My Friends,

 

What with Christmas coming the day after the Lions game and then the excitement of Boxing Day, things have a way of getting away from you. So this week I gotta go two-for-one.

 

It’s hard to believe that the Bears would have lost to Detroit had Mike Williams not gift-wrapped his third drop of the day, in the endzone as time expired for what would have been the winning score. The third quarter last Sunday was especially brutal for Ron Rivera’s defense, and it couldn’t have been because they were tired as the Bears held the ball for close to 21 minutes in the first half.  The defense made more critical mistakes as the game wore on, and you have to think that if Mike Martz and the offensive coordinators the previous two weeks have been figuring out the Bears scheme and adjusting at halftime, future playoff opponents will as well. Or could it be that Rivera simply hasn’t been switching up his coverages at halftime since the Bears clinched a playoff spot?

 

It’s true that the chunks of yardage the defense has been giving up lately is scary, especially with the playoffs looming. But I also think there’s a method to Lovie Smith’s madness. The run defense, which had suffered immediately after Mike Brown went down, has suddenly found its stride again, giving up an average of only 75 yards per game over the last three weeks. As we all know, it’s been the pass defense that has been awful, but again, all this started after the Bears clinched the division. Since then Smith has taken advantage of the Bears’ conference lead to rest guys like Nathan Vasher, Charles Tillman and Todd Johnson. Something tells me they wouldn’t have been out as long as they were if the race were tighter.

 

Heck, Tillman finished the game against the Bucs where he hurt his back, but he got the following week off, while Vasher showed no ill effects from his pulled hammy and Johnson returned from his ankle sprain on the carpet in Detroit. And you have Terry Johnson’s situation as well. My guess is that Smith is purposely holding key players out just so his defense can have the confidence that things will be fine once they get everybody back on the field. He’s letting the little nicks heal while continuing to pile up wins. The experience the younger guys are getting doesn’t hurt, either. That being said, I sure don’t want to see Devin Hester covering anybody on defense come January. Maybe he’ll get over those yips he had fielding punts last Sunday as well.

 

But it was good to see the offense put together another mistake-free game, scoring on half of their possessions as both Rex Grossman and Brian Griese were content to take what the Lions were giving them. They got everybody into the act, too, with ten different Bears catching at least one pass. Only Johnny Gilmore was left out. Maybe he was confused running routes on artificial grass.

 

As far as this week’s game goes, I haven’t heard this much whining in Chicago since Bush won Florida back in 2000. After getting their stocking stuffed with one of only two Christmas games last season, could it be that Katherine Harris took a job with NBC and conspired to give the Bears/packers a crummy time slot this year, too? That must be it. Evildoer. But as bad as it is for us Chicagoans, it’s that much worse for the unwashed masses who literally follow this week’s visitor to each game.

 

Yah, hey! I betcha dose cheeseheads comin' down by here to see dere washed-up veteran QB's last game are pissed off dat dey won't be able to make it back dere by da supper club over by dere for pull tabs and brandy at midnight, and dat da hotel rooms in Chicago eeder are full or cost lotsa doe. Hafta stock up on jerky and a half pint forda ride back at da Mars Cheese outlit onda way. Save onda flatlander tax, dontcha know?

 

All this hand wringing gives me agita, but I’ll take a Zantac and soldier on. After all, a 7:15 start was a distinct possibility from the day the NFL published the schedule back in April, so let’s just enjoy it. Bogie put it best:

 

What have the football gods laid at our doorstep for the final regular season game of the year??? Just the oldest rivalry in football! The Bears against a cheesy team from the north with a glimmer of hope, its team hurler with a career decision, real football weather, the nation watching, veteran broadcasters to cover the circus, and . . . the POLISH FEAST!!  Oh, did I forget? It all comes on New Years Eve!!  My juices are flowing...the flags will fly in the South Lot ...see you there in spirit or in person!  HAPPY NEW YEAR!

 

Stop by for a cabbage roll and a toast to a championship in 2007. At least one of them will surely keep you warm and toasty!

 

LBF

12/27/2006