What the Chicago Bears mean to me

What the Chicago Bears mean to me

I suppose “Chicago Bears” is a rather peculiar noun to fit into the classic grade school essay title, after all, in an attempt to draw forth deeper meaning from a subject, there are many subjects that hold far more weight than the outcome of a contest featuring 53 millionaires on a Sunday afternoon. Still, it is impossible for me to look at the Chicago Bears as just another sports franchise, however explaining exactly what the Bears mean to me, is not the easiest task.

I am a Chicago Bears fan, but I don’t often feel like one. I think the Superfans skit is embarrassing, as is Mike Ditka. Speaking of Ditka, I greatly prefer a calm, level headed coach like Lovie to a loudmouthed, overbearing attention whore like Ditka. I actively attempt to disprove the concept of “Bear Weather” and I think the Bears would have played even better today had the field conditions been better because their defense, the strength of their team, is predicated on speed. I absolutely believe that Rex Grossman is the future of the franchise at quarterback. I don’t hate Brett Favre. I’ve only been to Solider Field once, and it was a pre season game, this year. I think Mike Singletary was overrated as a player and continues to be as a coach. I actively try to avoid referring to the team as “we.” I like watching shootouts way more than slugfests. I want to see offense and I want to see it come via the passing game. Somewhere in my house, there’s a Bears hat and Bears coat buried away, I never wear them. I have, I believe, one Bears t-shirt, that I seldom wear. There’s no Bears bumper stickers on my car, and there won’t be even if the team wins the SuperBowl. I don’t look at games as life or death. In shot, philosophically, I am the anti-Bears fan.

However, as Thomas Jones reversed field and followed the block of Desmond Clark into the endzone, for the final nail in the Saints coffin, I had to quickly remind myself that there was one game left to win, if only to keep myself from breaking down, tears flowing, and unable to watch the rest of the game. I was still a little choked up.

How can such an unusual dichotomy exist? I’ve spent the past few days asking myself that same question.

It’s now been fourteen seasons, fifteen years, since Mike Ditka was coach of the Bears, and the first Bears game I can concretely remember watching. A cloudy mid December day, the Bears were 4 and whatever and Mike Singletary had announced his intent to retire at the end of the season. It was to be Singletary’s last game at Solider field, a game that nobody expected the bears to win, somehow they pulled it off. I watched that game with my dad, it would become a common theme over the years.

The next season Dave Wannstedt had taken over as head coach. I remember being in Wisconsin, watching the 0-2 Bears top the 40 point mark, a feat they would not duplicate until this season, demolishing the Tampa Bay buccaneers in week three at Solider. I remember my dad not shaving that morning, instead Waiting until after the game ended, and repeating that pattern for the rest of the season. It didn’t work all that well because they Bears only won 7 games that year. It was also around that time that my dad started wearing his one pair of Bears socks on gameday. Those socks would last a few more seasons, before the toes were so worn out that they no longer served their intended purpose, so we cut them off above the ankles and used the remaining part of the sock, with the logo, as armbands for another couple of seasons until they too, were too worn out to be of much use.

Somewhere around this time my dad and I also developed our touchdown high five. A testosterone infused patty-cake that marked every Bears score for almost a decade. It was silly, I’m sure it looks ridiculous, but it was our way of celebrating.

Throughout these early days of my bear fandom, I was introduced to a concept by my father that I didn’t fully understand at the time, in fact, I found it silly. Dad would turn the sound on the television down, and listen to the home call on the radio. I couldn’t understand the benefit of this, they were describing the same game on TV? Right? My father explained to me that he enjoyed the radio call more because they were actually pulling for the Bears to win on the radio, and that it was more descriptive, and that he learned so much more about the game from listening to the radio call than he did from watching the game on TV. I quickly warmed to his way of thinking, but the preference in play by play calls was only a side note to what was really happening, right there, on Sunday mornings, my love of radio was being born.

In 1997, I went to Great America with my friends on a late September Sunday. The Bears lost to the Detroit Lions 32-7, and Rashaan Salaam broke his leg, essentially ending his pro career. That was the first Bears game since the Singletary game that I didn’t watch or at least listen to on the radio, and would end up being the last game that I didn’t watch or listen to, to this very day. Every fall Sunday, three hours were invested into watching 53 men in midnight blue and burnt orange line up and play football.

Around the time that I missed that game, I began to get into football as a sport. I’d watch other games with other teams, I’d watch college football, I began to understand the ramifications of the off field aspects of the game, I also started listening to lots of sports radio.

It really doesn’t need to be said that since 1992 success hasn’t been all that synonymous with the Chicago bears organization. In the past seven days they’ve won more playoff games than they did during the rest of the fifteen years I’ve been following the team, but in the end, the fact that they didn’t win, didn’t matter all that much. The Bears defined my fall Sundays, win or lose, but through all that losing, I’d watch the playoff games and wish that it was my team on the field during those games. I’d wish that it was my Bears holding up the trophy at the end of the season, and every year, I’d see teams playing in the playoffs that were so much better than my Bears. The Bears always seemed like they had so far to go to be that good, winning something felt so impossible I think I simply resigned myself to the fate that the Bears were never going to win, and that it didn’t matter, because I loved them anyways. I loved watching them, talking about them, I loved the hope that they’d give me at the start of every season, I loved riding the rollercoaster of emotions that they’d put me through.

I’ve since learned to avoid that rollercoaster because of how often it ended in my being disappointed, but after the Bears got past Seattle, I realized that for once, it was my team on the big stage at the end of the season, my team was that good, and they had a chance, winning didn’t seem so impossible anymore. Even though I loved the team, win or lose, in the end, you still want to see them win, you cheer because of the potential for victory.

As Thomas Jones crossed the goal line, with the snow swirling, the crowd going nuts, I was sitting in my room with my radio on and my tv sound down, as dad was busy preparing dinner in the kitchen, watching the game with my mother, and you probably won't be surprised to learn that I jumped up, ran into the kitchen, and celebrated with my father, by doing that very same testosterone infused patty cake that we came up with so many years ago, as I realized then that this team was going to win the football game, that everything I've hoped for as a Bears fan the past fifteen years had finally come to fruition, that my team was going to go to the Superbowl, that the one thing you wait for, hope for, for the thousands upon thousands of hours that you invest in the team has finally paid dividend.

And then I realized that it had actually paid off long ago. Without the Bears, there is no way the relationship I have with my father would be as strong as it is. Without the Bears, I likely never would have become the giant radio dork that I am today, I would likely not go to Columbia College, and not work in radio. My life would be completely different than it is right now, and I doubt that it would be better. Which means that when I plop myself down in two weeks to watch the Bears take on the Colts in the SuperBowl, with my friends and family at our party, I will be cheering harder for the Bears than I ever have before, but win or lose, I won't be disappointed, I've taken more entertainment and more enjoyment from the team than almost anything else in my life that I didn't have any direct control over.

Most importantly, I'll get to watch the game with my dad, and win or lose, I'm probably going to cry.

Michigan/Ohio State Running Thoughts

(unexpected) This is our country ads: 2

2:52 pm: Rolled out of bed just in time to see Script Ohio. Match up of the millennium, #1 11-0 Ohio State vs #2 11-0 Michigan, yeah, I'd say that deserves a blog.

Lest anyone be unsure of where my loyalties are in this one...

HAIL, TO THE VICTORS, VALIANT
HAIL, TO THE CONQUERING HEROES
HAIL, HAIL TO MICHIGAN THE LEADERS AND BEST!

First drive saw Michigan run 7 plays, 4 passes, 3 runs and go straight down the field, couple of big plays to Manningham, and Hart took it in.

--------------MICHIGAN 7, OHIO STATE 0------------------

2:53 pm: Ginn runs it back to the 31

------------------OHIO STATE BALL AT 12:04 1st

2:54 pm: Smith swings it out to Ginn for 2 to the bottom of the field, then Smith rolls to the top of the field and hits Ginn again, this time for 9.

