Tonight is the reason I love football.
Tonight the Chicago Bears will take the field against their longest and most-bitter rival in an attempt to play at least one more meaningful game in 2008.
Tonight our fifty-three must avenge the 37-3 embarrassment of a month ago - a game I'm still waiting for the Bears to arrive at.
Tonight is not about the Vikings and the Giants. It's not about rooting for the Raiders and Eagles. Tonight is about beating an inferior club on your home field because you have the world to play for and they don't. Tonight is about goddamn guts.
Tonight is the kind of night you give the wife a kiss on the cheek around 8:15 pm (7:15 central) and tell her to ignore the sounds she hears coming from the living room. If your parents are still alive, that's where the kids should be sleeping. Tonight is that kind of night.
Tonight has a lot to do with Kyle Orton because franchise quarterbacks recognize the importance of things and rise to the occasion. Aaron Rodgers and the Packers are going to score points because - record aside - they match up well against our defense. The chuck-it-up-to-Hester-and-hope-for-a-flag system will not be enough. The Pack defense has fallen apart late in games and our quarterback needs to take advantage.
Tonight is Matt Forte's night to shine.
Tonight is the kind of night Brian Urlacher and Mike Brown are supposed to rise above their mediocre seasons and make the kind of plays they made in 2001.
Tonight is the night where that "4th Phase" stuff isn't just bullshit. It should feel like the playoffs in Soldier Field
Tonight the Chicago Bears, led by a brilliant effort from their rookie running back, are going to beat the Green Bay Packers and continue a run into the postseason. Tonight they're going to hit the piss and puke like they didn't think possible.
Tonight the Chicago Bears are going to win. They're going to win because I don't want to face tomorrow morning if they don't.
ADDENDUM 2:09 PM
From Mr. Steve Rosenbloom's wonderful game day blog entry:
Now it's on the Bears.They got everything they needed over the weekend, and the gifts just keep on coming because tonight they get a bad Packers team that has nothing to play for in the kind of miserable cold weather that seemingly caused Brett Favre to quit last year.
It's on Lovie Smith to make sure his team cares, unlike the last game against the Packers. The last thing I want is that valium-laden Texas drawl telling me at 11 p.m. how disappointing it is to lose to football game. We know that. Thanks to him, we know that a lot.
It's on Bob Babich to have every gap filled. I've had quite enough of the defensive BFF telling me in some weird Texas drawl how bad defensive play starts with him. We know that. Thanks to him, we know that a lot.
It's on Ron Turner to make sure his brain doesn't freeze on the and-1 and the and-goal situations. Stay warm, pal. In fact, I'm thinking you should create some extra warmth by burning the playbook page where you give it to the fullback.
#2 NY Bears Fan said . . .First
December 22, 2008
#3 mikebdot said . . .Great Post Jeff, lets hope they come out on fire and play a full game. All I want for Christmas is two more wins and a Vikings loss.
December 22, 2008
#4 craig said . . .Are you in Europe or something? Tonight the Carolina Panthers are playing professional football fairly well against the New York Giants.
I still think Eli Manning is overrated...
December 22, 2008
#5 NY Bears Fan said . . .Anyone who just saw Chris Harris DRILL Brandon Jacobs has to wish he was still on our team...
December 22, 2008
#6 jeff said . . .That was an awesome hit by Harris.
December 22, 2008
#7 The Duke said . . .mikeb, the posts always go up in the evening so people have them at work in the morning....when i'm not awake.
December 22, 2008
#8 Brian in Sec 430 Row 25 said . . .well I'm fired up. well done Jeff. As much as the '08 Bears have pissed me off more than any other year...I'm still giddy for MNF like a 6 year old on x-mas eve.
On a completely different note.
why is it every player we've traded away in the last few years is now excelling on another team?Chris Harris
Marc Colombo
Mark Bradley
Justin Gage
Thomas Jones
shit, even Bobby Wade is catchin' some balls.
I'm just sayin' if Michael Okwo turns into the next Briggs I'm gonna kick a pigeon.Bear Down.
Heads are gonna roll Monday night.
December 22, 2008
#9 jeff said . . .Wow....I am very excited that today went the way it did. I have a problem though and you guys are the only ones that will understand.
