There’s no denying it now: The Bears are for real
Call them lucky, I know I have.
Call them flukes – I’ve done that, too.
But there’s really no disputing it now: The Bears are for real.
All eyes were on the Eagles heading into Sunday. They were one of the hottest teams in the league with one of the hottest quarterbacks, and many people believed that they were the best team in the NFC. But while all eyes were on Michael Vick, Jay Cutler stole the show in the Bears’ 31-26 victory.
Cutler completed 14-of-21 passes for 247 yards and four touchdowns, but more importantly he didn’t throw an interception. His offensive line, which has improved over the past three weeks or so, gave him plenty of time to find open receivers and he shredded a depleted Philadelphia secondary. He displayed tremendous poise and confidence, and he never forced the ball (something that has become a habit of his) into coverage. He now has nine touchdowns to just three picks in his last four games for a Chicago team that is now one full game ahead of Green Bay (which lost to Atlanta on Sunday) in the NFC Central.
Vick, on the other hand, spent most of the game trying to avoid a Bears’ front four that dominated the trenches. He did complete 29-of-44 passes for 333 yards and two touchdowns, but he was picked off for the first time all year (in the red zone, of all places) and he gained most of his yards through the air in the fourth quarter when Chicago was playing prevent. He was good, but Julius Peppers (who has been worth his huge contract, even if he isn’t racking up sacks) and the Bears were better.
At 8-2, the Bears are now in great position to make the postseason but they still have a tough row to hoe. They’re at Detroit next week, but then play the Patriots at home, the (rejuvenated?) Vikings in Week 15, the Jets in Week 16 and the Packers in Week 17. The season could still wind up in the gutter, but if they play like they did on Sunday against Philadelphia, then Da Bears will be playoff bound.
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Any discussion of the Bears needs to have an asterisk next to their record, since they lost week 1 at home to the Lions. Only due to a poor interpretation of a bad rule allowed them to be gifted with a W that game. And that doesn’t even count the non-call of pass interference in the end zone on the following play…
Yes, I refuse to let that one go.
Anthony Stalter the correct analogy “row to hoe” not “road to hoe”. None the less the Bears still have a lot of work ahead to prove they are for real.
No matter what the Bears do, people like Uncle Miltie, will never give them respect.
There are lots of bad calls, bad rules and lucky wins by every team. But, once a Bear-hater always a Bear-hater. Afraid asterisks don’t mean anything in the NFL.
The Bears yesterday played well, Cutler played well and that is the CURRENT news.
Mr. EJCartman, why is it that the BEARS still have to prove that they are for real?
Prior to yesterday the Eagles were the hottest team with the hottest QB (Superman, I think he was called). But the Bears still need to prove that they are for real??????
Perhaps instead of criticizing Mr. Stalter’s analogies you should read up on football.