2:55 pm: Smith JUST overshot a wide open Ted Ginn Jr. Just past his outstretched fingertips. A little more touch and it's 6 points. 2nd and 10. Smith to Hartline on 2nd and it's 3rd and 4.

2:56 pm: Smith hits Robiskie for a 1st.

2:57 pm: Smith drops back yet again and is sacked on 1st and 10.

Injured Wolverine.

2nd and 15 Smith swung to Pittman in the flat, he didn't get anything.

3:02 pm: On 3rd and 16, Smith hits Roy Hall for 22.

3:03 pm: Pittman for the first true run of the day (the sack counts as one.... stupid CFB rules) Incomplete pass on 2nd and 5.

3:04 pm: 3rd and 5. Smith hits Hall again for the first down. 1st and goal for the Buckeyes.

3:05 pm: Smith double play action swings it out to his fullback down to the two. Pittman stuffed. 3rd and goal.

3:06 pm: Time out, Ohio State.

3:08 pm: Ohio state ties it. Roy Hall wide open.

---------------------MICHIGAN 7, OHIO STATE 7----------------

3:10 pm: Touchback.

------------------MICHIGAN BALL 5:47 1ST

3:11 pm: Henne to the air, Manningham fell, 2nd down. Mike heart for 4, 3rd down.

3:13 pm: 3rd and 6. Henne back, throws, Hits Breaston at the sticks for the first.

3:14 pm: False start, 1st and 15. Henne overthrew Manningham, that's one miss for each team.

3:15 pm: 2nd and 15. Henne throws a strike to his tight end, Butler, and it'll be 3rd and 5. Henne has to throw it away.

3:18 pm Punt down to the 20 where the buckeyes have it.

-------------------OHIO STATE BALL, 3:35 1ST

3:19 pm: Pittman for two. Smith to Gonzalez for 8.

3:20 pm: Pittman for 4 on 1st, swing out to Ginn and he gets 7 or so and the first.

3:21 pm: Smith hands to Pittman who doesn't get very far. 2nd and 9, Ginn can't hold on

Why is Mussburger whispering?

3:22 pm: 3rd and 9. 5 wides, Michigan blitzes 6, Smith tosses it up and it'll fall incomplete. Breaston will have a chance here... Fair catch at the 14.

------------------MICHIGAN BALL AT 0:40 1ST

3:24 pm: Henne steps up in the pocket but it just collapses too fast and he's down for a loss of 3.

-------------END OF THE FIRST, OHIO STATE 7 MICHIGAN 7------------

3:28 pm: Screen out to Manningham and he's able to run and pick up the first down. Wait, no, just short. 3rd and 1 and they hand to Hart and he gets stopped trying to find the corner. 4th and 1. They're way too deep to do anything but punt. Ball is fair caught at the 42.

--------------OHIO STATE BALL AT 13:26, 2ND

3:31 pm: Smith fakes the end around to Ginn and runs it himself, he gets about 6 yards and gets hammered as he goes down.

3:32 pm: 2nd and 4. Chris Wells brakes through into the secondary and he's off to the races, Touchdown. 52 yards.

------------------OHIO STATE 14 MICHIGAN 7-------------------

3:34 pm: Oluigbo, one of the upmen picks up the squib and it's run up to the 28.

-------------------MICHIGAN BALL AT 12:12 2ND

3:35 pm: Hart carries, gain of 1. Henne under big pressure again and Henne is gonna get called for intentional grounding.

3:37 pm: 3rd and a mile. Henne hits Ecker for 14 which leaves the buckeyes about 16 yards short.

3:39 pm: Flag on the punt. Much better kick this time.Personal foul, Michigan gets a first down. Roughing the.... Center. I've never seen it called before but it's still a first down. I've lost the HD feed. :(

3:40 pm: Henne gives to Hart and he doesn't get anywhere. Screen to Hart on 2nd who doesn't get very far. 3rd and 7. Henne felt heat again on that play but got it to Breaston. He was looking for Manningham. Only about 5 or 6 yards, short of the 1st. Punt team out for Michigan. Fair catch at the 8.

----------------OHIO STATE BALL AT 7:55, 2ND

3:45 pm: Pittman gets the carry, doesn't get too far.

3:46 pm: You'll not see many plays better than that. Smith out of the gun, avoids two defenders, FIRES a strike to his reciever about 18 yards downfield. Michigan DB can't wrap up and Robiskie gets free for a total of 39.

3:47 pm: Pittman for 9.

3:48 pm: 2nd and inches. Great play action by Troy Smith, and he first one over the middle to a wide open Ted Ginn Jr for 39 yards and the TD.

-------------------------OHIO STATE 21, MICHIGAN 7-----------------

Fucking firefox...

No wait, I still love you.

Couple of big plays for Michigan gets them down to the 30, then a sack THEN A 37 YARD TOUCHDOWN TO ARRINGTON AND MICHIGAN'S RIGHT BACK IN IT!

------------------OHIO STATE 21, MICHIGAN 14------------

4:05 pm: After back to back Firefox crashes, I decided it was time for a full restart. Ohio State has been matriculating their way down the field with tremendous soccess and now have the ball with 40 seconds left inside the Michigan Red Zone and the Wolverines have to call time just to get their barring.

489 yards and 35 points and we're not even done with the 1st half.

4:07 pm: From the 12. Robiskie to the 7. Time out OSU.

OSU hasn't ran once on this drive.

4:09 pm: 2nd and 6. Touchdown OSU, slant to Gonzalez.

From their 20, OSU threw every play: 12, 7, 17, inc, 13, 3, 16, 5, 8. Four to Gonzalez, including the touchdown.

-----------------------OHIO STATE 28 MICHIGAN 14-----------------------

4:11 pm: Squib kick again, really mishandeled by the Michigan upbacks but they'll hang on.

------------------------MICHIGAN BALL 0:12 2ND

4:12 pm: Michigan elects not to take a shot, and we're at the half.

----------------HALFTIME: OHIO STATE 28 MICHIGAN 14-----------------

4:29 pm: Michigan REALLY needs to put some pressure on Troy Smith. If they try to shift into a 6 or 7 DB set for the rest of the game, OSU will just start pounding Pittman, and this game will be over. Or OSU might just continue to pass successfully even against the Dime or Dollar D.

4:34 pm: Kick taken by Ginn at the 3, run up to the 29 BALL OUT!!! OSU falls on it.

----------OHIO STATE BALL 14:47, 3RD

4:35 pm: Back to back incomplete open the first drive of the 2nd half, and it's 3rd and 10. Pass to Ginn, looked like it bounced in there, not sure if they're giving him the catch or not, either way, it's 4th down.

4:37 pm: Punt goes out of bounds at the 40, net of 31. Kept it out of Breaston's hands though.

---------------------MICHIGAN BALL AT 14:04

4:38 pm: Swing out to Manningham, he gets one yard. 2nd and 9. Officially a lateral, Hart pounds his way close to the 1st down.

4:39 pm: HART HAS THE EDGE, ONE MAN TO BEAT, Hart gets shoved out of bounds but not before picking up 33 yards.

4:40 pm: Hart again, down to the 2.

4:41 pm: From the 2 and a half line, 1st and goal, Hart again, in, 5 plays, 60 yards TOUCHDOWN!

HAIL TO THE VICTORS, VALIANT....

---------------------OHIO STATE 28 MICHIGAN 21-----------------------

4:44 pm: 14 for 115 and two TDs for Hart thusfar.

4:45 pm: Ginn takes it out of the endzone and he's stuffed short of the 20.

--------------OHIO STATE BALL AT 11:51, 3RD

4:46 pm: Pittman carries, gain of 1 Troy smith under serious pressure incomplete.

4:47 pm: 3rd and 9, Timeout OSU.

4:48 pm: BIG TIME PRESSURE ON SMITH, BALL TIPPED, INTERCEPTED BY MICHIGAN!

-------------MICHIGAN BALL AT THE OSU 25!

