"are you trying to say the Bears defense was not overrated?"
Yes, that is exactly what I'm saying as are others in this thread. I agree, the Bears should have double-teamed Steve Smith on nearly every play, however, the cover 2 scheme the Bears use is intended to have the safeties act as the double-team on the deep routes. The safeties, and cornerbacks, blew their defensive roles, though.
"Trying to deny that weather in Chicago does not inhibit offenses is a little crazy."
Well, now I know why the Bears offense was so stagnant.
"I do not know the Bears schedule for every game but they played a lot of teams that couldn't score many points to begin with."
They held Carolina, Atlanta, and Washington to a combined 13 points! All three are in the top-half of the league in scoring.
the Bears Defense shut down everyone's offense this season. Yup, the "great" Jeff Garcia was just shut down by the vaunted Bears defense. From above posts, I think its about time Steve Smith got some credit. The Bears didn't choke, they just weren't good enough to stop Smith. If this had been the only game that Smith had lit them up in then that would be a valid arguement, but Smith had over 150 yards and two touchdowns (one rushing) last time these two teams played. Smith wasn't NFL leader in yards for a reason, he torched the Bears defense and there is nothing else to it (wonder if Muhammed wishes he was back in Carolina now?).
Actually, YYM, not to split hairs but I don't believe Smith scored a TD last time Bears and Carolina played, at least not receiving.
No Panther scored a touchdown against the Bears in their week 11 matchup.
That's right. I forgot they were held to a field goal.
Smith did have over 150 yards receiving in that first meeting, though. Yes, YYM, Steve Smith is an amazing wide receiver and deserves the respect and admiration that goes along with that ability. Anybody seen a stat on how many dropped passes Moose had yesterday? He's been pissing me off with that recently.
In all fairness to Smith and the scoring in the first meeting. Smith was just back from an ingury and wasn't at his best. That game was truly won by the Bear defense and that may not have been any different if Smith had been completely healthy. Once again though, can't go back and change time. As far as this Post, I'm done here. I'm trying to be fair to all the possibilities pro/con wise and all some of you are doing is speaking out of hate for a team. I hate the White Sox, but when they won the WS, I congratulated all the White Sox fans for what that team accomplished. When the Bears lost yesterday, they nor I made no excuses for losing outside the fact that they couldn't get it done. That is refreshing compared to Pittsburgh players who even in winning still whine and crab about officiating. Mistakes happen...deal with it! The so called facts that these so called football fans keep coming up with just tells me that their knowledge of football is as reasonable as the respect they have for the other people opinions on this post.
How 'bout it snare! I think he had at least 4 drops. And this wasn't an isolated game, either. He has dropped A LOT, regardless if it was Orton or Grossman tossing the ball. Something about his attitude rubs me the wrong way, too. It almost seemed like he was protesting the fact that Orton was the QB by how he was playing. I don't know if he's a team player.
I am very familiar with Chicago weather as half my family comes from Chicago. You are right Chicago is not the only city with bad weather, but Chicago has just about the worst weather of all NFL cities. Sure other cities get cold but the wind combined with the cold is an offense killer. They played 8 games in Chicago, one game in Green Bay, one game in Cleveland, one game in Pittsburgh which contributes to lower scoring games on average. Sure the Bears won a lot of their games against really bad teams and even held some bad teams to very low scores, help to keep their overall PA average total lowest in the league. When the Chicago defense faced good teams their defense didn't look that great. Cincinnatti scored 24 points, Cleveland scored 20 points, Pittsburgh scored 21, Minnesota scored 34. In the last three games they played the gave up 80 points. To put the Bears of 2005 into perspective heres what they accomplished: They beat Detroit twice, and Green Bay twice big deal. They split with Minnesota and gave up 34 points in the loss. 5 wins within their weak division. They beat Baltimore, Atlanta, San Francisco and New Orleans. None of which were playoff teams They beat two teams that made the playoffs during the entire season Carolina and Tampa Bay. True they held Carolina to only three points in Chicago and lets face it Tampa Bay lost by three points not exactly an offensive minded team. They did play some playoff calibre teams during the season like Washington, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati. 3 losses. The Bears only played 5 games against playoff teams during the season and lost 3 out of five of them. Of course it is an advantage for all teams to play at home, but to say playing a large percentage of games in cold windy wether is not an advantage for a defense's statistics, is ludicrous. They played Minnesota (an indoor team)outdoors in Chicago and held them to 3 points. They face the same team indoors and Minnesota wins 34 to 10. Most of the good offenses they played scored well against them. Bottom line 11 wins, 9 of them against non-playoff teams. 3 of the wins against decent teams. I am considering Minnesota a decent team. Chicago's record against decent teams 3 wins and 5 losses. Like I said their statistics and record misrepresented their level of play. All a team can do is win wherever they are asked to play. The fact remains in favorable weather conditions yesterday, against a playoff team the Chicago defense showed the world how good they aren't. By the way. I like the Bears. The 85 Bears were my favorite of all time. I was rooting for them yesterday. I am just calling like I see it. They had no business comparing their defense to the defense of 85 any more than the Colts could compare themselves to the undefeated Dolphins. No Bear hater hear.
