Chicago (no) Hope

So, all hope is lost in Chicago, right? The Bears lost their first game last night, to the disappointing Dolphins and now their season is over. Or so the American sports media (admittedly known for their over dramatics and blowing things out of all proportion) would have you believe. Take Sports Illustrated's Don Banks for example. In his Week 9 'Snap Judgements' column, he claims that after the defeat, we're no longer laughing at the lowly 'Fins (touted by SI writer Paul Zimmerman as a Superbowl candidate prior to the season) or queuing up to 'deify' the Monsters of the Midway. Excuse me for a second, but I've had a hard time finding comment on the Bears excellent start to the season at all, let alone putting them right up there with the big bearded guy in the sky. Well, barring the parallels drawn up this week with the Superbowl-winning 1985 side. And those parallels were only drawn up because Chicago were facing Miami - the only team that beat 'Da Bears' in '85, derailing Chicago's bid for a perfect season (and yes, I do see the irony in that happening again 21 years later, against the same damn team).

From this side of the pond it feels more like we're being fed a constant diet of Manning versus Brady, with a side order of whatever accident has befallen Ben Roethlisberger this week. Chicago has been quietly dismantling potential playoff contenders (such as Buffalo, whom were embarrased 40-7) and even last year's NFC Superbowl representatives Seattle, who were soundly sent home on the wrong side of a 37-6 demolition (and not having Shaun Alexander running the ball is not an excuse, it takes more than one guy to lose a football game). Yet all the Bears get is a big fat "Well, duh." This is because the Bears have a comparatively easy schedule. Although quite how anyone could describe their upcoming three week East Coast road trip (at the New York Giants, at the New York Jets, at New England) as 'easy' is beyond me.

The Bears have been impressive this season. No one expected Rex Grossman to play as well as he has, certainly not to post the league's best passer rating after 6 weeks. Yes, he was a major factor in the near-defeat at Arizona and almost solely responsible for the loss to Miami (3 INTs and a lost fumble), but he's doing well for a quarterback who has played just 8 professional, competitive games (largely due to season-ending injuries). He's going to make mistakes. Even, dare I say it, Peyton Manning makes mistakes. The question for the Bears is whether they can limit and overcome those mistakes - a feat not made any easier by the loss of Mike Brown for the season - and hold it together for the rest of the year. If they can, then they'll be back in Miami come February for Superbowl XLI. I very much doubt the Dolphins will be, Don.

more info:
www.cnnsi.com
www.nfl.com
www.chicagobears.com
www.miamidolphins.com