4:49 pm: Who else? Mike Hart for a gain of 5. 2nd and 5. Hart should have lost 5, instead he lost 2, 3rd and 7.

4:50 pm: Biggest play of the game thusfar. Henne directs traffic, back. Under pressure, was going for the sideline to either Manningham or Butler, but it was nowhere close. A 39 yard field goal attempt for Rivas.

4:51 pm: Money from the right hash.

---------------OHIO STATE 28 MICHIGAN 24----------------

4:54 pm: Deep to Ginn, Michigan is fortunate there's a sideline cause without it Ginn would have run forever, somebody hits Ginn out of bounds

4:55 pm: What the hell is wrong with Bonnie Bernstein? She looks like she's possessed.

--------------------------OHIO STATE BALL AT 8:19

4:56 pm: I guess they picked the flag up? Oh wait, no, 15 yards. 9 Yards on the pass to Ginn.

4:57 pm: Wells did it in the first half, Pittman did it in the 2nd half. 56 yards for an Ohio State TD.

------------------OHIO STATE 35, MICHIGAN 24------------------

4:58 pm: Breston has to take a knee, and the Wolverines will have it at their 20.

-----------------MICHIGAN BALL AT 7:59, 3RD

4:59 pm: Timeout Michigan.

5:01 pm: 1st and 10 from the 20. Henne on 3 steps and the ball is knocked down at the line. Quick slant, going for Manningham.

5:02 pm: Hart to the left side, Can't quite get the corner but the line plows forward and it'll be 3rd and 4. Pass complete to Arrington for the 1st down.

5:03 pm: Hart, short gain. 2nd and 9 Henne back and rifles one to Arrington for another 1st down.

5:04 pm: 1st and 10 from the OSU 34 go the Wolverines. Hart gets nowhere on 1st. Henne overshoots Butler, 3rd and 10.

5:05 pm: 3 wides for Michigan. Pressure applied. Henne tried to get it to Breaston on the crossing route. It likly would not have been a 1st, but the pressure erased all doubt. 4th and 10 and the Wolverines are gonna go, might as well, too long for a FG, and too close to punt. Henne hit's Breaston short of the sticks, Breaston tried to cut back and the grass gave out under him. OSU ball on downs.

-------------------------OHIO STATE BALL AT 4:02

5:07 pm: Pittman for 4. Pittman taken down in the backfield but there's a flag near the line of scrimmage. Holding on OSU, declined. 3rd and 11 as opposed to 2nd and 16.

5:09 pm: Smith going for Nicol, incomplete. 3 and out go the Buckeyes. Michigan D holds.

5:10 pm: Kick sails out of bounds at the 34.

------------------------MICHIGAN BALL AT 2:30, 3RD

5:11 pm: Henne going for Arrington, incomplete.

5:12 pm: Hart just does not go down on the first hit. I've never seen a team at any level have this much success running on 2nd down. It's 3rd and 1. Henne deep drop, gets pounded as he delivers and the pass is intercepted. It's essentially a decent punt. It'll be reviewed.

5:15 pm: Incomplete pass. 4th and 1... Down by 11, 16 minutes to play, they're gonna punt. Henne wanted to go but from their own 42 the punt is the right call. So the pick was at the 23 and the punt will sail high good kick, bounces at the 2 and goes into the endzone. Gain of 3 yards and a slowing of momentum on the punt.

-----------------OHIO STATE BALL AT 1:15, 3RD

5:16 pm: Pittman on the carry. 5 yards. FUMBLED SHOTGUN SNAP, PICKED UP BY MICHIGAN, ALAN BRANCH WHO HAD THE INT EARLIER!

-------------MICHIGAN BALL AT 0:26, 3RD

5:18 pm: Mike Hart, Gain of 1.

-------------END OF THE 3RD, OHIO STATE 35 MICHIGAN 24---------

5:20 pm: REVERSE TO BREASTON, NEEDS ONE BLOCK, GETS TO THE THREE AND FIGHTS HIS WAY IN, TOUCHDOWN! Review on the TD. it's either a Touchdown or 3rd and goal from inside the 1. I think it's probably down at the 1, but it might be too close to call.

5:22 pm: Nope, 3rd and goal from the "half"

5:23 pm: 3 tights, They go with the ISO right and Hart hits the LB and carries him into the endzone. Michigan will go for 2.

5:25 pm: Timeout, Ohio State. Their 2nd.

Might as well just simulcast this on ESPN Classic.

5:26 pm:..................Rivas on to attempt the extra point............ good.... WTF?

---------------------- - - -

oh dear god no, I thought I wouldn't have to till tomorrow...

SO LET THE VOICE OF FREEDOM, SING OUT THROUGH THIS LAND
THIS IS OURRRRRRRRRRRRR COUNTRY
FROM THE EAST COAST
TO THE WEST COAST
DOWN THE DIXIE HIGHWAY
BACK HOME
THIS IS OURRRRRRRRRRRRRR COUNTRY

OHIO STATE 35 MICHIGAN 31------------------

5:29 pm: I still don't get the XP. At all. Kick taken by Ginn at the 9, up to the 26.

----------------OHIO STATE BALL AT 14:32, 4TH

5:30 pm: Smith underneath to Hartline for 7, 2nd and 3.

5:31 pm: Pittman picks it up. Pittman again on 1st and 10, gets 4.

5:32 pm: 5 wides, gun, out to Ginn who turns up field and gets past the first defender. He's up to the 38 of Michigan.

5:33 pm: Nikol on the catch on the crossing route. Gain of 6. From the 5 wide gun again to Robiskie for a gain of 3, 3rd and 1.

5:34 pm: FUMBLED SNAP, recovered by Michigan!

---------------MICHIGAN BALL AT 11:47, 4TH

5:35 pm: From the 31, Manningham drops what would have been an easy first down on his way over the middle. Hart on the draw could have had it if he'd gone outside, instead he went inside. Hart channeling Thomas Jones there... 3rd and 3.

5:36 pm: HUGE play. Henne to... no on in particular. 4th and 3 and Michigan needs to punt.

5:38 pm: Ginn loses 1 on the return, to the 15.

----------------------OHIO STATE BALL AT 10:38 4TH

5:40 pm: Pittman on the draw, 2, Smith rolls out and takes it for the 1st on 2nd and 8.

5:41 pm: From the 28... Time out, Michigan, both teams have burned two early here... Carr is pissed at his D.

5:42 pm: Commercial brea-

oh no

THE DREAM IS STILL ALIVE
SOME DAY IT WILL COME TRUE
THE DREAM IS STILL ALIVE
FOR FOLKS LIKE ME AND YOU
THIS IS OURRRRRRRRRRR COUNTRY!

5:44 pm: 1st and 10 and Ohio State breaks out the Statue of Liberty play... Pittman runs it out past the 50, big gain on the play.

5:46 pm: It's 3rd and 5 and I sorta zoned out for two plays there... 4 wides and they go back to the gun. Slant and it's caught by Hartline for the 1st.

5:47 pm: Pittman snowed under by the Michigan front there. Smith crushed on that last play, incomplete.

5:49 pm: From the gun, whistles and a flag hold the action. Delay, 3rd and 15.

5:50 pm: Smith avoids two potential tacklers, and now there's a flag on the Wolverines, fuck, personal foul, defender hit Smith as he was going out, but the flag came out cause of a helmet to helmet.

5:51 pm: 1st and 10. Slant to Robiskie, looks like he's just short of the marker. 2nd and inches. Smith plows... we'll see where it's spotted... First down. 6 minutes to play. Obviously, Michigan needs to hold OSU to 3 here.

5:52 pm: How do you let Robiskie get that open? Touchdown OSU.

5:53 pm: Ok, saw the replay, it was just a great route by Robiskie. It's been replayed but I don't know how he didn't get at least one down.

----------------OHIO STATE 42 MICHIGAN 31------------------

5:57 pm: Breaston awkward catch about 4 yards deep, he takes it out and fails to get to the 20, though I can't say I blame him all things considered.

