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Bears Thu Dec 23 2010
Footballic Ramblings: Bears Clinch NFC North Edition
Congrats to the 2010 NFC North Divisional Champion Chicago Bears. I did not see this coming at all. I was wrong, dear readers. Dead. Wrong. I predicted 6-10. I predicted Lovie Smith being fired mid-season. I predicted the secondary being destroyed. I predicted Jay Cutler being injured before Week Six --okay, I was right on that one. I predicted the offensive line being horrible and the running game being a joke, sorta right there too. Still, the Bears have duct taped together one of the flukiest and bizarro seasons of success in recent memory.
Their 2006 Super Bowl squad? In possession of a galaxy-consuming, stormtrooper efficient defense of murderous convicts cryogenically frozen from when Australia was a penal colony. [What?! -Ed.]
Also, that squad had the most capable and proficient special teams unit a Lovie Smith-coached team could ask for. In any case, Bears have won the NFC North, congrats, you lucky, lucky bastards. The worst case scenario is a 3-seed for the playoffs and I'll bet dollars to doughnuts that the Bears choke away their first playoff game. (DM @BrianYarvual for any takers)
This team? Well, the defense is delivering. Aside from the Patriots game, this Bears defense has been poison for opposing offenses. They've had some very fortuitous injuries come their way, see: Adrian Peterson of the Vikings on Monday night. But this turnover-generating machine has been vastly more consistent than I (or most) expected. Offensively? No. It's just not there. One can't bank on this offense in January at Soldier Field to do anything. Cutler and Co. are just as likely to lay an egg as they are to hang a 30+ pointgasm on some team.
In any case, the Bears can clinch up the 2-seed and a first-round bye if they win out and, again, will still get a home game even if they have to "settle" for the numero tres seed. I'll have a preview of the Jets game up tomorrow but, hey, have a great holiday, Bears fans. I can't stand 85% of you, but whatever, your team is doing great and playing very well (except for the Patriots game and the Giants game and the Seahawks game and the Redskins game.)
