I know, I know, boooooring, *yawn*. But I’m starting to get excited about this year’s Super Bowl. Mainly because I’ve been watching the Bears all year. Blame the NFL’s ridiculous blackout policies that resulted in many of this year’s Bills games being unavailable on television.
(Message to the Buffalo Bills’ braintrust: The reason I won’t go to another Bills game is not because I can (theoretically) watch them on TV, it’s because I’ve seen more violence at Bills games than anywhere else. I’ve seen people get pushed down to the floor, punched, cigarettes thrown in people’s faces, ice-balls whipped at people’s heads, over-the-top profanity, and security, which includes the Buffalo police, seems to just let it go even when it happens right in front of them. If you can’t cut down the violent bullshit so most of us can just watch the game, than I won’t be attending, much less bring anyone with me, like my nephew, who is getting to the age where he might like attending a game.)
So anyway, because of the Bills’ blackouts I began watching the Bears games and really, I don’t understand why they are getting so beat up by the sports press. Quarterback Rex Grossman, while he has had his ups and downs this year, with his quarterback rating being both the highest and lowest at some point in the season, brings an ability that many young QBs in the NFL don’t have: The ability to throw accurate long-bombs. Unfortunately, he also has the ability to throw lots of interceptions.
But the real change with this year’s Bears is how, in the beginning of the year, everyone was talking about their defense, how it was one of the best in the league, and picked up the slack when the offense broke down. At one point the Bears went something like two or three games without an offensive touchdown — and they still won those games.
Now the sports typists are calling them “the worst 13-3 team to make the Super Bowl” and taking shots over the fact that they are the only team in the NFC North to have a winning record, so they had a soft schedule, blah blah. Hogwash. There’s lots about sports journalism that bugs me and the overwillingness to pile on and trash teams and athletes is at the very top. I mean, really, it reeks of insecurity and inadequacy.
But are they right? Will the Colts have their way with the Bears on Sunday? Possibly. I don’t think the answer lies with how the Bears’ defense contains Colts QB Peyton Manning as much as how the Colts’ defense plays. There have been games where Manning and his recievers have played well, but the defense cost them the game. On the other hand, there have been games where Grossman’s QB rating has been near zero and the Bears still won.
I’m not going to make a prediction because of the same reason I don’t bet on sports: I might have to cheer for a team I don’t like just to prove my prediction right (or win my bet). I’ll just say that I’ll be cheering for the Bears on Sunday but won’t be surprised if the Colts pull it out.