I have 4 tickets to the game tomorrow night. It is going to be a HIGH temp of 1 degree. Christmas is this week and then I leave for vacation in Arizona right after that. With so many important things happening, the last thing in the world I want is to be sick. So......my fellow die-hards, it is with a heavy heart that I admit I am NOT going to the biggest game of the year tomorrow.
I HAVE A SPECIAL OFFER TO MEMBERS OF DA BEARS BLOG....
IF YOU WANT TO GO TO THE GAME, YOU HAVE HAVE MY TICKETS FOR WHATEVER YOU THINK IS FAIR. Face on 2 of them is 85 and face on the other 2 are 68. If you can pick them up in DG tomorrow, they are all yours.
if you want them, send an email to my work address
brian.bollow@cwine.com
I really hope some good die hard fans that don;t normally get to go to a game take my tickets...it would make me feel sooo much better about my decison,
December 22, 2008
#10 So.Ill Bears Fan said . . .brian, if i had any faith that i could successfully fly there tomorrow, i'd take em right now. there's just no shot i wouldn't end up watching the game at an airport bar.
December 22, 2008
#11 Tone Capone from Jersey said . . .Oh man Brian, what I would do for those tickets.....
Shit, what I would do for just one of those tickets....
But its the holiday season and everyone knows what that means....short pockets, lol....
I remember when I was little and I was playin for the kelvyn park hurricanes in the Chicago park district championship, and got the the chance to play on soldier field....
That's one of the best memories in my football career from little league thru college...
That was the last time I was at soldier field since I moved to southern Illinois...
I've never been to a bears game....
But that will change if its the last thing I do before I die....Bear Down Gentlemen!!!!
Let's Shred Some Cheese!!!!!!
December 22, 2008
#12 shonbear said . . .Oh Lord, my prayer and wish today is to see the Bears kick the snot out of the Pack on my birthday!
Amen!
Bear down gentleman....it's game day!!December 22, 2008
#13 Urlacher FTW said . . .so are the giants going to try and win vs vikes?
December 22, 2008
#14 BearDown1982 said . . .shonbear I think the Giants will show up to win. I am in the minority I know as most of them there smart people say the Giants have nothing to play for. Really?
So possibly preventing a team from making the playoffs is nothing to play for? If you lose you may have to play the same team you lost to in a couple weeks with fire in their bellies and knowing they can beat you? These reasons aside NYG is a proud football team and they are 10x the team that the queenz are. If they can put up a good first half I think their 2nd string can close this out.
Plus after watching them last night, they have like 5 good receivers, and 2 startable RBs; who are they sit? The 215 yard rusher or the 3 td pile mover. I say NYG show up big; we just need to take care of us.December 22, 2008
#15 Duff Diggler said . . .Shon...I'm sure the Giants won't be up for the Vikings game in the same way they were up for the Pats game last year regardless of who plays. Two completely different scenarios. I'd say it is easier to get up for a meaningless game when it is meaningful - aka - beating an undefeated football team.
That said, if the Bears take care of business tonight, the pressure stays on top of Minnesota. And you just never know what may happen...if the Giants offensive line decides to block against the Vikings like they did last night against the Panthers, anything is certainly possible!
That said...I'm not even thinking about the Vikings for the rest of the day. Switching to Bears mode from here on out.
Bear Down and enjoy the game tonight everybody. Let's hope Christmas comes early via a destruction of the Packers tonight.
December 22, 2008
#16 Ram in S.A. said . . .Those stars aligned for us yesterday, didn't they!?! I would have liked to see carolina hang on, but oh well. I still think the giants will go all out against the queens. There is no way they want to go 1-3 in their last four going into the playoffs. Last night they got their confidence back, and a loss, even one made by second and third stringers will certainly bring out the nay-sayers in NY, esp. when they have an extra week to bitch about it....
Tonight....
...tonight fucking heads will fly!
There are so many reasons the bears should play out of their minds and win this game....
1. Soldier Field
2. Playoffs
3. last months debacle in GB
4. GB (most important)....what a treat for the whole country on MNF. Tonight is a night that bears fans will be born under those same stars. Fuck frankensence and gold. I'm bringing Guiness, Brats, and a 22 jersey.
Jeff, not too kiss your ass or anything, but thank you. Thank you for your inspiration. You have quite a way with words, and thus, and talent that few possess. Your blogs are usually amazing, and kudos are deserved more often. I often envision posts such as todays given in front of a crowd and behind a podium. Thanks again! I'm so fucking pumped for today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ditka for governor!