That is refreshing compared to Pittsburgh players who even in winning still whine and crab about officiating. Mistakes happen...deal with it! The so called facts that these so called football fans keep coming up with just tells me that their knowledge of football is as reasonable as the respect they have for the other people opinions on this post. I also won (my pools and bets) and yes, I'm still complaining about the officiating. Not complaining and demanding something be done only sanctions poor officiating. It's time the NFL gets serious about this issue. Saying "we're sorry" doesn't cut it.
And another thing. Here's a concept. How about full time refs? Football can afford it. Why not?
You know what Atheist - enough. Don't even count the loss to Minnisota when they scored 34 points cause we weren't even trying. We already had the bye and were set in the playoffs. Not many people on this site were saying that the bears defense was a good as 85 so your not going to win that arguement either. Just let it lie man your going to give yourself an ulcer. Most Bears fans on this site are saying "they didn't do it yesterday". Carolina played better, bottom line. Why don't you take it easy on the stats about a team that isn't even in the playoffs anymore. Your precious defense of 85 is still sacred. Just like the Dolphins precious undefeated year is also still sacred. No Bear hater hear. posted by Atheist at 4:51 PM CST on January 16 Then please stop rubbing salt in our wounds.
Then please stop rubbing salt in our wounds. i don't know if it's that as much as it's fun to knock people off their pedestals. i think the bears believed a little too much of their own hype.
i don't know if it's that as much as it's fun to knock people off their pedestals. i think the bears believed a little too much of their own hype. posted by ninjavshippo at 6:30 PM CST on January 16 OK I have to. This is coming from a Packer fan who knows about getting knocked off a pedestal. Does it help your pain of not even making it?
You are right Chicago is not the only city with bad weather, but Chicago has just about the worst weather of all NFL cities. Sure other cities get cold but the wind combined with the cold is an offense killer. Is this a reference to the "windy city" nickname? That term is apparently a misnomer, at least if you're talking about meteorological windiness. In that category, Boston has the highest average wind speed of any major US city. Outside of a major city, Mount Washington is of course the windiest place on average, with Blue Hill Observatory just south of Boston being second. Soooo...if you're considering wind plus cold to be a significant factor in creating challenging weather for football, seems like Foxboro MA would certainly be a lead contender.
For me and most chicago bear fans charles tillman was like charles bartman
OK I have to. This is coming from a Packer fan who knows about getting knocked off a pedestal. Does it help your pain of not even making it? well, yes, duh. here's your degree in obvious-onomics. your pain helps make me whole again. thanks. :x
I'll save my predictions on Smith's future I'd wait about 80 tds just so we can compare apples to apples If he could start in the Superbowl on a partially healed ankle fracture I would be sure.
I think its about time Steve Smith got some credit. The Bears didn't choke, they just weren't good enough to stop Smith. ...umm, The guy fell down, twice!!!, that was 100 yards and 12 points right there. Technically the Bears could have lined up with 10 players and left Smith uncovered and the results would have been the same. If two uncontested TDs against the #2 NFL defense is not choking, then its close!
Maybe the Bears defence was just pissed that the coach of the year benched them all the last game of the season. They lost about 5 records they would have set. One record would have been a franchise record. The "coach of the year" said that was not important. He also sat a quarterback that only started 1 game during the season. Does anybody else think Lovie was the best coach after this game?
Maybe Steve Smith is Lovies illigetiment son and wanted him to have a career day. Because he sure never did anything to stop that ONE guy.
it was a good game i like both teams they got my respect great year we shall both team next yr in the playoffs hunt again
Good call lbb on the Windy City nickname which some contest actually has to do with "boosterism".
You're right, redsnare (and lbb). "Windy City" has nothing to do with actual wind, though probably 98 percent of those who've heard the nickname assume it does.
Nice link, snare. I was always under the popular belief "Windy City" referred to the blowhard politicians, not so much from boosterism. Learn something new everyday.
Skydivemom I understand you are upset, but I will have to agree that the Bears were overrated and I personally think Carolina is the better team. However, I do understand how you feel since I am an avid Michigan football fan, damn the Sun Belt. And yes, Steve Smith did not score a touchdown in the first game, I was wrong. I'll pause here so you can insert your reply about the Lions____________.
"popular belief 'Windy City' referred to the blowhard politicians"
Likewise, until a couple years ago when I saw something about it in the Straight Dope or some-such. Stupid urban legends. In defense of the public misperception, though, the wind coming off the lake can be brutal.
However just like the "Catch 2" against Green Bay was the birth of T.O the asshole, this year will be the birth of another amazing talent whose mouth will overshadow his incredible play. Mark my words. He hasn't done anything to show this kind of behavior yet but neither did T.O. until that game. My nomination for "most asinine comment ever." I'm sure stupider things have been said here, but I wasn't around for them. Please disconnect your keyboard and never, ever use it again.
charles tillman was like charles bartman Any relation to Steve Bartman? Just checking.
You know what YYM, I was wrong to slam the guy about the Packers. It doesn't help my pain so I am not going to slam the Lions. All team fans (except for the one who wins the big one) are going to feel pain this year. In the great words of YYM "Wait till next year!"
