Let's talk about something important

[FormerHoya]

Like the greatest Monday Night Football game ever.

I haven't been so excited on Monday night since Cap Boso caught the ball and came up with a yard of turf stuck in his helmet. Yeah, that Cap Boso.

[Jack]

It's gonna be awesome when the Bears have to go play a real (AFC) team on the road. Somehow I don't think the Patriots will squander 6 turnovers from Rexy.

[RDF]

I don't know how a Bear fan could look at that game and think "Super Bowl Title". I looked at it as am impartial fan and thought--man the Bears can't play on the road--they barely beat an average Viking team up here and Grossman was bad, and yesterday he took bad to a level of disgustingly, rotten.

Credit to their team for finding a way to win--but eventually you have to play a REAL TEAM-and when Chicago does, they'll need to run the football more and rely less on Grossman, who has played like a typical Florida QB does in the NFL--terrible.

[SFHoya99]

Funny, I watched it and didn't see a comeback. I saw a choke. Against any real team Chicago loses 40-10.

[Gold Hoya]

I prefer to look at it as a teaching moment. They escaped with a win, but the 1985 stuff will stop. Lovie will have their attention for the bye week.

Hopefully, they will decide that they're not good enough to send Orton out wearing Rex's number.

[RDF]

Bears have to get the running game going--you can't win in the NFL if you can't run the ball or stop the run. The Bear defense can stop anyone--but are going to head into same monster they saw last year--if they don't run the ball better--Panthers will beat the snot out of them again if Thomas Jones or Benson--who I have no faith in at all--doesn't establish something consistently. Thomas Jones and his brother Julius don't hit hole hard enough for me as a football fan--they tippy toe and dance/jump skip move too much--although Thomas is better then Julius--who can't break any tackles at all and has regressed under Parcells ignorant orders for him to gain weight--he looked better as a rookie then he has since.

Grossman is your typical mediocre NFL QB who can play at Home but not away from it--unless team stinks so badly they don't put up a fight. Grossman was Bledsoe-esque in Minnesota/Arizona games and if that was anyone who is halfway decent, Bears are done by Halftime. Leinart looked far more composed and both played at High Profile schools and in big games and Grossman has played in Playoffs--so no excuses here. He stunk something awful.

I really see Panthers rolling to Super Bowl come January unless Steve Smith gets hurt. Philly can't stop the run or run the ball either--Dallas stinks, Giants are inept against pass on defense, Saints will wear down come late in season, Vikings are mediocre, Rams/Seahawks are not good unless they play at Home, and Falcons are hampered by the debacle that is Michael Vick/their passing game.

Panthers vs Bears in NFC Title game is what I expect and if Bears get more balance on offense, that will be a great game. If they rely on Grossman chucking it all over, Panthers by at least 10.

[Hank Scorpio]

wouldn't go so far as to call the G-Men inept on pass defense. their secondary is average, and looked much worse than it is the first 3 weeks of the season b/c they got absolutely no pressure on the QB. the unit has looked much, much better coming out of the bye week. i'm curious to see how they stack up against Carolina and Chicago; luckily they're both on the regular season schedule.

if the Bears played Hoover High on Monday night, Hoover would have won by 40. No stopping RePete.

[FLHoya]

RDF, please tell me at least you were smiling at (Suncoast High School's own) Devin Hester when he returned that punt. That was the most predictable turn of events EVER--I had the feeling a punt return TD was coming before the play, and when he caught the ball with about 10 yards of space......but still entertaining to me personally (hey look, a UM player isn't fighting or getting fired from his announcing job!). Kinda weird how it was almost a carbon copy of his punt return in the Louisville game on Thursday night in 2004, right down to the time/situation in the game, Mike Tirico's idiotic shrieking, and him putting the same fake-out move on the punter.

The seeds were sown in the first half for Arizona when they kept going uber-conservative and didn't capitalize on the Bears TO's. Too many field goal attempts and not enough points. Even Charles Barkley was all over the obvious point during his booth visit...you have to put teams the heck away and capitalize on turnovers. This is especially relevant to me as a fan of quite possibly the least efficient Red Zone team in the history of humanity (the Atlanta Falcons) who seem to get off on earning Morten Adersen and Michael Koenen fantasy points (Mort had like 6 FG's the other week and he can't kick more than 40 yards so that should tell you something) and winning 12-7 games (they blew an early scoring chance off a TO against the Giants last Sunday...17-3 or 21-3 is a lot more safe than 14-3.)