BEAR DOWN!!!
December 22, 2008
#17 Tom said . . .Thank you Jeff! and AMEN
Bear down!!!
December 22, 2008
#18 NittyGritty34 said . . .Duff said it all. There is NO waythe NYG want to go 1 - 3 in the last 3 games
I'm much more worried about who shows up to play tonight. The Bears have booted too many chances to be in control and even winning 2 doesn't guarantee a spot post season. Get ready to watch Lovie's dull stare at the sky and his post game nothings win or lose and hope the boys are up to the job tonight. Wish I felt better but....
Go Fuck the Packasses Chicago Bears
And yeah, there are too many Bear cast off's playing very well for other teams to believe our staff is competant.
December 22, 2008
#19 mikebdot said . . .Die Pack Die!
December 22, 2008
#20 big rob said . . .The Duke: Chris Harris is good. It was a bad move, but some move had to be made at the time. The Archuleta debacle was a huge mistake. Of course, Harris also took a poor angle on that 51 yard run at the end of the game, too, so there's give and take with everything. Plus the giants rushed for a stupid number of yards altogether, so one big play is not drowned out by poor positioning...in my opinion.
Marc Colombo: The line in Dallas is overrated. That's like saying the line in SF did a good job with Jeff Garcia and T.O. No, I'm sorry, Romo is a mobile quarterback. That makes up for a lot of mistakes. See Johnson, Brad. He was sacked 8 times in 3 games. Which is fairly average. By the way, Romo has 11 fumbles on the year (missing 3 games). 5 lost. I wish the media would get off his jock.
Mark Bradley: Are you serious? KC is 2-12...
Justin Gage: 34 catches for 651.
Thomas Jones: Matt Forte has more yards from scrimmage, but Jones has done well with his new line and a passing threat...
Bobby Wade: He's also missing some balls. There were two or three balls he should have caught (even though they were poorly thrown) on that last drive against Atlanta. Same with Berrian running crap routes and falling down. Hahahaha. That deep ball was a piss poor route. He should have seen the coverage on the play, but lolly-gagged it. Wade 49 catches for 547 is decent I suppose, but nothing to get excited about.
What the Bears need is a go to guy. Hester is developing nicely, in my opinion. Lloyd and Orton's injuries have really hurt us. But I fear that Ron Turner's ethos is that a team doesn't need a go to receiver, we only need go to tight ends. If that is the case we need a better tight end. Seriously, Olsen and Clark are only mediocre. We have been fooling ourselves. They don't make leaping catches time in and time out, like say Shiancoe or some other pro-bowl caliber guy.
December 22, 2008
#21 jeff said . . .the morning of....
FUCK THE PACKERS!!
December 22, 2008
#22 CA BEAR FAN said . . .i couldnt sleep.
December 22, 2008
#23 Jokey said . . .greg olsen is still developing...and honestly he is the best receiver we got....RON TURNER is a DOUCH!
I can stand Babich but i want Ron Turner out!December 22, 2008
#24 Z said . . .Brian, you've made DBB history with your offer. I've considered and unconsidered it 3 times already.
Yes we must smash the Packers! With a healthier Orton and hopefully mostly-healthy Forte.
Bear Down!
December 22, 2008
#25 big rob said . . .Oh Brian, how I wish I had a few weeks to plan a trip form Tampa to Chicago to take advantage of those tickets. Damn why aren't I rich? Somebody with an opportunity to go that is on the fence about it. Go. You might regret it for a long time telling stories about this amazing Monday night game and how you passed up seeing it in person.
December 22, 2008
#26 Z said . . .Afternoon of.....
FUCK THE PACKERS!!
December 22, 2008
#27 AfroCelt said . . .It's an all day and night FUCK THE PACKERS marathon! Brought to you by the #22 and a pass rush.
December 22, 2008
#28 Phil from SATX said . . .I see those tickets and I cry. Stuck in Appleton with family...they seem to mind when leave them locked up for a 12 hour session of "Monk".