---------------------MICHIGAN BALL AT 5:18 4TH

5:58 pm: Henne to Manningham, first catch for him since the 1st drive of the game.

5:59 pm: Henne to Breaston for the first. Up to the 31. Underneath to Hart who can't get the sideline. 2nd and 8, tick tick tick. Out of the gun, Henne to Manningham up to the 50, first down and more. Clock will stop momentarily while the ball is spotted.

6:00 pm: To Arrington for about 6, clock runs. tick tick tick. tick tick tick. Henne FIRES to ARRINGTON who gets HAMMERED and he pops right up with the ball.

Flag down, aw fuck. Holding on Michigan.

6:01 pm: 2nd down and 14. Henne off his receiver's fingertips. 3rd and 14, 4 down territory but don't expect them to run a play that doesn't have a high percentage of getting all 14 here.

6:02 pm: Henne steps up but he is sacked. clock is running at 2:55 and the Wolverines have to call time. It'll be 4th and 16.

6:04 pm: Here we go.... Henne straight back, all the time in the world, Deep, Manningham has position, incomplete, pass interference. Correct call, Michigan stays alive. DB didn't look for the ball.

6:05 pm: from the 41 Michigan with new life. Snagged out of the air by Manningham he has the speed to get out of bounds on the play. Gain there of 6.

6:06 pm: 2:40 to play, 2nd and 4. Henne back and fires to Mike Massey. Review? Nope.

6:07 pm: 1st and 10 Henne high for Arrintgon at the goaline, incomplete.

6:08 pm: 2nd and 10 from the OSU 16. Henne avoids the rush and hits Ecker at the 5, he's in for the Touchdown with 2:16 left. Now you have to go for 2.

6:09 pm: Hart? they spread the field. Play action to Hart but he throws to Breaston and it's good.

-------------------OHIO STATE 42 MICHIGAN 39--------------

6:10 pm: No time outs, they line up for onside. High into the air, Ginn comes down with it.

------------------OHIO STATE BALL AT 2:10, 4TH

6:11 pm: Pretty simple here, 3 runs, if they get a 1st, it's over, if not, Michigan has a few seconds. Pittman gets 9 on 1st..... not looking good for Blue here.

6:12 pm: Injured Wolverine.

6:13 pm: Pittman stuffed short of the line of scrimmage. 3rd and 2 here. Pittman gets the first, game over.

--------------------OHIO STATE 42 MICHIGAN 39 FINAL-----------

Rematch?

Let's hope.

Bears/Giants Running Thoughs

This is our country ads: 3

Don't Hold Back ads: 3

12:15 am: We're still 17 hours from kickoff and I've offically caught full Bears/Giants fever. I'm at work right now till 6 am and I've got some early, early, early free floating pregame thoughts.

12:16 am: Right now I get the feeling that we're going to witness a blowout tomorrow, I'm not saying which way it's going to go, but with the way both teams are playing this year I think we're going to see one team come in with the upper hand, and with the amount of talent stacked on both sides, as well as two high risk, high reward quarterbacks, even with the injurys, the team that has that upper hand is likly to dominate the entire contest. That's why I think the first 3 offensive series of the game for each side is going to paint a picture of what the final outcome will be.

2:12 am: AND LET THE VOICE OF FREEDOM // RING OUT THROUGH THIS LAND // THIS IS OUUUUUUUUUURRRRRRRRR COUNTRY! (Fuck you, I was WAY ahead of Simmons on this one)

2:14 am: So... Brendon Jacobs is going to be next to unstoppable inside the 10. This Bears D being so predicated on speed, there's as much weight to throw around. Lest we not forget what the Bus did to the Bears last season...

2:17 am: Plax Burris, best bad receiver in the NFL, or worst good receiver in the NFL? He's tall, fast, got a good leaping ability, but will absolutely kill you at least 5 times each season with fumbles and drops. Still the thought of him going one on one with Peanut, with Todd Johnson as the potential safety help over the top is giving me hives.

2:22 am: Mark Bradley better come to play. I'm not expecting a Berrian like performance from him, because that's just unfair, but he'd better produce at least one if not two plays for this team. I'm not saying catching bombs, but he's got to get a couple of key grabs and he has to catch the ball if and when Rex goes his way on a 3rd and long. I'm not saying he can't or won't I'm just saying I don't know if he will or not. All I know about Mark Bradley at this point is that when his legs are right, he's damned deadly in the middle of the field.

2:25 am: I'm confident the Bears will give Cedric Benson his usual handfull of carries. I want to be confident that if they go his way early, and he's chewing through that M*A*S*H unit of a Giant D, much like he did in his limited action against the 'Fins, that the Bears coaches will increase his workload. Again, I want to be confident. Want to, but I'm not.

7:33 am: 12 more hours!

10:21 am: Just returned home after breakfast with the fam. It's time for bed. I'll be up before kickoff... 9 more hours, and while you suckers are waiting with baited breath, I'll be snoozing the hours away... see you on the other side.

6:22 pm: I am awake and in a very, very foul mood. If updates are sporadic or infrequent, that is why.

6:55 pm: Tonight's Inactives:

18 K. Orton QB
21 D. Wesley CB/S
48 J.D. Runnels FB
58 D. McClover LB
68 A. Oakley C/G
80 B. Berrian WR
90 A. Garay DT

8 T. Hasselbeck QB
41 F. Walker CB
51 C. Emmons LB
54 B. Short LB
72 O. Umenyiora DE
83 S. Moss WR
91 J. Tuck DE
92 M. Strahan DE

7:14 pm: Driving rain and heavy winds at the Meadowlands tonight.

7:15 pm: Davis starting opposite Moose tonight... Odd decision, one would think they'd keep Davis in the slot. Gage and Bradly will replace Dante Wesley on special teams. Yikes.

7:19 pm: FROM THE EAST COAST, TO THE WEST COAST

7:20 pm: Bears will win tonight.

7:21 pm: Robbie Gould to kick it away. Kick taken at the 8, returned to the 28, Bradley on the tackle.

------------------GIANTS BALL AT 14:54 1ST

7:22 pm: Manning hits Burress for a gain of 17, from the 45 they'll give to Barber who is wrapped up immediately by Tommie Harris. 2nd and 9, Barber finds the hole, good job by the right side of the Giants O line, Barber into bears territory.

7:23 pm: From the Bears 36, Burress for 12 yards, flag on the play. LORD HOCKULI! Illegal formation on the giants will negate that last catch, it's 1st and 15 from the Bears 41.

7:25 pm: Bears get gashed again as Todd Johnson misses a tackle on barber, allowing him to get to the 2nd level. 3 carries, 40 yards for barber. 1st and 10 from the 20, swing out to Barber, gain of 5. 2nd down. Manning has forever to throw, pass broken up by Hunter Hillenmeyer, first play Hillenmeyer's made in about a month. 3rd and 5.

7:27 pm: Out of the gun, 3rd and 5, HUGE play. Too high for Burress. Bears hold.

7:28 pm: Feely from 33, HE PUSHED IT. BEARS BALL, SCORELESS.

---------------------BEARS BALL AT 10:47, 1ST

7:30 pm: Jones pounds for 1, 2nd and 9, Bradley in, Rex too high for Davis, ugly, ugly pass.

7:31 pm: Bears need 9. Oh my. I almost called it.

------------------------GIANTS BALL AT 9:59, 1ST

7:32 pm: Brendon Jacobs, one yard, Touchdown.

7:33 pm: FUCK

------------------GIANTS 7 BEARS 0----------------

7:35 pm: Alright, alright, spotted them 7 points. Nothing looks good right now, start the game now.

7:36 pm: A celebration penalty on the Giants TD had them kicking from their own 15, Mckey took it in at the 32 and the bears have the short field for this drive.

---------------------BEARS BALL AT 9:49, 1ST

RUN THE FOOTBALL

7:39 pm: Jones plows, gain of 3, Lob pass to Moose, broken up, good pass but why do you call that when it's this windy?

