The Chicago Bears played today with two chances at making the playoffs: win and the Vikings lose and they're division champs; win and have Dallas and Tampa lose and they are the wild card. All of this could have been avoided save for 11 seconds on a warm day in mid October in Atlanta. Kyle Orton had led the team on an 11 play, 77 yard drive for a touchdown and a 20-19 lead with only 11 seconds to play. A poorly executed squib kick and even worse coverage by the Bears secondary (specifically a rookie who was out of position) and a 48 yard field goal as time expired and the Bears snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.
There was some thoughts of that game today, but as we gathered at the local pub, we had nothing but playoff thoughts in our heads. The Giants were going to show up on the last game of the season because that's the way Coughlin coaches them. Dallas could easily lose to Philly, in Philly. We weren't sure how Tampa was going to lose to Oakland in Tampa, but Oakland beat the Texans the week before and that's who the Bears were playing this week, so maybe there was a chance.
Then Danieal Manning entered the picture.
With the Bears up 10-0 in the second quarter, Manning went to cover the short zone while the best receiver on the Texans ran by him wide open and uncovered. He was out of position. Just as he was out of position against the Colts in the Super Bowl when he also allowed a touchdown. Still up 10-7, he then fumbled the ensuing kickoff and gave the ball right back to Houston in Bear territory. 14-10 and all of the momentum changed. The defense couldn't recover and the offense couldn't score enough points. You can take the easy way out and blame the whole defense or the whole offense or say there was still a half of football to be played or that Gould's onside kick was horrible. But the reality is, Manning lost the game with those two plays.
So now the long offseason begins. We'll watch the playoffs, if convenient. We'll celebrate the Super Bowl and it's commercials. Then we'll anticipate draft day and the start of summer camp.
Only 99 days until opening day for the Cubs.
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2 comments:
So we'll all just cheer for our NFC North Vikings! Just like I cheered for the Bears in the Super Bowl.
Or you could spend your time figuring out how you are going to accumulate enough quarters to pay for the hugely increased parking meter fees that will take effect now that Mayor Daley has mortgaged Chicago's future.
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