Oct. 26, 2006

Possible Super Bowl Contenders: NFC Part One

STEPHEN HAYWARD
sjh001@marietta.edu

The Chicago Bears made a miracle comeback versus the Arizona Cardinals, causing Cards Coach Dennis Green to blow a fuse in the post-game press conference. Both public displays, the outburst and the apparent utter collapse of the Cardinals late in the game, will go down in history. The 20-point Bears comeback is the largest ever without an offensive touchdown; once again, it is the Bears Defense that wins games, not Rex Grossman. Matt Leinart looked stunning, leading the Cardinals to scores out of the gate; however, unlike the USC Trojans, Arizona doesn’t know how to win. The offensive coordinator was later fired by coach Green; however, this reporter wonders if Green should be the one handed the walking papers. Dennis Green was once the coach in Minnesota, the team that, despite a great offense led by a healthy Daunte Culpepper, Randy Moss and Chris Carter, failed to win the big games at the end of the season. Which leaves me waiting for the Jim Mora-esque press conference, with Dennis Green shouting “playoffs, …playoffs, I just want to win a game!” then slamming the microphones with a helmet a la Miami Hurricanes.

The Bears, or Da’ Bears as made famous by Chris Farley on SNL, may have one of the best defenses in the league, but their offense still needs work. Rex Grossman has promised, and if he can stay healthy and the Arizona game was only an aberration, the Bears will be in the NFC Championship for sure. However, Safety Mike Brown will be out indefinitely after undergoing foot surgery, this could end the Super Bowl Hopes. I say it could happen because the defense is still one of the best in the league, but with the loss of Pro Bowler Brown, the franchise leader is defensive.