7:40 pm: Moooooooooooooooooooose, Gain of 13, great catch, great toss. First down.

7:41 pm: Thomas Jones gains 9 yards on the run. A perfect example why the casual fan thinks Jones is very good or even great, and the more astute observer knows he's very average. His lack of 2nd level speed cost him an extra 10 yards there. Jones gets the carry on 2nd and 1 and loses 4 yards.

7:42 pm: Ball slapped out of Rex's hand, Garza fell on it, flag. HOW IS THE O LINE LETTING PRESSURE GET TO REX, THE TOP THREE GIANT DE'S ARE OUT. Holding on Thomas Jones.

7:43 pm: Maynard on to punt. Gage can't save it from the endzone. Net of 18 on that punt.

--------------------GIANTS BALL AT 7:11 1ST

If the Giants score here, this game is over

7:45 pm: Giants from their 20. INTERCEPTED BY TILMAN, RETURNED TO THE GIANTS 45! Eli underthrew that ball horribly.

--------------------BEARS BALL AT 6:59 1ST

7:46 pm: Benson in the game. Rex's pass incomplete, roughing the passer on the Giants.

7:47 pm: Benson carries, gets nowhere. Loss of 1.

7:48 pm: Rex's pass intended for Davis, incomplete. 3rd and 11. Rex got it there, Davis got hit as it arrived.

7:49 pm: Davis flat out drops the ball, wouldn't have mattered. It wasn't enough for the first, but still, catch the fuckin ball.

7:50 pm: 49 yarder. GOOD AS FUCKING GOLD! HUGE, HUGE, HUGE KICK! Sets the bears record for consecutive kicks or something like that, who cares, he just made the most difficult kick yet.

---------------GIANTS 7 BEARS 3-----------------

7:52 pm: Kick run back to the 33

------------------GIANTS BALL AT 5:53 1ST

7:53 pm: Barber for 2, Harris on the tackle. Ravi Shankar dropped by Brian Urlacher on the screen, gain of 2 more. 3rd and 6. Incomplete pass, Giants go 3 and out.

7:55 pm: Hester hauls it in as it goes out of bounds, at least he held the ball.

---------------------BEARS BALL AT 4:17 1ST

7:55 pm: Rex throws a STRIKE for 24 up to Moose.

7:56 pm: Rex hits McKey for 7 yards, that was a sweet play call. Ugh, on 2nd and 3 Cofield drops Benson for a loss of 5. Why are they pitching to Benson? Pound it between the tackles if you're giving it to Benson.

7:57 pm: False start on the Bears, will bring up 3rd and 13, jesus fucking christ. Safety got free again on that play, Rex was dead as a doornail if that play is run.

7:58 pm: Rex out of the gun too tall for Moose, 4th down.

7:59 pm: Maynard tries to elevator shaft it, wind plays tricks and it goes out of bounds at the 29. This is one of those games that kills a punters average .

-----------------------GIANTS BALL AT 2:00 1ST

8:00 pm: Gain of 8ish on the pass for the Giants. Fans and the sideline want a flag on Urlacher but the refs have none of it.

8:02 pm: The rare punt, play, commercial and we're back at 2nd and 3, Tiki Barber is erased, loss of 2,

8:03 pm: 3rd and 5, Manning from the gun can't get the ball to Tyree, and the Giants go 3 and out again.

8:04 pm: Feagles kicks it out of bounds, Bears get the ball at the 35. They're keeping it away from hester.

---------------------BEARS BALL AT 0:31 1ST

8:05 pm: Thomas Jones is stripped and the Giants have the football.

------------------GIANTS BALL AT 0:24 1ST

8:06 pm: Barber carries, gain of 2, flag. Holding on the Giants makes it 1st and 20.

8:07 pm: Giants didn't have to run a play, but it looked like they wanted to but just ran out of time.

----------------END OF THE FIRST, GIANTS 7 BEARS --------------

8:09 pm: Manning swing to Barber, gain on the play of 4. Tackle by Hillenmeyer who is all over the field tonight. Bears almost had Manning on that play, but he swings it out to Barber again, no gain this time. Flag down. Ineligible man down field on the Giants, holding on the bears, replay the down.

8:11 pm: 2nd and 16 again. Tyree on the catch, Vasher can't wrap up and Tyree gets 9 instead of 5, it's 3rd and 7. Chris Harris is in the game.

8:12 pm: Manning's pass is incomplete. Heavy pressure by Briggs.

8:13 pm: Feely from 46. He missed the 33 yarder, so of course he converts the 46.

--------------------GIANTS 10 BEARS 3--------------

8:14 pm: Two Bears turnovers have lead to 10 Giants points, one Giant turnover has lead to 3 Bears points.

8:15 pm: Davis runs it up to the 28, he's brought down by........ Jay... Feely?

---------------BEARS BALL AT 13:18 2ND

8:16 pm: Gage in the game, Benson on the carry behind lead block of Desmond Clark. Benson leaps, bad idea, gain of 2.

8:17 pm: 2nd and 8 Rex swings it to Benson, ball out, Giants recover, ruling is that the knee was down. Good God. They got the call right but still. 3rd and 9.

8:18 pm: 3rd down and long yet again. Shotgun again. Was Rex going for Davis or Bradley? I can't tell. Incomplete either way.

8:18 pm: Maynard needs to bomb one here. He does. Chad Morton takes it in at the 18 and runs it back to the 28, 52 yards, net of 42.

-------------------GIANTS BALL AT 11:44 2ND

8:21 pm: Barber through a big hole. Gain of 8.

8:22 pm: 2nd and 1 Barber dropped by Urlacher, loss of 2. Short gain to Ravi Shankar. Enough for the 1st. I don't know how they didn't get the Giants for holding on that play.

8:23 pm: 1st and 10 for the Giants. Make them earn it, Bears. Pass caught by Burress, looks like he got enough for the 1st. Good job by 'nut keeping Burris in front of him.

8:24 pm: Tiki Barber taken out by Briggs. on 1st and 10. Briggs blew the play up, 2nd and 10. CHARLES TILMAN, poked it away from Burress, crowd wanted a flag, no F'in way. 3rd and long.

8:25 pm: Manning hit as he throws, Tyree can't get a handle on it, wasn't enough even if he had.

8:27 pm: Hester gives up ground on the return. Bad, bad decision.

---------------------BEARS BALL AT 7:55 2ND

8:28 pm: Jones gain of 2, 2nd and 8. Have the Bears handed off on 1st AND 2nd down on the same series one time this year? Now's the time to do it. Incomplete pass, intended for McKey.

8:30 pm: Now they try the run, Jones gets 2, needs 8. 4th down. Blah.

8:31 pm: Brad Maynard needs to kill it again. Standing at his 1. He out kicked his coverage. Maynard knocks him out of bounds at the 31 of the Bears.

-----------------GIANTS BALL AT 6:17 2ND

8:32 pm: from the 32 Barber dropped by Ogun and Anderson, Gain of 1. Manning escapes the rush, gets it to Burress for 12. 1st down in the redzone for the Giants.

8:33 pm: All 3 Bears LBs hit Burris on that play, gain of 1.

8:34 pm: Manning hits Burris at the 5, he fumbles, Tilman picks it up, he fumbles, Giants recover, penalty on the play. Holding on the Giants. Had Tilman held the ball the bears would keep it, fortunately the penalty on the Giants pushes them back. God Damnit.

8:35 pm: Challenge flag on the field. Maybe arguing that Tilman was down. That'd be nice.

8:38 pm: Pouring at the Meadowlands. NBC saying the Bears will get the ball.

8:39 pm: Errrnt, wrong. I think the refs got the call correct. Just take it away here. This game is far from over, but don't let them get 7 on this play.

8:40 pm: Screen to Tiki, gain of 7, 3rd and 12 from the 20. TANK JOHNSON buries Tiki Barber! Giants will have to attempt another FG.

