Here’s what I don’t understand.
On both NFL Network and ESPN in the aftermath of the Bears remarkable victory at Lambeau Field Monday night the words “luck” and “asterisk” and “gift” were stated. Why? Because the Green Bay Packers were forced to play with their backup quarterback.
Against the Chicago Bears. And their backup quarterback. Seems silly.
This was a tremendous victory for the Bears. This was an inspiring performance from the Bears. Here are my rapid fire thoughts.
They happen once a year, at most, these days. Days where I wish I had one of those put on pants and go to an office jobs. Because if I had one of those alarm-goes-off-at-7:01, hate my boss gigs I would at least be able to pass the time on a Monday with the Bears playing the Packers at Lambeau on Monday night.
Instead I’ll walk around. Write a bunch. Listen to way too many national analysts explain why Aaron Rodgers is going to dice up the Bears defense and leave their season at the side of a Green Bay road. I’ll probably jump on with my buddies Trent and Marty in Des Moines and have my first beer when it’s five o’clock somewhere but not five o’clock here.
Bears fans will be nervous but they need to take a valium and relax. Tonight is a fun game if you’re a Bears fan. The pressure is entirely on the other guys. There’s nothing to lose. The upside of a win far surpasses the downside of a loss. And from a fan perspective, the stage is set for a the type of win you’ll remember for years to come.
So get through the day. I know it won’t be easy but, hey, nothing is any more.
We don’t want to overstate the importance of Monday night’s game at Lambeau for Bears head coach Marc Trestman but sometimes we can’t help it. Packers games always feel a bit bigger than others and primetime games are the ones national media members use to deliver their misguided opinions. (Hey, maybe they are a good offense but they weren’t good when I saw them so they’re not good!”) Like it or not, the Bears will dominate the conversation across the sports world Tuesday morning.
Is it a pivotal game for Trestman? It can be. If the Bears deliver an intense, noteworthy performance (especially on defense) all the credit will go to Trestman as his captains have been sidelined with injury. If Josh McCown leads the offense up and down the field against Green Bay, all the credit will go to Trestman for whispering to yet another mediocre quarterback. Nothing is expected from the Bears. Everything they produce will be credited to the new head coach.
That is what comes from being the offensive “savior” in a city starved for offense. Read More …
The Bears opened as eleven-point underdogs against the Green Bay Packers Monday night at Lambeau Field. They are as beaten up a defense as there is in the NFL. They are starting their backup quarterback. As Michael Kehoe wrote to me on Twitter, “Bears don’t stand a chance in GB. I’m emotionally all in. But a win would be one of the biggest surprises in decades.” He then followed up on his own Twitter page, “Historical trends, road game, MNF + no pass rush, 2 rookie LBs= give the pts all day. Hate it. Hoping to be wrong. Bears!”
So why in God’s name do I like the Chicago Bears this week?
I always like the Chicago Bears.
Seattle and San Francisco are going to the postseason. New Orleans is winning the NFC South. Somebody is winning the NFC East because someone has to win the NFC East, right? That’s four NFC postseason berths accounted for.
And I’ll give you the NFC North too, accepting the argument that a healthy Aaron Rodgers will be able to compensate for the rampant injuries they have suffered on the both sides of the ball.
The leaves one position, the six seed, for the postseason tournament. And unless you as a Bears fan are willing to concede that position to a Detroit Lions team that is a Calvin Johnson hamstring injury from losing out or a Carolina Panthers team that just climbed over .500 for the first time during the Obama administration or a team quarterbacked by Carson Palmer, it would difficult to argue the Chicago Bears season is over.
We’ll go without the chat box today. That is special for Bears games. I’ll be commenting on all the day’s action from my barroom perch, @DaBearsBlog on Twitter.
Three things that need to happen for….
