If you even have a passing interest in football, do not miss this game. You will be watching one of the most successful teams in history, the guy who will likely be remembered as the best QB in history, and what is already one of the greatest team rivalries in sports history. Personally, I'm fully geeked for this.
By the way, you may not know this, but there is a game going on over in the NFC too.
Here's the thing: Chicago, at home, needed overtime to defeat the team that DVOA had rated as the 26th best team in during the regular season. Yes, in spite of all the fears, Rex Grossman played okay, leaving Brian Griese to continue to pace in circles while muttering "I'm ready to play coach" OCD-style for another week. Whoopee. Everyone who feels confident in Rex raise your hand... yes, we see you back there, Mrs. Grossman.
Here's another thing: The Bears vaunted D has been on a downward slide and I saw no suggestions of a reversal, did you? As they have been playing, the Bears D is not particularly better than the Saints D, which is equally mediocre. The comparative defenses are a wash.
On the other side of the ball, the Saints do have an offense and it is clicking nicely. They have Brees and they have lots of weapons. Meanwhile, the Bears have Rex. Advantage: Saints.
Then there are the much vaunted intangibles. In the Bears favor, a domed team has never won a playoff game outdoors, and we are likely to have particularly nasty weather at Soldier Field.
The Saints, for their part, have fans who infamously wear profane t-shirts. How many fans with F*ck Da Bears shirts will be in the crowd on Sunday? Normally I would have said none, because they would all be dangling by their necks from the "L" before they got near the game. But it turns out Maxim is searching for the girl who wore the F*ck Da Eagles shirt on national TV, so there will almost certainly be a throng of imitators willing to risk getting tossed into Lake Michigan for their 15 minutes.
Article comments
1 - Matthew T. Sussman
Anyone else think the Saints should put the eye black vertically on their right cheek in support of Drew Brees?
2 - RJ Elliott
Dude. I know I'm wrong about 42% of the time, but:
Bears Win Big.
It's gonna be like 34 degrees out there on Sunday. The Saints are a warm-weather dome road team. And they barely won at home last week. They're toast.
3 - david mazzotta
I wish I was wrong only 42% of the time.
Dude. I can't imagine the Bears winning big. They aren't the team they were in the first half of the season.
And beating the Eagles (who were probably the best team in the NFC) means a lot more than beating the lame-ass Seahawks (who were one of the worst).
Although, I will be secretly rooting for the Bears because I still hope to spend Super Bowl Sunday in Chicago at Ditka's.
4 - RJ Elliott
Did anyone else see Ditka on PTI the other day? The guy was barely coherent, but he sure sounded like he's seriously thinking about running against Dick Durbin for the Senate in 2008...
5 - alessandro nicolo
Either way, is the NFC going to pull a National League St. Louis Cardinals thingy in the SB?
6 - Mark Saleski
what, you mean that they'll take themselve way too seriously and then be surprised when a superior team comes in a beats the snot out of them? gee, i hope so.
7 - david mazzotta
I'm heading out to watch the late game with TInkerbell, but that Vasher interception seals it.
Four turnovers and an intentional grounding in the end zone. Pathetic.
RJ - I am not worthy. And neither are the Saints.
8 - RJ
I suspect the AFC Championship Game will be a bit closer... :-/
9 - david mazzotta
Wowie Zowie what a game!! I told you you should watch!!
I take solace in the confirmation of myself as a first rate negative indicator.
10 - Matthew T. Sussman
If it makes you feel better*, NE-NO was also my call. I just didn't want a black coach in the Super Bowl.
* - Probably doesn't.
11 - RJ Elliott
I was *cough* 2-0 *cough* this week...
So maybe I'm only wrong 41% of the time? :-/
12 - david mazzotta
Black coaches are the new Jerome Bettis homecoming. I can't wait to hear Michael Irvin's take.
I'm glad to see Dungy in. He deserves it after building up that Tampa team years ago only to have Coach Chuckie end up reaping the benefit.