8:41 pm: Kick is good

------------GIANTS 13 BEARS 3------------

8:42 pm: Kick to the 36

----------BEARS BALL AT 2:15 2ND

8:43 pm: Mark Bradley on the reception, gain of 6.

TWO MINUTE WARNING.

8:46 pm: Screen pass to Jones at the 30, out to the 40 with Krutz as the lead blocker.

8:47 pm: 1:45 left in the 2nd, bears with a 1st and 10. A giant was down on the last play and inside of 2 minutes, that costs you a timeout. Rex does a good job of avoiding the rush, but a very poor job of delivering the pass to Clark. Incomplete pass. 2nd and 10.

8:48 pm: Flags, oy, false start. 2nd and 15

8:49 pm: Rex from the gun. Flags again. Fred Miller moved, 2nd and 20.

8:50 pm: Q Mitchell haunting the Bears O line. Dump off to Jones, stutter step, los of 2. Good christ I hate Thomas Jones. 3rd and 22. How the hell do you have to go to the screen on a play where the D rushes 4?

8:51 pm: Now the D line pins their ears back, cause you have to protect Rex long enough for the receivers to run 22 yards. The bears run a draw to Jones and somehow he gets the requisite 22 yards and the bears get 7 on 1st and 10, but an illegal shift on Moose negates the pass to Bradley.

8:52 pm: 1st and 15. 3 WRs to the right, Rex trys to go to Bradley, bad location, Bradley gets JACKED UP and the ball is separated. 2nd and 15.

8:53 pm: Rex a 23 yard laser beam to Moose for for the first. Timeout Bears with 42 seconds left.

8:54 pm: MARK BRADLEY TOUCHDOWN! WOOOOOOOO Lob Pass and Bradley cherry picked it. 29 Yards and Bradley's first career touchdown! WOOOOO

-------------------GIANTS 13 BEARS 10------------

8:57 pm: great time for a touchback, but alas it wasn't. Return man bobbled it twice, and the get Cameron Worell for a personal foul. That's a tickey tack foul. Returner layed on the ball, but had he given up? What a load of crap.

-----------------GIANTS BALL AT 0:30 2ND

8:58 pm: Barber on the shotgun draw. Clock running, Giants not caling time. Fans boo, the thus far very quite Shockey throws his hands up in disgust at the Giant playcalling.

----------------------GIANTS 13 BEARS 10 HALFTIME----------------

John is on his 5th glass of Cabernet Sauvignon

9:12 pm: Davis on the runback, up to the 35.

---------------------BEARS BALL AT 14:54 3RD

9:13 pm: Play action to Moose, gain of 19. 1st and 10 from the Giant 45 and Jones plows for 5. Bears out gained the Giants in the 1st half, but turned it over twice to the giants one. You could argue the Bears turned it over 3 times, even though the Tilman fumble never counted because of the hold, the bears would have declined if he'd have held the ball.

9:14 pm: Jones plows for 10.

9:15 pm: 1st and 10 from the 30. Flags uphold action. Encroachment. 1st and 5. Rex's pass no where close to Moose, 2nd and 5.

9:16 pm: Jones gets nowhere. 3rd and 6. HUGE play. Rex hits Moose at the 7, down to the 5, to the 3, ball comes out and the giants have it at their two.

FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK

-----------------GIANTS BALL AT 11:58 3RD

9:19 pm: Lots of flags. False Start, half the distance puts the ball at the 1.

9:20 pm: Pin your ears back, D. Short drop, pass to the left side, incomplete. 2nd and 11.

9:21 pm: Bears have 6 on the line, they back one off, give to Barber, almost a safety, but not quite. Forward progress give him the 1.

9:22 pm: Pass incomplete. I thought there was a delay, but no. Pass to Burress was damn close to drawing a Pass interference, but the bears get luckly. Feagles from the shadow of his own goalpost.

9:23 pm: YOU STUPID FUCK. Hester took it at the bears 40, had it to the Bears 35, even the 32, turned back and the Bears will start at their own 42.

----------------BEARS BALL AT 10:48 3RD.

9:25 pm: Jones, maybe a yard. Funky play on 2nd and 9 as Jones gets 5, markers down. I'm guessing a hold or an illegal man down field on the Bears. Fortunately, it's another roughing the passer on the Giants. 1st down. Wow.

9:26 pm: Pass had to have been incatcable, but there's a flag anyway. Before the pass was thrown, Illegal contact. 5 yards. As Ed told you, Illegal Contact still counts because it's before the pass.

9:27 pm: Thomas Jones runs for 8. A good running back scores a TD. Jones' inability to get free on the 2nd level keeps him out of the endzone.

9:28 pm: Jones carries it in from the 8 but there's a late flag. HOLDING on John Gilmore. Wipes out a 9 yard run and a Bears lead.

9:30 pm: 2nd and 13 from the 17. Jones the carry. 3rd and 3.

9:31 pm: MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSE TOUCHDOWN!

-------------------BEARS 17 GIANTS 13---------------------

9:33 pm: Fuckin, A, bears have the lead. Ward on the return to the 29.

---------------GIANTS BALL AT 8:13 3RD

9:35 pm: Barber never received the hand off, but he fell on it. 2nd down and 10. Alex Brown gets mugged on the rush to Manning, he still knocks the ball out, flag down, not sure who has it. Hockuli points to the bears. Still have the flag to deal with.

9:36 pm: OGUN RECOVERS, FLAG WAS A HOLD ON THE GIANTS!


-------------------BEARS BALL AT 7:23 3RD

9:37 pm: Jones stutter step, stiff arm, 2 yards, meh.

9:38 pm: On 2nd and 8, Rex goes to Bradley who gets 6. RW saved a certian first down, and maybe more.

Thom Thayer on WBBM informs us that the bears have already outscored the 2005 vintage, once again, it's week 10.

9:39 pm: Thomas Jones pounds the ball from the 12 down to the 2. First and Goal.

9:40 pm: REX HITS CLARK FOR HIS 3RD TD OF THE GAME AND THE BEARS LEAD BY 10 WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

----------------------BEARS 24 GIANTS 13----------------

21 unanswered Bears points

9:42 pm: Derrick ward from the 9, to the 30

------------GIANTS BALL AT 5:29 3RD

9:44 pm: Yards this half: Bears 110, Giants -5.

9:45 pm: Manning misses Tyree, incomplete. 2nd and 10, Give to Barber, he escapes his first tackler, but not Brian Urlacher. Loss on the play of a yard. 3rd and 11. Out of the gun go the Giants. Shockey's first catch of the night and he'll pick up 16 yards and the 1st.

9:46 pm: 1st and 10 from the Giant 46. Barber with a HUGE run down to the Bears 8. 46 yards and the momentum swings back to the midpoint.

9:47 pm: Brandon Jacobs is supposed to score TDs, but not untouched. He carries it in and cuts the Bears lead to 4.

-----------------BEARS 24 GIANTS 20----------------

9:48 pm: Giants weren't going to go quietly. Barber now has 100 yards on the night. Davis the deep back. Feely's kick lands at the 7, he gets up to the 22 and hammered, and that's where the bears will start.

--------------BEARS BALL AT 3:20 3RD

9:49 pm: The most important Bears drive of the season

9:50 pm: Rex trys the lob pass to Moose but it's not there, 2nd and 10. Crowd going nuts. Jones undercut on the carry, loses a yard.

9:51 pm: 3rd and 13. Jones lost more than a yard. Rex hits Moose about 8 yards downfield and SOMEHOW! SOMEWAY! Moose gets to the sticks. They measure. FIRST DOWN!!!

9:52 pm: 1st and 10. Moose 7 for 123 and a TD. Rex will drop and fake, play action, HE'S GOT DAVIS DOWN TO THE GIANTS 41! 26 yards.

9:53 pm: Jones carries and picks up about 5.

9:54 pm: 2nd and 5. From the 36. Pitch to Jones and he's taken down. Maybe a yard. 3rd and 4 or 5 for the Bears. Tick. Tick. Tick. Tick. Tick. Tick. Tick.

