Today was Bears football for Bears fans. Run the ball, play defense, win. For the first time this season, we can compare this team to the 2005 edition -- and in no way is that a bad thing. As Todd Johnson said after flying around the field all day making big tackles, "We knew after we got that field goal that if they didn't score, they couldn't win." Goddamn right.
The two horses combined for 172 yards on 33 carries for a 5.2 yard average. And that's with a long run on 19 yards. Feel free to use the term "smashmouth" without feeling self-conscious.
We said this road trip would be a success if the Bears went 2-1, and so they have. But these guys still have something to prove to themselves and to the rest of the league. The Bears may be the class of the NFC, but as of this writing, the AFC is 5-1 against the NFC this week, and I expect the AFC to win at least one of the two other interconference games. The Bears, meanwhile, are 2-1 against three AFC teams who are sitting at .500 or worse. Next week, like today, like every week, it will come down to making big plays and avoiding mistakes. Today, the Bears had an ideal dress rehearsal for the toughest game on the schedule.
Now for the miscellany. There is a small part of me that is scared shitless that Robbie Gould will pull a Gary Anderson and be perfect for the rest of the season and then miss the game winner in the NFC championship. But then I remember that he doesn't play for the fucking Vikings.
Tommie Harris is still in a funk after a white-hot start. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think New England's interior beef is of the gargantuan variety. Here's hoping Tommie can get back to his old form, right in Tom Brady's face. The Sun-Times has a good article about the situation.
The great TJ-or-Cedric debate will continue, although it proved to be mostly academic today. I have concluded that both guys run the ball well and that it's the line that has consistency issues.
Mark Bradley, baby. I can't say I hate to toot my own horn -- I love it -- so I will. I had a well-documented feeling that this guy was going to be a huge addition. Ideally, Bernard will be back on form next week and the Pats secondary will have its hands full.
If you want some entertaining reading, check out this excerpt from Ditka's book over at the Sun-Times. The book is called In Life, First You Kick Ass. As the kids say, that is so meta, because that is quite possibly the asskickinest book title ever.
Finally, John Cougar Mellencamp and Jessica Simpson have moved to the top of my hit list.
#2 JHov said . . .Part of today's win is from what we _didn't_ do: turn the ball over. No fumbles, no INTs. Nice to see the Bears coaching staff knows what to focus on
DS-- That damn Mellencampy commercial is driving me nuts -- I can't believe you actually enjoy it.
November 20, 2006
#3 Max said . . .As a Chicago sports fan, I had a smile on my face all day.
First Cubbies get Soriano for 8 years and then the Bears play Bears footbal, go 9-1, and PROVE they are the best team in football.
Ron Rivera deserves a raise. Urlacher and the Bears defense score a shutout for the 2nd time of the season. Their second half adjustments were intelligent and effective.
And despite what the TV announcers say, I thought Rex played his best game yet. No turnover, minimizing risks, throwing the ball away, checking down to the running backs, and not putting the team in bad positions. We don't need Rex to win games, we need him to focus on not losing them. He helped his team by handing off and throwing short passes very well. The TD to Bradley was a simple short curl that Bradley busted deep. That's what Rex needs to continue to do. Great game.
TJ looked like the 1,200 yard back he is. The O-line was strong and earned their money (they are the 2nd highest paid O-line in the NFL).
And Urlacher and the Bears D played how their supposed to. They created turnovers, won the field position battle, and cracked helmets all day long. Urlacher using the ref to "hide" on the interception in the endzone was beautiful. He's the best linebacker in the league.
Again, that's Bears football. We don't need Rex to throw 40 times, we need 25 attempts, a dominant running game, a dominant defense, and a dominant special teams game (the half time on-sides recovery was the special teams play- of- the -game--nice catch Chris Harris).
Game Balls to TJ and to Urlacher.
Bring on Bradey and the Pats. and buy your tickets to Miami. We are the best in the NFL.
November 20, 2006
#4 District Selectman said . . .Awesome win. Vintage Chicago Bear football. Rex got off to a slow start but he didn't make any mistakes. The D played really good.
And i should make my official apology. I have never been big on the bend but not break strategy that our defense plays. I've always claimed that against a good team that it wont be effective. I can no longer say that. The Bears D has proved time and again that they will give up yards but not points. As long as the offense and Rex dont cough up the ball, our D will allow single digit points nearly every game.
Bring on the Pats
November 20, 2006
#5 zamees said . . .By "hit list" I mean the list of people I have marked for assassination.
November 20, 2006
#6 Gasface said . . .Hey, I've seen a couple of these billboards around town. This one is at 294&wolf, but I've also seen one for the bulls in bucktown.
I've seen two different ones, let me know if you've seen any others!
November 20, 2006
#7 Berry Happy said . . .DS- This is our country!
If Jessica Simpson is from Texas, why does she have such a shitty southern accent in that Dukes of Hazzard commercial?
November 20, 2006
#8 jonathan said . . .Maybe it was just me, but did anyone else's heart stop suddenly when Tillman took a big hit early on, and couldn't stand up? What a scare.
November 20, 2006
#9 Timothy said . . .DS-- thank you for clarifying, you have redeemed my faith in your sanity.
November 20, 2006
#10 Brad said . . .Where was Rashied Davis......did he play.....I wasn't able to see the game but I did see he did even get the one kickoff we got??????
November 20, 2006
#11 Timothy said . . .The one kick off we got was an attempted onside kick. It was recovered by Chris Harris. The ex-Jets player the Bears have noticed the difference in players on the field for the second half kickoff. Apparently, he went over to Harris and said 'this is it. Be ready.'
November 20, 2006
#12 jeff said . . .I would have thought that Davis would have been more involved with the offense; instead of Bradley. What about the return of Berrian.........I have read that Bradley may get playing time over Berrian (even after full recovery from ribs) is this correct.....and if so where dose that leave Davis....just kickoffs and not the #3 receiver?????
November 20, 2006
berrian played but looked tentative. bradley is more of an outside threat and a much better player after the catch. davis played the whole game but they're content to leave him in the slot. it wasn't a lack of davis you saw, it was the gameplan. very controlled.
November 21, 2006
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