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