[RDF]

flhoya said:

RDF, please tell me at least you were smiling at (Suncoast High School's own) Devin Hester when he returned that punt. That was the most predictable turn of events EVER--I had the feeling a punt return TD was coming before the play, and when he caught the ball with about 10 yards of space......but still entertaining to me personally (hey look, a UM player isn't fighting or getting fired from his announcing job!). Kinda weird how it was almost a carbon copy of his punt return in the Louisville game on Thursday night in 2004, right down to the time/situation in the game, Mike Tirico's idiotic shrieking, and him putting the same fake-out move on the punter.

The seeds were sown in the first half for Arizona when they kept going uber-conservative and didn't capitalize on the Bears TO's. Too many field goal attempts and not enough points. Even Charles Barkley was all over the obvious point during his booth visit...you have to put teams the heck away and capitalize on turnovers. This is especially relevant to me as a fan of quite possibly the least efficient Red Zone team in the history of humanity (the Atlanta Falcons) who seem to get off on earning Morten Adersen and Michael Koenen fantasy points (Mort had like 6 FG's the other week and he can't kick more than 40 yards so that should tell you something) and winning 12-7 games (they blew an early scoring chance off a TO against the Giants last Sunday...17-3 or 21-3 is a lot more safe than 14-3.)

With the emphasis on Special Teams most coaches have, I'm surprised more teams didn't go after Hester--he's a weapon and I'd love to see Bears give him the ball about 5 times a game on offense--he's that fun to watch.

You knew it was coming--I even went to point of telling my friends that if Arizona made the FG it wouldn't matter because Hester would take the Kickoff back for a score or to set up a Bears game winning FG.

And again--will someone please inform ESPN that Tirico, Kornheiser and Theisman need to go?? Kornheiser's "He's on my Fantasy Team" schtick is beyond tiresome/annoying and to the level it deserves a "If you see this man in public, give him a beatdown for greater good of Football Fans".

Nothing else can be said about Tirico--I wish bodily harm upon that man--at least to the point he can no longer call games. Every game he does is worse off for him being in the stadium/arena let alone behind the mic.

[Boz]

rdf said:

And again--will someone please inform ESPN that Tirico, Kornheiser and Theisman need to go?? Kornheiser's "He's on my Fantasy Team" schtick is beyond tiresome/annoying and to the level it deserves a "If you see this man in public, give him a beatdown for greater good of Football Fans".

Nothing else can be said about Tirico--I wish bodily harm upon that man--at least to the point he can no longer call games. Every game he does is worse off for him being in the stadium/arena let alone behind the mic.

OK, well now you're just pandering to me.

;D

Just kidding, RDF. Good rant. Made my day as usual. While I don't share your degree of hatred for Tirico, I probably hate Theismann twice as much as you, so that makes up for it.

As for TK, yes, he has been a disappointment. Hell, even if he talked about wanting to go to bed every 4th quarter, that'd be better. Kornheiser actually wrote about this. Every week he does a post-MNF column in the Post and a couple of weeks ago it was about how he's not being himself on MNF. I agree. If we could get the TK from the radio show or PTI on Monday nights, he'd be much better. As it is, I think all he does each week is look forward to talking to the guest in the booth.

Next week, I think he should just go ahead and question everything Theismann says. I don't care if Joe says there's 5 min. left in the first half, Kornheiser should question it. Riotous fun ensues.

[SFHoya99]

I'm pretty sure Theisman is going to beat the crap out of Kornheiser one of these weeks, so maybe it'll take care of itself.

[Gold Hoya]

Yeah, most of what Tony said during the 3rd quarter in particular seemed to be geared toward picking a fight with Theesman.

[hifigator]

For as much as you guys have emphasized your disdain for Colin Cowherd, I really do think that he made a great point. His basic thesis was that by this point in the season you have a pretty good idea about most teams. Even those who view the glass half full rather than empty will be on "common ground" with regards to most of a given team's qualities.

