I’ve already taken some heat for declaring Sunday night’s game in Minnesota something other than a “must win” and I understand the dissenting opinion. With a division dead-locked and only five games remaining on the schedule, every game feels like a must win. But the logistics of the situation are simple. (1) A loss would only even the season series between the Vikings and Bears. (2) The Vikings end their season against the Cardinals, Falcons and Giants – they’ll be underdogs in all three. (3) A win Sunday night would mean absolutely nothing should the Bears lose to the Packers at home on December 22nd.
But who cares how we define Sunday night? Good teams, contending teams don’t care about the context. Good teams, contending teams smell blood in the water and close quickly. If the Chicago Bears want to make a serious run at a return trip to the Super Bowl, they begin Sunday night. This is the team that used a Sunday night in Indianapolis to surprise a media and fan base that came not to praise but to bury them. They used a Sunday night against Philadelphia to re-affirm their ability to mount a solid defensive effort, featuring a tackle to be forever known as "the clothesline". Now they must use the Sunday night pulpit to preach their intention to contend. Not just for the division but for the conference and league championships.
Crazy, you say? Crazy may be. I mean, seriously, THIS Bears team representing the NFC in Tampa Bay come February? But just consider what you’ll be feeling Monday morning should the Bears dominate the Vikings and fly home with a 33-10 win under their belt. Consider where your mind will wander should the defensive dominance in St. Louis look like less the exploitation of a bad club and more like a resounding response to a pathetic performance in Packerland. Consider how high you’ll believe the ceiling should Matt Forte hit triple digits, control the clock and out-rush the great one in purple.
So maybe this isn’t a “must win” ballgame. It IS a “can win”. And that should be more than enough inspiration for the Chicago Bears to play like their season depends on it.
Excited yet?
#2 Joseph said . . .First! Very nice Jeff, very nice.
November 26, 2008
#3 pankster said . . .First time being First!
I would like to thank my employer for the down time that allows me to check DaBears Blog pretty much anytime I want.
For without you I could never be First!
November 26, 2008
#4 pankster said . . .1st
November 26, 2008
#5 big rob said . . .3rd damn!!
good post jeffNovember 26, 2008
#6 Joseph said . . .Sorry Joseph... Missed by that much...
November 26, 2008
#7 mikebdot said . . .Dammit!!!
Fuck these computers! Fuck my employer get some new computers you cheap bastards!!
Ha! Ha! Ohh well.
Great post Jeff.
November 26, 2008
#8 Ranced said . . .It's not a "must win" using the definition of the words, but it's a win that puts us in the driver's seat. I like driving.
November 26, 2008
#9 Rancid said . . .After we beat Minny, I'll be excited.
November 26, 2008
#10 animal said . . .Damn, I can't even spell my own name right
November 26, 2008
#11 Albert In Tucson said . . .ive been excited all week!! That was a good post Jeff. Lets get positive and optimistic and hope for the best. You are right, a big win and a 7-5 record will have us flying high. And, there is no reason at all to say that we cant contend if we go to the playoffs. Any team can get hot at the right time and win it, as history shows.
A loss is a loss... but this one will depend a lot on how we lose if it happens. This game will tell us a lot- they all have. What they tell us over all is this is a jeckle-hyde team and you never know who will show up. Good Bears or Bad Bears... hey, this team finally took on Rex's personality now that he is gone. Funny.... They can be explosive and sharp, look like world beaters, or just look terrible.
Lets see the Good Bears in Minny. They have no QB. Lets take advantage.
November 26, 2008
#12 Crown said . . .Notice how quiet the Cheeseheads have been since Monday night?
November 26, 2008
#13 Willie from Chicago said . . .I have a feeling that Tommie Harris is going to finish the season strong. I saw that burst off the ball last week from 91 that reminded me of why the football pundits called him the best 3 technique defensive tackle in the league not to long ago. His best games this year have been in domes on carpet (Indy, Atlanta, and St. Louis). My prediction is that he will have at least one sack and cause a turnover this week. I heard him interviewed yesterday and he is not babbling about philosophy or God anymore. Rather, he was talking about football believe it or not and seemed to be more business like, focused, and team oriented. I am praying the old Tommie is back. If he is, he could be the single most important season changer for the Chicago Bears. His elevated play could make everyone on the D unit look a whole lot better including those guys that have struggled at points (Vash, Urlacher, all our defensive ends, etc. etc. etc.)
November 26, 2008
#14 Willie from Chicago said . . .All the Bears have to do is win their remaining division games and go 1-2 for their remaining schedule. That will garentee them the division. However, if the Bears want to make a serious run to the super bowl, they will need to pick up some momentum going into the playoffs.
If we get to the playoffs, we will not have a bye week as we did in our last 2 playoff appearances, so we will need to have a lot of momentum as the Giants did last year.
Bear Down!
Bye the way great post Jeff!