December 22, 2008
#29 jeremy34 said . . .I watched two games over the last 3 days that were almost as fun as watching a Bear game, and that's saying a lot. Actually I didn't watch the Cowboys game, just followed it on Blackberry, but I was able to watch the D's meltdown after it was over. Tony Romo certainly wasn't to blame for that one (which would have been the perfect scenario), but how great was it to watch record-setting back-to-back runs by the Ravens? I'll answer that one - it was f'ing fantastic!! And the last game in that blasted stadium to boot!!!!
But the real fun was in watching yesterday's game which was more germane to our playoff hopes. My first comment on that is, how lame are the Viqueens fans? All you have to do there is get a lead and it sounds like an SAT testing site, pencils in progress. Those fans truly suck. And they got out of the deal IMMEDIATELY, mere minutes into the first Falcon drive. That fanbase does not believe in this team one bit. But that's no excuse.
Berrian gave me exactly what I expected and then some - how beautiful was it when he drops the first pass that hits him in the hands and then fumbles the punt return? Yeah Bernard, you're worth $8 mil per year. Maybe in pesos.
Tarvaris Jackson played really well, I can see why he won his job back. But long term he still doesn't scare me. I see him as a Michael Vick, with a better arm but worse legs. But he looks just as quick to use those legs, which in the NFL has been proven not to work. And he doesn't throw well on the run.
I think that the Giants will prevail next week, leaving this thing up to us - we're sort of back to controlling our own destiny. Which is great.
Can't wait for tonight. 12 days to prepare!!! We should be ready - we BETTER be ready!
Brian, can't believe no one's jumped on that great offer of yours. I'm working on my brother, who along with his son qualifies as a huge fan, if not a regular contributor. Someone's gotta go!
BEAR DOWN!!!! TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT!!!!
December 22, 2008
#30 jeff said . . .Could we arrange something where we email this to Lovie and have him get Dick Butkus to read it aloud to the team before kickoff?
December 22, 2008
#31 Robert Greenfield said . . .right now 'outside the lines' is talking strictly about things that happen inside the lines. so why does this show exist?
is the game on yet?
December 22, 2008
#32 Rancid said . . .That 37-3 Packers victory was so embarrassing for Chicago. If the Bears lose tonight, add humiliated to the list.
December 22, 2008
#33 downstate bears fan said . . .I swear my clock is broken, this is taking forever.
December 22, 2008
#34 Mike Brown has a Posse said . . .F*#@)(*%)K Tony Kornheiser!
December 23, 2008
#35 Andrewells said . . .Heart-attack Bears....back again.
Nice to see Daniel Manning scaring the beejesus out of GB special teams squad. He is a completely different beast than Hester; dragging 3 guys for 10-15 yards downfield is insane on a KR.
Mike Brown - please get well soon. I like Steltz fine and all, but not on run-blitzes. You complete me.
Robbie G - Money.
Mr. Forte - Before too long, lists of your accomplishments will displace the Chuck Norris memes.
You, sir, are a freaking monster. Thank god they remembered that you can catch the ball by the end of the 4th quarter.December 23, 2008
I moved here from Houston and i am a Bears fan. I am amazed at how the people of chicago listen to the anal local commentators assesment of the team. Let me tell you guys something the bears have a very average offensive line. If the bears had a above average offensive line we would have a world class running game. What we have is a team with a below par line who trys to run first and pass last. Get off your asses and reconize that every team in the league knows that the bears has only what 5 passes all season beyond 40 yards. The bears has a good pass offense but for some reason they wont let Orton passs beyond 25 yards or he simply cant make the deep pass. This is constructive criticism Rex Grossman is a far better deep passer. Now that Kyle is making all these interceptions do you blaim him or the fact that this team has a below par offensive line. We spend money on the defense but nothing on the offensive line. All i am saying is if we had a better offensive line that had a deep ball threat that we actually used it would open up the running game. What we have not is ass backward we run first. Look every defense knows that Kyle either wont or the coaches wont allow him to throw the deep ball, and because of this the opposeing defenses play 9 player within 15 yards of the line of scramage. This meands that all the nickel backs play the run because we simply wont throw any passes deep. Let me make this shit clear even if a deep ball gets intercepted we have a good defense and the ball if intercepted is on the other side of the field. What we have not is a joke. The enemy keys the short passes and we damn sure cant run up the middle with this $2.00 offensive line. We simply have to air it out to open the run. So now you see it was not Rex's fault it was the mininum wage offensive line. That super bowl year Rex was number 5 in the NFL in td passes you idiots.
December 23, 2008
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