SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, TX -

My Friends,

Was there ever any doubt?

With Mojo channeling and the alumni hex firmly in place, former Illinois kicker Neil Rackers’ attempt was wide left and our guys stole one. Common sense dictates your team loses decisively when your quarterback turns the ball over six times, but as our guys proved tonight, it’s quality, not quantity. The Bears turned each of their forced fumbles into touchdowns, while the Cards only managed 13 points on their half dozen takeaways, and in the end, that’s what made the difference. That, and Brian Urlacher taking over.

Be honest – how many times were the Bears written off for dead tonight? And then number 54 almost single-handedly changed the course of things. In the second half alone, Urlacher had nine tackles, four assists, two quarterback hurries, two passes defensed and the forced fumble that turned the game around. He overcame the lousy game Rex Grossman was due to have, questionable calls by an officiating crew led by rookie referee Jerome Boger, and Lovie Smith making a hoard of decisions that left you dumbfounded. Like the onside kick that went out of bounds after the Bears only offensive score, or calling for a punt block and winding up with a roughing the kicker penalty after the defense had forced the three-and-out on what became Arizona’s only scoring drive of the second half, or forgoing a field goal on 4th and ten from the Cardinals 27 trailing by 13 early in the fourth quarter.

The bottom line is that the Bears, Urlacher especially, made just enough of their own breaks and took full advantage of all of them, got a big punt return for a touchdown by Devin Hester, and had just enough luck when it counted at the end as they avoided a loss in a game they thought they would win by throwing their jockstraps on the field.

The bye week was never so timely, as the Bears now get two weeks to think about the bullet they dodged.  That was exhausting. It’s time for bed.

Perfect at the break. Who’da thunk it?

LBF

10/17/2006