November 26, 2008
#15 Oaktown34luv said . . .Man, being off from school on a Wednsday is really boring, nothing much to do here except reading this blog.
November 26, 2008
#16 RandomName said . . .Ok Bear fans, I don't want to read anymore comments that have a "fear of the Vikings, or respect of the Vikings" tone to them on this blog!!! The Vikes are a seriously flawed, one dimensional team!!!
Gus Ferotte is an old man on old legs who has been beat down this season giving him "tired legs", so he can't escape pressure and 'create' plays. His arm is average so he can't make 'big' throws, he has more INT's than TD's. So basically the Vikings have a weak QB. Let me repeat, THE VIKINGS HAVE WEAK QB!! One of the worst QB's in the league.
When your opponent has a weak QB then you need to stop the run and force the bad QB to win the game and capitalize on his weak armed mistakes. Lovie knows this. Although he is an emotional dunce, and I have lost all respect for the man's ability to motivate his players, (a coach's primary job), I still think Lovie is a smart defensive strategist, (as long as he doesn't have to adjust his scheme at halftime), and he will design a game plan to stop the run, forcing Gus to try and beat our secondary.
Then the secondary needs to motivate themselves this week, (since Lovie won't do it) and get some INT's. The front-7 needs to execute Lovie's game plan and stop AP. We do that and we win this game! Come on D, pump yourselves up and BEAR DOWN!! The control of the NFC North is at stake and the playoffs loom.November 26, 2008
#17 The Ghost of Halas said . . .I hope we can stop All-DAY, cause if not this going to be a loooong day for the bears.
Every play he is a threat and if let up on whether early or late in the game then it's 7 for the vikings.
After stating the obvious. AD is a helluf a back to watch but since he's not in the navyblue and orange, punish him bears.....GO BEARS.
Bears 28 vikings 24
November 26, 2008
#18 Pankster eatin some early bird said . . .Oaktown: I don't want to disagree with you because you're quite perceptive and logical in your thought process and I respect you for it.
But...there in your reasoning lies the problem. Sure, you put pressure on a QB enough then he's going to get sacked. Sure, it helps that Ferrotte is a Civil War veteran and his legs are worn out from years of living as a pioneer on the western frontier. But the problem is that the Bears have been unable to apply the proper amount of pressure to lead to sacks or even a great deal of bad-decision-hurries. Between Week 2 and last week there was almost no pass-rush, and suddenly the ineptitude of St. Louis led to five sacks (one thankfully knocking Bulger out of the game early on). So my point is, yeah, pressure an old QB and he'll fall, but are the Bears able to apply that kind of pressure? I do not know.
I think the respect that others and I have for the Vikings is a result of the 298 yards and 2 touchdowns he threw in Soldier Field only a few weeks ago. Of course, he was sacked only twice...but he was intercepted four times (thanks again, Zach Bowman) and the fact of the matter is, if it had not been for two AMAZING Special Teams plays that would have been an embarassing loss. That is the respect I have for Minnesota.
In my defensive philosophy, it all comes back to the defensive line and the pressure it puts on the QB. Force him to the ground. Force him out of the pocket. Force him to make horrendous throws into the waiting hands of Graham, Brown, Vasher, Tillman, or Payne. The line sets the tone for how the defense will play. Successful defenses have terrifying linemen (the 1985 Bears, 1970s Steelers, and more recently the 2007 Giants come to mind). Honestly...name the corners and safties on the '85 team...I bet 75% of Bears fans can't, whereas most can handily and readily recall Perry, Hampton, McMichael, and Dent. Hell, they might even know Tyrone Keys.
Apply Pressure. Bring us victories!
November 26, 2008
#19 BPT said . . .Vasher out a long time graham is in GOOD!!!!Measuring stick this week are WE contenders or Pretenders???
November 26, 2008
#20 Willie from Chicago said . . .Always read but never post, but feel like chiming in here to say great post Jeff. Well written and well said. I hadn't even contemplated the Bears making a run this year and while we all know it's a long shot your post, for whatever reason, just fired me up for this game and the rest of the season.
Well done. Happy T-day Bears fans, enjoy the games.
November 26, 2008
#21 Willie from Chicago said . . .Good to have you on board BPT!
November 27, 2008
There are lots of things i am thankfull for, im thankfull that we have DAbearsblog, im thankfull we have Jeff writing posts, im thankfull that we have smart people on this site (for the most part) and I am thankfull that I have the Bears. Win or loose, they are my team... And Tommorow I will be thankfull that I am not a fan of the grease fire that is the Lions.
BEAR DOWN
Have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
November 27, 2008
Here at DaBearsBlog, you are free to kill us or the Bears as you so wish. You are not free, however, to be an asshole. So if you spew racism or ill-meaning foul language (cursing about football is just fine) or anything of that ilk, your comments ain't gonna last long, jerk.