I did not fall asleep for a couple hours after going to bed last night. Too many bad memories/replays from the game running through my head. One is left wondering...IF only they would not have fumbled the kickoff return in the 1st half when they had alot of momentum; if only Grossman hits Berrian on the deep ball in the 4th Qtr; if only Benson doesn't get injured and fumble on his first carry; if only Grossman doesn't fumble 3 snaps from center; etc, etc.
I should go back and review my "keys to the game" to see just how accurate i was (or wasn't).
Here is what i said last week:
1. Rex needs to make smart decisions (which he has done thus far in the playoffs); that means no stupid turnovers. THIS OBV. DID NOT HAPPEN! TWO REALLY BAD PASSES AND SOME SILLY FUMBLES FROM UNDER CENTER KILLED THE OFFENSE. ELIMINATE 3 OR 4 HORRIBLE PLAYS AND GROSSMAN ACTUALLY HAD A DECENT GAME.
2. Rex needs to read the D better (blitz packages). He has not done a great job of this thus far. REX DID OK HERE.
3. Rex must keep drives alive (limit the 3 and outs); this means Rex has to have a higher completion percentage. THE COMPLETION% WAS GOOD, BUT HE DID NOT KEEP DRIVES ALIVE WHEN HE NEEDED TO. I DON'T KNOW IF THE COLT'S SECONDARY WAS THAT GOOD OR IF GROSSMAN MISSED OPEN RECIEVERS.
4. If given a golden opportunity Rex and Mark Bradley or B Berrian must connect on the deep ball. THE BEARS DID NOT CONNECT WHEN GIVEN THE OPPS (PART OF IT WAS THERE OFFENSE NEVER GOT GOING).
5. Did i mention no turnovers? 5 TURNOVERS COMMITTED BY THE BEARS. YOU CAN'T BEAT OAKLAND WITH 5 TO'S. THIS IS THE WORST PART ABOUT OUR EFFORT LAST NIGHT. 5 TURNOVERS (LOST)!!!
6. If Hester gives the Bears good field position on a consistent basis (via special teams) OR if the Bear's D can create 3 or 4 turnovers (like last weekend) the Bears will be in GREAT shape. THE BEARS DID CREATE 3 TO'S AND HESTER (AND GOULD) WERE AMAZING. HESTER GAVE THE BEARS O a CHANCE. THE BEARS HAVE THE BEST SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER AND FIELD GOAL KICKER IN THE GAME.
Side note, did Peyton Manning REALLY deserve the MVP? He had a great first half but threw for less than 50 yards in the 2nd half. How do Manning's key numbers stack up with other Super Bowl MVP QB's? I know Brady's first MVP did not represent great numbers.
How many points did the Colt's offense generate (given the fact the Bears committed 5 turnovers)? Since you can't give an MVP award to an entire defensive unit the award should of gone to Rhodes. The Colt's running backs were the players of the game.
12 comments:
Numbers that matter
4 -- First-quarter turnovers
5 -- First-half fumbles
2 -- Number of times there were back-to-back fumbles
81 -- Plays for Indianapolis
48 -- Plays for Chicago
306 -- The fewest yards allowed by Chicago's defense over the last nine games
Some good thoughts here at cbssportsline.com
Worst call
It's second-and-one for Chicago, and the Bears are at the Indy 45. It's midway through the third quarter; the Bears are down by five and they're trying to establish a rhythm on offense. So what would you do? Sure, you give the ball to Jones and move the chains. Only Chicago has Grossman throw. Bad idea. He trips as he's chased by defensive tackle Anthony McFarland and falls for an 11-yard loss. "It was a pass to the left," Grossman said. He fumbles the next snap, which goes for another 11-yard loss. Instead of first-and-10 in Indy territory, the Bears are fourth-and-23 at their 33. Terrible.
Loss that hurt the most
Chicago's Cedric Benson bowed out in the first quarter after injuring his knee on a 4-yard run. He did not return. Jones played well with Benson out, but the Bears couldn't sustain a drive longer than six plays until late in the game. The Bears like to use Benson in relief of Jones, but that option wasn't there for them for three quarters. "Cedric could have come in there and made a bunch of plays," Grossman said. "But who knows? All I know is that it is what it is."
Loss that hurt the least
Colts cornerback Harper. He was iffy entering this game with a sore ankle and lasted a half. But he bowed out at halftime, yielding to Hayden -- and you know what happened to him. "You have to give them credit," Chicago's Smith said of the Indy defense. "They had a great game plan coming in."
Tacosix wrote,
CK, that was a great game.
The elements were in Chicago's favor, but Indy prevailed.
Multiple turnovers were in Chicago's favor, but Indy prevailed.
Low scoring was in Chicago's favor, but Indy prevailed.
A stadium filled more with Chicago fans than Indy fans were in Chicago's favor, but Indy prevailed.
Special teams for Chicago was waayyy in Chicago's favor, but Indy prevailed.
Chicago's front 3-4 are very powerful and dominating,but Indy prevailed.
...it was Dungy's, Manning's and Indy's time.
You have to admit that it just felt that Indy was going to will their way to that win all game
Tacosix
Mark,
The Colt's did play a better game than the Bears. It was an exciting game atleast until the 2nd Grossman INT.
I don't think anyone would have thought the Colt's O could keep the ball for as long as they did. That is why Manning was given the MVP (and because many felt bad for him like they did for Elway before John got the job done).
I can't disagree with anything you wrote except this, "multiple turnovers were in Chicago's favor, but Indy prevailed." The Bears did force 3 but gave away 5. We needed to win this battle by one or two not lose it.
Congrats to you and Joe! You guys are the biggest Colt's fans i know. I can handle smack from you guys since you've been behind your boys for a long time.
It is all these bandwagon marginal fans that will drive me nuts. :)
Manning postseason numbers
Post-season
475 passes attempted
290 passes completed
3,495 passing yards
18 passing touchdowns
15 passes intercepted
7-6 postseason record
1 Super Bowl
1 Super Bowl MVP
Anonymous,
Thanks for posting Mannings postseason numbers. Had Peyton lost this Super Bowl he would still of had a MAJOR asterick next to his name. Now his resume is complete (as much as i hate to say it). He IS NOT one of the top 15 playoff QB's of all-time though. He will end probably end up with some of the best regular season numbers in the history of the league. When all is said and done he will be a 1st ballot Hall of Famer.
Caleb
Ahh.....I'm praying for you as you face the kids this week and all the sorry you are going to face :) It was a good game and the bears were in it until the 4th quarter. Couldn't believe it, but they were getting killed on e= very offensive category, yet they were only down by a single possession till= the end. Rex's poor play finally caught up to him and the defense looked shaky outside of the red zone. The little dump-off passes that were going to= rhodes and addai were killing the bears and the colts were picking up 5-8 yards each time.
Ryan
let me put it this way. rex is inconsistent. i dont see him as the future of the bears. sorry caleb. griese will have to do!...maybe you can trade for brett favre??? Joe
Brett Favre?
That is low. :) Rex deserves some criticism after his poor showing. I am ok with giving him another year at the helm. If he learns to be more consistent he will be fine.
CK
well im allowed to say low things cause i have peyton manning as my quarterback :-)...out of all seriousness, how bout jake plummer??
I would take Jake the Snake but he has his consistancy problems too!
CK
Joe,
Check out the new SI article. It shows how Peyton is a control freak who even tells his boss what to do!
:)
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