-----------------BEARS 24 GIANTS 20 END OF THE 3RD------------------

9:56 pm: 3rd and 4 becomes 3rd and 9 as Fred Miller picks up his 2nd false start of the night. Bears 3 of 8 on 3rd and 7 or more. Rex pumps twice and gets dropped. Better than a fumble or an INT. Maynard will come on, Bears have the lead, play field position. Pin them deep, get it back.

9:57 pm: Maynard gets it down to the 20 after the fair catch. Decant punt.

9:56 pm: SO LET THE VOICE OF FREEDOM // SING OUT THROUGH THIS LAND // THIS IS OUR COUNTRY!

----------------GIANTS BALL AT 14:23 4TH

10:00 pm: Barber about 6, good block on the backside there taking out one of the Bear D tackles who would have forced a loss. Horse collar on the bears. Jesus Christ. 15 yards and 5 turns into 15 and a first. Fuck me.

10:01 pm: From the 41. Manning throws and hits Burress. 9 or 10 yards, I think he's short but still, big pickup. They'll measure. I'm drunk on wine. First Down.

10:02 pm: Manning gives to Barber who gains 8. 2nd down and short. Manning flushed by Harris on the safety blitz. Tyree catches it on the sideline. Lovie's going to challenge. Stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid fucking challenge. Even if he's right it's still 3rd and 2. What a dumb fucking challenge.

10:06 pm: Ruling stands. Way to fucking go, Lovie. 1st and 10 from the Bears 29 are the Giants. Brown swats Eli and knocks the ball out, Sack, ball rolls toward the sideline, Harris can't get to it so the Giants retain possession, but it is 2nd and long.

10:08 pm: Barber bottled up but nobody could bring him down, he swings out through a hole and gets 9. It's still 3rd and 15 from the 35. Pass incomplete going for Burress. 4th down.

10:09 pm: Giants talking about it. Feely on. From 52.

SHORT, HESTER BACK THERE, HE'LL KNEEL, NO, WAIT HE'S TAKING IT OUT!

NO FUCKING WAY NO FUCKING WAY NO FUCKING WAY THAT MIGHT BE 109. NATHAN VASHER STEP ASIDE, TOUCHDOWN

AW FUCK FLAG!

FLAG IS AFTER THE TOUCHDOWN ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME, FLAG ON THE GIANTS

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

HESTER LOOKED LOOKED LIKE HE FORGOT HE COULD RETURN IT!

------------------BEARS 31 GIANTS 20--------------------

10:15 PM: FROM THE EAST COAST // TO THE WEST COAST // FROM THE DIXIE HIGHWAY // BACK HOOOMEEEEEEEEEEEEE // THIS IS OUR COUNTRY!

WOOooooooooooooooOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

KICKOFF RETURNED BY THE GIANTS TO THE WHATEVER.

--------------------GIANTS BALL AT 11:11 4TH

10:17 pm: Giants back to back gains of 0. Last play was an inc, 1st might have been a rush for 0.

10:18 pm: MANNING INTERCEPTED BY CHRIS HARRIS!

-------------BEARS BALL AT 10:53 4TH

10:19 pm: Flag on the giants for illegal formation, declined. Unsportsmanlike conduct on the Bears, Bears keep the ball!

10:20 pm: Bears give to Jones for a gain of 1. Rex to throw on 2nd down DEEP PASS TO BRADLEY AT THE 10, DOWN TO THE . 1st and goal!

10:21 pm: 38 yards on the pass. Jones, little or nothing, 2nd down.

10:22 pm: Jones on the carry again. Gain of 4, to the 2 yard line. Moose heading to the locker room. 3rd and goal.

10:24 pm: THOMAS JONES INTO THE ENDZONE FOR THE TOUCHDOWN. GOULD HITS.

---------------------BEARS 38 GIANTS 20----------------------

10:27 pm: Kick taken at the 9, up to the 19.

---------------------GIANTS BALL AT 8:16

10:28 pm: Giants Stadium nearly empty. Barber avoids a tackle at the line and squeezes through to the secondary. Gain on the play of 19 yards.

10:29 pm: Manning hits Tyree, up to the 49 yard line. Gain of 9, 2nd and 1. Urlacher drills Manning who gets the pass away, but it's incomplete.

10:30 pm: Incomplete. Ok, it's actually 3rd and 10 not 4th and 1. Tyree got 10 on that previous play. Manning trys to get away from the rush, and does, throws an ugly pass out of bounds which looked like it would be intentional grounding, but the pass went past the line and he was well out of the pocket. 4th and 10.

10:31 pm: Feagles punts it, Hester waves it off (good decision) punt goes out of bounds deep in Bears territory.

------------------BEARS BALL AT 6:06 4TH

10:33 pm: Jones carries gain of 9, somehow it's 3r down, clearly I missed a play. Clearly I'm quite drunk.

10:34 pm: 3rd and 1, Jones plowed, got it. Clock running at 5:44.

10:35 pm: Jones carries again, Giants call time again, that's their 2nd time out.

10:36 pm: Jones carries yet again and gets the 1st down. Giants have called their final time out. Benson in the game. He'll pound for 3. Clock continues to run at 3:55.

10:38 pm: Benson another carry, 2 yards, 3rd down and 6, Benson gets 7, 1st down and that basically ices it.

--------------------TWO MINUTE WARNING--------------------------

10:41 pm: Rex genuflects and the Bears will win this one by a final of 38-20.

Bears/Dolphins Running Thoughts

THIS IS OUR COUNTRY ADS: 3

12:00 *yawn*

12:01 PM: Game's on CBS today for anyone who can't find it. Bears will kick to start.

----------------------DOLPHINS AT 15:00 FIRST

12:02 PM: Brandon McGowin does an excellent job of dropping Wes Welker on the opening kick, fins start at the 16

12:03 PM: Harrington swings it out to Booker for a gain of 3.

12:04 PM: Flags uphold the action... and somehow they're calling it against the Bears.

12:05 PM: 2nd and short, Ronnie Brown swallowed up by Alex Brown in the C gap, loss of 3, 3rd down. Gun again for Harrington... He hits McMichael just past the sticks for a 1st.

12:06 PM: Harrington pressured and throws a bounce pass. 2nd down. Bubble screen to Chambers, but Tillman accidentally grabs the facemask and it's going to be 2nd and very short.

12:08 PM: Chambers had the position, Harrington hit him, but Chambers flat out dropped the ball. Harrington plows for the 1st on 3rd and 1.

12:09 PM: Encroachment on Tank, 3rd penalty for 15 on the bears.

12:10 PM: Gain of 2 on 1st and 5. 2nd down Harrington throws it right thorough Chambers' hands. Harrington scrambles on 3rd down, too tall for everyone and the Fins will punt.

12:11 PM: How do you keep Hester from returning the ball? Kick it into the endzone. Bears will start at the 20.

----------------------BEARS AT 10:46

12:14 PM: Rex hits Berrian for close to 10.... yes, 1st down.

12:15 PM: Jones for 2ish. Jones again, another yard or so, 3rd and 7.

12:16 PM: Pass broken up going for Moose, had he caught it, it likely would have snapped his 3rd down catches for 1st downs streak. Justin Gage was on the field on 3rd down.... Berrian might have been injured on the first catch.... Punt run back to the fins 25 where they start their 2nd drive.

12:17 PM: SO LET THE VOICE OF FREEDOM, RING OUT THROUGH THIS LAND.... *PUKE*.

----------------------DOLPHINS AT 8:53

12:19 PM: Brown gets 11 on 1st

12:20 PM: Joey Harrington lead block on a reverse, he takes out Hillenmeyer who still manages to make the tackle on Chambers. Shotgun draw to Brown, gain of 3.

