Tag Archives: Chicago Bears

January 24, 2011 · 7:12 AM

Now Rex Can Get A Snack

Oh Rexy and your potty mouth. I’m so upset that I won’t get to listen to your big, fat, yapper for the next two weeks. Somehow, I’ll manage through it.

Yup, the J-E-T-S lost, lost, lost. They were down 24-3 at the half but they kept fighting back. You have to hand it to Rex and the Jets, they didn’t allow the Steelers in the end zone in entire second half. In fact they didn’t even allow a field goal in the second half. But on a third and six when they really needed to stop the Steelers and get the ball back, they were unable to stop them.

Roethlisberger had a terrible game with a 35.5 passer rating, no touchdowns and two interceptions. That type of performance on Sunday would have to give Pats fans a thought in their minds that the Pats could have beat Pittsburgh. But they couldn’t beat the Jets so let’s not talk about it.

The Steelers advance to the Super Bowl, again. If they win it’d be their third in six years. But who are they playing?

Who did I tell you they’d be playing? That’s right, the Packers.

Like the Steelers in the late game, the Packers enjoyed a lead heading into halftime. They were only up 14-0 but the Bears didn’t seem to get anything going on offense.

They came out in the second half and started where they left off with a three and out. Aaron Rodgers drove his team to the Bears six and was about to put the nail in the coffin of the Bears season. Brian Urlacher wasn’t ready for that to happen and picked off Rodgers. His team didn’t capitalize on the pick punting yet again after a overturned interception call on a Bears challenge.

The Bears finally pulled Jay Cutler in the third quarter. The story goes that he had/has injured ribs and Urlacher came to his defense after the game saying he’s the toughest guy he knows. That may be the case, but I think that Lovie Smith panicked and pulled Cutler. Todd Collins was the first one in and was ineffective. Then they put in third string quarterback Caleb Hanie close to the end of the third quarter and it seemed to spark the team.

Hanie was able to find the end zone making it 14-7. He got the ball back with that same score but threw a pick six to BJ Raji making it 21-7. Hanie still wasn’t done though. He drove his team down the field and made it a one score game again.

With a little less than three minutes left in the game Hanie was able to get the ball back and drive his team into the Packers territory. On fourth and five with about 30 seconds left in the game Hanie threw his second pick of the game and the NFC Champion was decided.

I went two for two with the Steelers and Packers. But I’m going to make you wait a couple weeks for the Super Bowl pick.

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January 21, 2011 · 7:07 AM

Championship Weekend

With no Pats I really have no vested interest but this is the biggest sporting event going on this weekend so I write about it.

I was reminded of a Family Guy clip, one of my favorites from before they were cancelled the first time.

“Jets Suck, Yankees Suck, Knicks Suck….Kripton sucks.”

First up is the NFC. Bears and Packers at 3PM Sunday. The latest odds have the Bears favored by four. Each team won their home game during the regular season. Packers won 10-3 at home when they had to win just to get into the playoffs meanwhile the Bears won early in the season 20-17 at Chicago to start the season at 3-0.

You’re supposed to take the home team, right? Well the problem with this game is that you don’t know which Bears team is going to show up. Will it be the one that lost to the Seahawks, Giants, Redskins and Pats or will the team that dominated the Seahawks last week show up?

On the other side you have the Pakcers who are playing the best out of all the teams left in the playoffs. Their run started pretty much at the Pats. Sure they lost that game but if Aaron Rodgers was playing that game, the Pats may have lost.

All that being said I’m taking the Packers. They’re offensive juggernaut is playing very well and they have a great defense. Packers win 27-24.

Then we have the Jets and Steelers at 6:30 with the Steelers favored by 3.5. At this point how can you bet against the Jets? In consecutive weeks they’ve beat the Colts and Pats on the road. The Jets defense clearly is carrying the team and they can run the ball.

Against mediocre defenses.

See Pittsburgh’s defense is way better than the Pats or Colts. In fact they have pass rushers and a decent secondary something the Patriots didn’t have. Sure the Jets went to Pittsburgh and beat the Steelers after losing back to back games to the Pats and Dolphins, but the playoffs are a little different (thus the Pats playing golf this weekend instead of football).

I’m thinking the Steelers like the Colts a year ago will end the Jets playoff run. If they try that zone defense like they did against the Pats they will fail and be run all over. I’m taking the Steelers and a tight defensive game. Steelers win 17-10.

Back Monday with recaps.

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January 14, 2011 · 6:32 AM

Finally A Patriots Game

Like I said in Monday’s column, no more over/under. Strictly picking teams against the spread. So here’s this weekend’s picks which include a little game between the Patriots and Jets that a couple people have been talking about.

Baltimore (-3) at Pittsburgh: 4:30 p.m., Saturday (CBS)

The two teams played twice during the regular season and both times the game was decided by three points. So I understand where the spread comes from but in both cases it was the road team that won.

Taking my Patriots bias into account here, the Pats beat the snot out of Pittsburgh before the defense allowed them back in the fourth with some garbage touchdowns. Meanwhile the Ravens gave the Pats a run for their money with the Pats pulling it off in overtime with 64 seconds left on the clock.

So based on those two games I’m taking Baltimore. I just think they’re a better team. Ravens win 23-17.

Green Bay (+2 ½) at Atlanta: 8:00 p.m., Saturday (FOX)

You’re the Falcons, you have to be pretty pissed. You’re the #1 seed in the NFC and because of the ridiculous NFL seeding structure they have to play the Packers while the #2 Bears get the 7-9 Seahawks.

I’m not going to get into too much but really think that the Falcons are a fraud team. I think Green Bay is going into the Georgia Dome and they’re going to beat down Atlanta. You figure that Green Bay is riding high after knocking off the Eagles. Packers win 30-17.

Seattle (+10) at Bears: 1:00 p.m., Sunday (FOX)

So these two teams played in week six and that game saw the Seahawks beat the Bears in Chicago 23-20. Yet the Seahawks are a 10 point underdog. Crazy.

Needless to say for the second week in a row I’m taking the Seahawks. The Bears are an even bigger fraud than the Falcons. In fact I think the Bears are the biggest frauds in the playoffs. What makes this prediction even better is that the Seahawks would then host Green Bay next weekend in the NFC Championship. Outstanding. Seahawks win 13-10.

Jets (+9) at Patriots: 4:30 p.m., Sunday (CBS)

The line opened at 10. Not a typo, 10. Now the line is nine. So Vegas and pretty much the world thinks the Pats are going to win this game. Tuning into sports radio you’d think the game was already played and that the Patriots were on their way to Dallas after already winning next week as well. So many people have the 45-3 win fresh in their minds that they’re ignoring the fact that the Jets are a good football team.

I’m looking at Belichick having two weeks to prep for an opponent and really like the Patriots chances of winning the game. You add in Rex Ryan running his mouth and Cromartie calling out Brady and you’re adding fuel to the fire. Remember the 2007 eff-you Patriots that would add another touchdown when they’re up 30, that’s the kind of game I think a lot of people are predicting this weekend.

So that being said, I don’t predict the 2007 eff-you Patriots type of game. I’m thinking this will be a close game as the Jets are going to try and use their game plan from last week at the Colts. If they can run the ball and keep the Patriots offense off the field they can keep it close. I’m taking the Jets with the points but the Patriots win the game 31-24.

Back Monday with recaps.

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December 13, 2010 · 7:23 AM

Keeping Their Foot On The Gas

That was in Minneapolis yesterday morning about 5AM. So much for the Giants game at 1PM to keep me occupied till the Pats at 4PM. Instead we got to see the Lions beat the Packers. Awesome.

About four hundred miles away in Chicago game conditions weren’t much better. Now the “experts” were saying that the Bears had the advantage and a better running game than the Pats. But as I’m hearing this all I could think of was the Tennessee game at Gillette in January of 2004. It was frigid to the tune of negative two (windchill) at kickoff with tons of snow and just a whole mess in Gillette.

Well, the Pats came out and delivered a three and out. I was nervous. But then the Pats defense forced a three and out on the Bears and proceeded to march down the field 90 yards for the first score of the game. That was followed up early in the second quarter with an 87 yard series that put the Pats up 14-0.

The defense stripped the Bears and Gary Guyton (playing for the suspended Brandon Spikes) picked up the ball and running it in for the score. Their second score in 20 seconds and the Pats were flying high 21-0.

I turned to Jibba while we’re watching the game and said, “I really wanted to post this kind of game in my blog on Friday. After the Jets game that was supposed to be a defensive match-up that would be low scoring, who’s to say the Pats couldn’t blow out the Bears?”.

Of course I didn’t post that instead opted for “The Pats are a road favorite giving three points. I’m guessing a huge defensive game (just like I did on Monday) that will end with the Pats on top.”

After the Pats were up 21-0 they just kept their foot on the gas and scored two field goals and a touchdown as the clock expired to end the first half. The Bears had to be stunned. 33-0 at the half following a missed extra point.

That was pretty much the game. The Pats did give up a touchdown in the third after they added another field goal setting the final 36-7.

But I go back to Monday night. Bill had the entire team around him and you know he was telling them, do not let up. After allowing the Steelers to make the score look close and almost lose to the Colts at home, you knew Belichick didn’t want the same thing happening against the Jets.

I think that carried over to yesterday and will continue to carry through the rest of the season. Don’t let their opponent back into the game. He’s like the evil sensei in Karate Kid, mercy is for the weak.

Here’s hoping the Pats keep their foot on the accelerator and show no mercy for the rest of the season and into the postseason.

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December 10, 2010 · 7:06 AM

Pats vs. Da Bears

No idea why the videos were uploaded backwards, but once you get past that you’ll enjoy the funny.

Now on a serious note. The Pats are going up against the Bears this Sunday in Chicago. The game that was supposed to be at 1PM was moved by the NFL to 4PM so the nation can see the game. A game that has the AFC East leading Patriots (10-2) going up against the NFC North leading Bears (9-3).

Last time they met was in 2006 at Foxboro. You want to watch the game? Click Here. The Pats won their last match-up 17-13. That year the Bears went on to the Super Bowl as the Pats lost in Indy in the AFC Championship game.

Flash forward to this weekend.

The Bears have losses against the Giants (when the Giants weren’t playing well), the Seahawks (6-6 and leaders of the putrid NFC West), and the Redskins (who suck).

The Bears haven’t had super tough opponents this season. Looking at their schedule and it doesn’t seem too tough. In fact it could be argued that the Pats would be undefeated playing that schedule.

The Bears are of course anchored by their defense. Specifically their run defense. They have the second best rush defense in the league. They’re middle of the pack against the pass (13th). If I remember correctly the Pats already played the #1 ranked rush defense (Steelers) and BenJarvus Green-Ellis ran for 87 yards averaging 4.8 yards a carry. Just saying.

The Patriots defense have become ball hawkers. They confuse quarterbacks like Peyton Manning and Mark Sanchez and manage to pick them off. Something tells me that going up against Jay Cutler who likes to just “sling it” is only going to help this defense. I’m guessing McCourty will have yet another pick as he pushes very strongly for defensive rookie of the year consideration.

The Pats are a road favorite giving three points. I’m guessing a huge defensive game (just like I did on Monday) that will end with the Pats on top.

Back Monday with a recap.

Karate CHOP!

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