn't ever go out to hurt anybody deliberately - unless it was, you know, important, like a league game or something. - Dick Butkus

by iowaBear on Dec 18, 2006 8:00 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

It wasn't Rattay that killed us...

Rattay brought more to the table than Gradkowski. But, really, what did he do to us?

Their first TD was, IIRC, a legit drive capped off by Alstott's untouched TD run, for like 15 yards. Give Rattay credit for getting them within striking distance.

The second came on a short field after Hester's fumble at the Bears' 20. Granted, that's the sort of situation we normally expect our D to stiffen, and they normally oblige. But the weakness in our secondary yesterday has been well-documented already.

Which brings us to TDs 3 and 4, which were scored on 65 and 45 yard receptions, respectively. How much credit do you give Rattay for breakdowns in the secondary that allowed his receivers to simply run the length of the field unmolested?

This does give us something to worry about going forward in the inexperience of our DB depth. But we have a few weeks left to get them plenty of reps (and to get our starters healthy).

by Danimal on Dec 18, 2006 10:32 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

One was a slant...

Rattay didn't do shit. Galloway took the ball and ran 65 yards. I could have made that throw.

by Chad on Dec 18, 2006 12:25 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm confused...

I always used the term 'kissing your sister' in reference to tying. As in it 'feels good, but wrong'.

Here's my favorite take on it from Hot Shots:

"Not playing to win is like sleeping with your sister. Sure she's a great piece of tail with a blouse full of goodies, but it's just illegal."

Please explain you take on it.

by Chad on Dec 18, 2006 6:31 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Honestly, it is closer to what you say

I thought of the title when there was like 7 minutes left and it was still tied. It kept going through my head and even after the win it just still seemed to fit. We got the win and didn't play terrible, but it was just wasn't right.

by WCG on Dec 18, 2006 8:23 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs