I hate to start off this blog saying, “see I told you so” but I don’t know any other way of doing it. On a serious note, did anyone watch the NFL playoffs last weekend? I have been ripped pretty hard for standing behind Chicago’s #1 QB Rex Grossman. He came through in a marvelously way against the Seahawks. No QB passed for more yards than Rex (last weekend) and he had the 3rd highest QB rating. For all of you who've lashed out against Mr. Grossman please submit your apologies. Lovie Smith deserves a 6 year contract extension. He is a GREAT coach. The Bear’s are 1 game away from the Super Bowl. Their last playoff win was in 94 or 95 (I was in High School). I can only hope they play a good game against the Cinderella Saints.
The Bears are not the same team they were at the beginning of the season, especially on defense. It is simply impossible to replace two pro-bowlers on defense (especially ones as good as Tommie Harris and Mike Brown). Colts fans let me ask you what would happen to your offense if you lost Reggie Wayne & Marvin Harrison? Everyone knows your offense would not be that amazing. It would probably be average or good but definitely not great. I just say this because I believe the Colts are going to play the Bears in this year’s Super Bowl. The Bears defense is no longer dominate; it is now good (and sometimes just ok).
Speaking of amazing, isn’t it interesting to watch Peyton Manning in the playoffs? I have talked with SOO many Colts fans who have tried to convince me that Peyton Manning is a better QB than Tom Brady. If we are talking about the regular season ALONE, then I agree. But everyone knows that the most important time of the year is the POST-season. This is when champions become heroes and heroes become legends. Tom Brady is a living legend. As I said last week, stats and wins don't lie in the playoffs. Tom Brady has 3 Super Bowl rings and 2 Super Bowl MVPS. His playoff resume reads something like 12-1 in the playoffs. Mr. Manning is a playoff choke artist. He continues this post-season to play poorly when it matters most. Thus far Peyton has 1 TD and 5 INT with a QB rating of……58.3. His playoff record is something like 7-8. So where are the Peyton lovers now? If the Colts do win the Super Bowl this year it will be thanks to their defense. Seeing the Colts had one of the worst run defenses in the history of the league this is almost inconceivable. But hey, that’s why there is no league like the National Football League!
Go BEARS!
6 comments:
You state that if the Colts win the Super Bowl, it will be because of their defense. Seems to me that its pointless to have an intelligent discussion with a person so close minded as to place blame and recognition on games which have not yet even taken place. Don’t you think you ought to at least let the games take place before you decide who played a role in the victory or defeat? J
As CJ said…..the Colts offense has faced the best defense (in the Ravens), the rest is downhill. Such a smart boy.
As long as Rex has an average game, the Bears will be tough to beat. I think that’s indisputable. Also, I think you’d have to admit Rex hasn’t always been dependable this season. Which Rex shows up will play a HUGE role in if the Bears win. Just like which Colts D shows up. So far, Rex is 1 for 1 in the playoffs, and the Colt’s D is 2 for 2.
Mark notes,
CK,
Just in case you weren’t aware, the NFC and AFC Championship games are THIS weekend. This will be an opportunity for both QB’s (Manning and Grossman) to step up or down. We all know Brady and Brees should have a good day as they always do. But let’s see where our two QB’s play on Sunday and then the smack flood gates open.
By the way, why do you guys have so much against Peyton? I’d like to see any one of you slackers spend more than 10 seconds in the pocket while a huge linebacker is chasing you down. I have never once heard Brady (yes, Mr. Class) talk any smack against Peyton…why? Because he knows that the QB position is arguably the hardest position in all of sports. What other position requires their people to make game making decisions in less than 5 second increments?
Mark A. Tacosik
Chip adds,
Boy, did you ever leave yourself wide open…… :)
Mark – I made a very similar point in my reply. I failed to cc everyone though. I guess I wanted to shame him in private. J
Gregory R. "Chip" Stein,
I love pre-applied smack. It usually is followed up by a good dose of humility…like they say, that is why they play the game.
Mark A. Tacosik
Chip responds with, Oh Mark……you are beating your head against the wall. I tried (and failed) MANY times last week to convince our poor, confused, and misguided Mr. Kolstad about the importance of the results of an actual game, and not rely so much on opinion and supposition and “what-ifs.”
Boy, Mark and Chip sure make a lot of sense. You would do well to listen and learn.
You guys are a lot of fun. Mark, you sound like one of those bad teenage singers on American Idol… “I don’t see you out here Simon. Who are you to judge? You’ve never made a great singing album. Why don’t you get out here and audition, etc.” MT you wrote the following, “By the way, why do you guys have so much against Peyton? I’d like to see any one of you slackers spend more than 10 seconds in the pocket while a huge linebacker is chasing you down. I have never once heard Brady (yes, Mr. Class) talk any smack against Peyton…why? Because he knows that the QB position is arguably the hardest position in all of sports. What other position requires their people to make game making decisions in less than 5 second increments?”
That line of reasoning is not very helpful. Otherwise none of us would ever criticize Bill Clinton or George W because obviously we will never experience the intense pressure of being the President of the United States. We’ll never walk in their shoes. So how could we ever criticize those men? Let’s be honest and admit that you don’t have to attend seminary to know when a preacher preaches a really bad sermon (don’t I know that from experience). :) I think you get my point here… We can offer valid criticism against Peyton Manning even though I never have and never will be an NFL QB. Those guys get paid millions of dollars do something that very few people can do.
Even IF Peyton Manning has two great games and wins the Super Bowl, that will not undo ALL his past chock jobs in the playoffs. But it definitely will take a HUGE weight off his shoulders. He will not have the Dan Fouts label attached to his name anymore (the QB who couldn’t win the big one). Manning’s playoff stats are simply not impressive. Manning’s playoff record is simply not impressive. That’s my point (none of you have dealt with those facts).
Chip, the Colts would not be in the AFC championship game had there D not come up with two huge games. Those are the facts, not fantasy. Peyton has played two poor games thus far (especially for a pro-bowl veteran QB) and his D saved him. The Colt’s are in great position to make it to the Super Bowl and to perhaps win it all.
You are correct Rex has had a very up and down season. When he plays horrible he puts his team in a very vulnerable position. But let’s just remember he has only played in 2 career post-season games. This was also the first season in which he started more than 4 games. Look at what happened to Tony Romo in his 1st playoff game? It’s not easy to play well with little game experience. The Bear’s don’t need Rex to be great they simply need him to be good. This year he has typically been great or horrible.
Every NFL QB has a bad game or two. Did I mention that Peyton Manning has a QB rating of 58.3 this post-season (case and point)? Consistency is very important (that is why Rex was rightly criticized during the regular season). But we have to put things in context as well. Which QB has the most upsize? Is this QB inexperienced? Rex has been the right choice for our team this season. Lovie Smith has made a wonderful decision sticking with #8. Go BEARS!
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