During the pre-game show everyone was talking about how bad the Bears were going to pummel the Cardinals. I was hoping that the team wasn’t buying into this and would remain focused. However after the Cardinals went up 17-0, I was just about to turn the game off. Having nothing else to do, I decided to stick around and see how bad we got beat. Grossman was stinking it up big time, definitely the worst game of his career. (he looked like current day Brett Farve out there!) With time running down in the 3rd quarter and the Bears trailing 23-3, the Bears D broke through and caused Leinart to fumble the ball which lead to a touchdown by Mike Brown. Once again, I was about to turn it off but that play gave me some glimmer of hope that we wouldn’t get beat too bad.
After another fumble by the Bears in the 4th, the Cardinals appeared to score a touchdown and take a 29-10 lead. I text messaged a fellow Bears fan and told him that the guy was down by contact and that it should be reviewed. The Bears coach indeed challenged the play and it was overturned. Later in the 4th the Cardinals figured to give James the ball and have him run some time off the clock. Urlacher would have none of this as he stripped the ball right out of his hands and it amazingly ended up going to another Bears player who ran it back for a touchdown. 23-17 now, holy crap. The Bears D was really kicking it up a notch and doing everything they could to get us back in the game. They managed to force the Cardinals to have to punt and that gave some hope that we could hopefully get some good field position. The rookie Hester caught the ball, made a few moves and then took off like freaking Superman. I knew he had speed, but I think he saved the best for that play of the season. Once he got going, I knew no one was going to stop him. 24-23 now Bears with the lead with just under 3 minutes to go. I was so nervous and almost out of breath I couldn’t text message my friends anymore. One of them called me who was having the same illness to share his glee with me.
I knew the game wasn’t over yet though, 3 minutes was alot of time and they only needed a field goal. Leinart looked like a veteran marching his team down the field which had me greatly concerned. So with 52 seconds to go, they got setup for a 40 yard field goal. There was some irony here as the kicker would be non-other than ex-Illini Neil Rackers. (mentioned many times in pre-game as future hall of famer) I was hoping the Bears would block it, but he somehow managed to get the kick away. What the hell? Wide left! The Bears ran out of the clock and somehow managed to win the game.
I’m still speechless as I write this tonight. This game brought back memories of the awesome Illinois / Arizona basketball game when Illinois trailed 15 points with 4 min to go. Defense won that game as well, so it was special to see it again tonight. So to steal a line from Al Michaels: “Do you believe in miracles???”. There was something very amazing from the way the Bears came back tonight. I think this could be the turning point in the season where they put it all together. Grossman had a horrible game, but he’s still young and will learn from these mistakes. (if not, we can play Griese at a moment’s notice!) :) So the train-ride continues at 6-0 after almost derailing in the southwest tonight. All I am left to say is WHEW!!!!! GO BEARS!!
Full story from ChicagoBears.com
Changes have already begun for the Cubs just one day after the end of the regular season. First change was the resignation of Cubs president Andy MacPhail. One day later, the Cubs announced that Dusty Baker’s contract would not be renewed. Personally I think Dusty did the best he could with the healthy players he was given. The first year he was here he got us 5 outs away from the World Series, that’s not too shabby if you ask me. I think in this case though, change is good. I think it’s time we stop revolving the team around Wood and Prior. We need to bring in decent players who can handle the fundamentals of the game. (things like being able to bunt the ball, get hits on a regular basis, busting your tail to get to first base on EVERY play) I think we should hang on to a few players including: Zambrano, Lee, Hill, Murton, Ramirez, Barrett, and Pierre. Everyone else is on the bubble in my opinion. Please dear God, get rid of Dempster. 2005 he was great, 2006 he was not so great. That’s one of the faults I had with Dusty is that he kept putting him in there time and time again hoping he’d break out of his slump. Enough is enough.