With the Bears it really is a matter of perspective.

On one hand they have admittedly played a rather weak schedule. But on the obvious hand they have found a way to win every game. The question isn't whether or not they can equal the '85 team, as much as the pundits will play this card increasingly more frequently until they lose. The question is "how good are the Bears?"

Is their defense "that" good? Some here have even criticized their D from Monday's game.

Is their O really as "offensive" as it showed against the Cardinals or was that a typical poorformance from a road favorite?

Cowherd's basic point was that a solid argument could be made to justify virtually any position with regard to the Bears.

They could be a "total" team which added a talented but relatively "green" offensive unit while returning one of the best defensive teams from last year.

But, you could easily argue that they are very suspect and inconsistent ... especially away from Soldier Field ... (they still play there right?) ... and have been overly lucky to skate by unscathed thusfar.

You could also argue that they are as good as any when they are "on" but very average or worse when they are not.

Is their defense "lucky" or "opportunistic?"

Have they been pulling 4 leaf clovers out of their a$$ or is there really a logical football-based explanation why they keep scoring with their offense spectating from the sidelines?

I don't have the answers, but I really do think that Cowherd made good points.

As far as my opinion, I think they are a fairly sound team which has benefitted from a friendly schedule. With their division as it is, I would expect them to continue their winning ways for the most part, and it will be difficult for anyone else to steal the home-field advantage from them come post-season -- especially prior to the NFC Title game.

Put that all together and I like their chances to go to the Super Bowl.


...


Just don't quote me on this ....

[FormerHoya]

BTW, nowhere did I say that Bears were headed to the Super Bowl (although in my sick little head I have wonderful dreams about that kinda thing, right?). All I said was that it was a great game.

Also, Jack. These aren't your father's (meaning 2 years ago) Patriots. They're almost as bad as your fantasy team.

[Gold Hoya]

Great, Mike Brown is out for the season yet again. And someone is coming to our DC-based, mostly Kornheiser-worshipping talkboard and quoting Colin Cowherd.

Almost time to start the Lou Piniella moaning thread...

[Hank Scorpio]

Colin Cowherd is perhaps the worst broadcaster in the history of sports broadcasting. Click the following link if you are having a hard time believing that

firejoemorgan.blogspot.com/2006/01/12-minutes-of-hell-with-colin-cowherd.html

[One]

With the exception of Monday night, the Bears have absolutely pounded everybody they have played - all over by halftime. You can only play the teams they put on your schedule, so I won't apologize for their 6-0 start. And yes, their defense is that good.

That said, I'm far from sold on The King (or The Queen, as FormerHoya and I were calling him Monday in the midst of his 6 turnover performance). I also agree with RDF that they need to run the ball more. No reason to have abandoned it the way they did Monday just because they fell behind by a touchdown early.

I also agree that Carolina may be the class of the NFC - they started 0-2 without Steve Smith, but have rolled since he came back.

Jack, your Pats will get their come-uppance next month. I have a case of Busch Heavy (or whiskey, your choice) that says so - can we wager on this board?

[One]

Also, Formerhoya, great Cap Boso reference - that was a great win over the J-E-T-S, Jets, Jets, Jets. He was no Robocop James Thornton, but he was ok.

[TBird41]

one said:

With the exception of Monday night, the Bears have absolutely pounded everybody they have played - all over by halftime. You can only play the teams they put on your schedule, so I won't apologize for their 6-0 start. And yes, their defense is that good.

I thought for a second I might have been transported to an alternate universe where da Bears crushed the Vikings, but then I checked, and it seems that it was, in fact, a close game that the Vikings choked away. I was a little worried there for a second.

www.nfl.com/gamecenter/recap/NFL_20060924_CHI@MIN

[Jack]

one said:

Jack, your Pats will get their come-uppance next month. I have a case of Busch Heavy (or whiskey, your choice) that says so - can we wager on this board?

You're on, but let's make it a bar tab when you come out for a Hoyas game this season, assuming you can make it to the end of the night without Big Game taking you down.

The Pats are being underrated by everyone right now just because they don't have any receivers people have heard of. They may still take a few more lumps, but they will have it together by end of the season. Only SD and Denver scare me right now.