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[Steve Behrens]

((( You want the Bear love !?!?!  YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE BEAR LOVE!!!!)))

http://www.hbo.com/infl/columns/articles/kalb/20061030kalb.shtml


FAST FORWARD TO SUPER BOWL XVI: A PREVIEW OF COLTS-BEARS CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
October 30, 2006

I write this in October, with more than half the regular season and all of
the postseason to be played. This fact does not bother me, because I have
seen enough to determine that the Super Bowl in February will be contested
between the Indianapolis Colts and the Chicago Bears. I write this not to
boast of any loyalty, nor to jinx any fan of either team. I write this
because the teams are on a collision course that could culminate the
greatest NFL season ever.

Last Sunday, the Chicago Bears and Indianapolis Colts each played half a
game. The Colts scored 28 of their 34 points in the second half against the
Broncos, with Peyton Manning completing 18 of 22 including all three of his
touchdowns. The Bears needed only to work hard in the first half against the
49ers. By halftime, Chicago led 41-0. Is it too much of a shot at the 49ers
to suggest the game wasn't as close as the score would indicate? The Bears
had 17 first downs, to just two for San Francisco. The Bears forced three
turnovers in the first quarter, and cashed in all three for touchdowns.

The Bears have won their last four home games by at least 25 points, and
almost have to have home games in January. The new Monsters of the Midway
are not your father's Bears. This team is almost as good offensively as they
are defensively.

A fan's sign on Sunday spelled out "Sexy Rexy." I'm not sure about the
physical appearance part, but the quarterback's stats are sure sexy.
Grossman has a passer rating of 89.6, but let's look a little deeper.

*Rex Grossman*
*At Arizona:* 0 TD 4 INT sacked 2 times Passer Rating: 10.2
*Other 6 games:* 13 TD 3 INT sacked 4 times Passer Rating: 106.9

The only quarterback with a higher passer rating than 102 is the Colts'
Peyton Manning. Grossman has played at an extremely high level this season.
The only quarterbacks who have thrown more touchdown passes in their first
seven games this season were both sired by former quarterback Archie
Manning.

By Super Bowl XVI, everyone will know everything there is to know about
Chicago's wide receivers. Muhsin Muhammed had a season in 2000 when he
caught over 100 passes, and another in 2002 when he made 16 touchdown
receptions. He obviously likes even years, and 2006 is no different. By
season's end, he'll have a career total of nearly 750 receptions. Bernard
Berrian is the deep threat. Desmond Clark is the sure-handed tight end. The
unit works well, as evidenced by the fact that the Bears lead the NFL in
points per game.

It is defense, however, where the Bears are superior to everyone else. They
have allowed just five touchdowns in seven games. One of those touchdowns
came on Sunday on an Alex Smith pass to Antonio Bryant with 6:49 remaining.
The score was Chicago 41-3 at the time.

Get this. The Bears have allowed just 32 points in the first halves of their
games this season. Take away the Arizona game, when the Cardinals scored 20
in the first half, and the Bears have allowed just 12 first-half points in
their other six games.

Chicago is averaging three sacks per game, and more than one interception
per contest. Mark Anderson has 7.5 sacks, a figure topped by only three
players in the league. And Anderson doesn't even start on the defensive
line.

Robbie Gould is having a perfect season. The Bears' kicker has made all 20
of his field goal attempts, and all 23 of his extra-point attempts.

By my guess, the Bears have a legit chance of finishing 16-0. More likely,
Chicago will finish 15-1 or 14-2. Even injuries can't derail this
locomotive. Chicago has one of the best backup quarterbacks (Brian Griese),
one of the best backup running backs (Cedric Benson), and depth on defense.

The Indianapolis Colts have more experience, and more concerns, than the
Bears. They have the best quarterback on the planet, at the absolute peak of
his career. Peyton Manning covers up a lot of weaknesses on defense.

The Colts have scored the same number of touchdowns as Chicago (23). Of
course, their defense has allowed 18 touchdowns. The Colts, who gave up 180
rushing yards in the second half against Denver, just cannot stop the run.
Indianapolis has allowed 168 rushing yards per game, and 5.4 yards per rush.


Indianapolis has a shell of the pass rush that they had even a year ago.
Last year, the Colts had 46 sacks on defense. Dwight Freeney had 11 of them.
This season, the Colts have just 10 (on pace for 23). Freeney has just
half-a-sack this year.

The Colts, like the Bears, have a D. Clark starting at tight end.
Indianapolis has Dallas Clark. The Colts, like the Bears, have a kicker that
is perfect through this point in the season. The Indy kicker is Adam
Vinatieri.

The Colts have the experience of last season. Tony Dungy won't take his foot
off the gas pedal late in the season when the division is clinched.
Indianapolis will learn from the 13-0 start of a year ago.

That brings us to the Super Bowl. Here's how I see the dream match-up.

1) The Colts will not be able to run against Chicago. Rookie Joesph Addai
will run for 1,000 yards this season, and his blocking will have greatly
helped Manning in his wonderful season. But there is no way that Tommie
Harris and company will let Addai have anything in the Super Bowl.

2) Manning will use a short passing game to move the chains against the
Bears. Nathan Vasher will cover Marvin Harrison, and blanket him. That still
leaves openings for Reggie Wayne and Brandon Stokley. The Bears will be
fortunate to limit the Colts to field goals, and not touchdowns.

3) Grossman will take chances at long-gaining plays, and have his share of
success. The Bears' offensive line will not allow more than one sack.
Grossman will be careless (think Arizona) and have at least one ball
intercepted.

4) Can Thomas Jones take advantage of the Colts rush defense, and win a
Super Bowl MVP? Or will Manning be able to make the Bears pay for Grossman's
high-risk turnover(s)?

5) This is a game in which field position will be instrumental, and
therefore one must look at the two punters. The Colts have Hunter the Punter
(Hunter Smith), who has a net punting average of only 33 yards. The Bears
have Brad Maynard, who has a net of 40.1 yards and has 10 of his 27 punts
inside-the-20. This "hidden yardage" can mean the difference between winning
and losing.

In the end, the game will come down to the kickers. Vinatieri has been good
as gold (Gould), but Gould has been as good as Vinatieri this season. And
that's why I love Lovie Smith and the Chicago Bears to win Super Bowl XVI.