12:21 PM: 3rd and 9 and Sammie Morris drops Harrington's pass. 4th down. 51 yard punt, no return

-------------------------BEARS AT 6:53

12:23 PM: Berrian is being looked at. Justin Gage is in the game, Rex looked for him deep but overshot him. Probably just a lack of reps between the two. Jones was split out wide on that play.

12:24 PM: Jones plows for 5.

12:25 PM: Jones out, Peterson in, 4 receivers, pass to Clark for a first.

12:26 PM: Peterson is staying in the game..... so much for Benson. Rex long for Gage again, broken up but a flag on the play. Illegal contact, 5 yards. Peterson with a great blitz pickup on the last play.

12:27 PM: Wow, Jones made a move, Colts style stretch play, Jones got 5.

12:28 PM: Phew, blitz on, Rex got the ball out to McKey who fortunately dropped the ball as he was popped, had it been a catch it was six for the Fins the other way as the ball lay there. Rex hits Davis for 11 on 3rd down, bears moving the chains up to their own 45.

12:29 PM: Blitz was on, they would have had Jones stopped but he was able to plow through two of them for a short gain. Chicken salad out of.... 2nd and 9. The stretch again and very short gain, will bring up 3rd and 7ish.

12:30 PM: Rex floats one to a wide open Rashed, 1st down and more.

12:31 PM: Jones pounds for 7. Jones swallowed for a loss of 3 but should be a first down Bears as there's a flag and it looks to be offsides on the Fins. It is. Despite what the ref says... there we go.

12:33 PM: Rex going for Moose near the endzone, broken up, but Holding on the defense. 1st down. TD if Allen doesn't hold, so he did his job.

12:34 PM: The stretch again and Jones loses 1. 2nd down, bad timing, Rex pass lands incomplete before Moose had turned around to look for it. 3rd and long.

12:35 PM: Rex goes to Davis in the endzone, it hit him in the hand but he only got one hand on it and dropped the ball, can't blame him for not reeling it in but Davis wanted a hold on the DB. Oh well, Gould remains perfect.

------------BEARS 3 - DOLPHINS 0--------------THIS IS OUR COUNTRY

------------------------DOLPHINS AT 0:04

12:39 PM: Wes Walker crushed by Worell on the kickoff. Dolphins will have it to start the 2nd.

------------------END OF THE 1ST, BEARS 3 - DOLPHINS 0---------------

12:41 PM: Dolphins from their 24. Turnover time, Bears. Bears rush 6, Harrington swings to Chambers, gain of 6.

12:42 PM: Ronnie Brown runs for a gain of 9.

12:43 PM: Harrington BADLY underthrows his intended target who hauled Tillman down preventing an int, no penalty.

12:44 PM: 2nd and 10, Harrington swings to.... Justin Peel (?) he's driven out of bounds by Vasher. 3rd down. Harrington drilled as he throws... there's a flag down, you must be kidding. Roughing the passer, Horse shit call. Absolute horse shit.

12:45 PM: "He semi-launches himself a little bit" yeah, sorta. Refs are talking it over. Well so much for that. Refs reset the play clock and the fins are at the bears 43. Pitch to Ronnie Brown who trys to juke a defender behind the line... bad idea. Loss of 2.

12:47 PM: Lance Briggs bats the pass down at the line. It's 3rd and long.

12:48 PM: First signs of life from the crowd. Swing out to Booker, got 6, flag on the play................ Personal Foul after the play on the fins, will push them back 15 yards.

12:49 PM: Berrian out for the game: Ribs.... Mmmmm Ribs.

12:50 PM: Oh my god. Hester fair catches and drops the ball at the 6, fins recover.

12:51 PM: Brown gets little or nothing on 1st. 2nd and goal. Shotgun QB draw gets back to the line but no further. Pass complete to Marty Booker in the endzone. Touchdown.

----------------DOLPHINS 7 - BEARS 3----------------

12:54 PM: Adrian Peterson 17 yards on the return. Announcers saying that Hester had been pulled, no, Hester is the punt returner, Davis is the 1st team KR, who figures to see a lot more time with Berrian out, thus, Peterson in on that kick.

------------------BEARS AT 10:41

12:56 PM: Bears have trailed for a grand total of 6 minutes at home this season. From the 23.

................Rex threw it right to Jason Taylor and the Dolphins score again..........

I'm In Shock.

---------------DOLPHINS 14 - BEARS 3-----------

1:00 PM: Peterson smashed and dropped the ball. Former Dolphin Brendon Ayanbadejo fell on it and prevented a sure dolphins touchdown.

-------------------BEARS AT 10:22

1:03 PM Benson plows for 2, Jones in 2nd and 8 gets the first

1:04 PM: Moose didn't have the position on the deep pass, 2nd and 10.

1:05 PM: Cedric Benson through a huge hole and lowers his shoulder, driving the defender back to get at least another yard, it's close enough to measure. FIRST DOWN.

1:06 PM: Cedric Benson, another big gain 9, 2nd and short. Benson pounds, not much, but enough for the 1st.

1:07 PM: Rex hit, ball out, fins fall on it... his arm HAD to be going forward.

1:08 PM: *shudder* this is gonna be hard to overturn. If you're looking for hope, well, here's the best I can do: Joey Harrington .

---------------DOLPHINS AT 8:13

1:11 PM: Brown for 2.

1:12 PM: Pass to Brown for big yards down to the 10. Harrington throws one to nobody inside the pocket and after a LOT of pressure from the Bears, the refs throw the grounding flag. That should help.... Crowd into it. Bears gotta hold here.

1:13 PM: 2nd and goal from the 18. Encroachment on Briggs. Got the yips.

1:14 PM: 2nd and goal from the 13. Caught by Walker at the 9, down to the 5,

1:15 PM: 3rd and goal from the 5. INTERCEPTED BY ALEX BROWN!

Joey

Harrington

-------------------BEARS at 4:26

1:16 PM: Benson still in, 5 yards outta nothing.

1:17 PM: Screen to Jones 7ish, out of bonds, clock stopped.

1:18 PM: Rex throws it away. Benson plows for 4, but a flag will go against the Fins for offsides, 2nd and 5.

1:19 PM: Rex lays one right into Justin Gage's breadbasket for a gain of 34 yards, 1st down for the Bears inside Fin's territory.

1:20 PM: Benson for 3.

1:21 PM: OH MY GOD WHAT A CATCH BY MOOSE! TOUCHDOWN! 30 YARDS! Great, great, great job by the blitz pickup.

----------------DOLPHINS 14 - BEARS 10-----------------

1:23 PM: Bears ball to start the 2nd half.... If the bears lead at the end of the 1st half I wouldn't be shocked.

1:24 PM: Wes Walker from the 9, to the 31.

---------------DOLPHINS AT 1:52

1:25 PM: Ronnie Brown to the 46, gain of 15. Dolphins elect not to call time... Bears do with 1:29 left...........

1:27 PM: Dump to brown, gain of 9, Brown on the shotgun draw, fights through Urlacher but doesn't get the 1st. Fins call time with 51 seconds left.

1:28 PM: 3rd and 1 and Brown gets 21 on the pitch, yikes. 30 seconds left.

1:29 PM: Either the fins grounded it or they ran a quick play incomplete and I missed it, either way Harrington misses his target on 2nd down, it's 3rd and 10.

1:30 PM: Ronnie Brown brought down but I think they got Tank for an offsides. Goddamn it. Called it on Ogun, I'm sure they meant tank.

1:31 PM: 3rd and 5 for the fins from the Bears 18. Lance Briggs wraps up Brown, loss of 1. Time out, Fins, 3 seconds to play. Mare will line it up from 35.

1:32 PM: CBS loves the Bears as they're able to sneak another commercial in just as they come back because the Bears call time to ice the leagues worst kicker percentage wise.

1:33 PM: KICK IS NO GOOD! Likely Blocked.

----------------DOLPHINS 14 - BEARS 10 HALFTIME--------------------

1:40 PM: Bill, yeah, stoopid penalties and the bad decisions by Hester and Grossman. But the Bears will have the football and the momentum to start the 2nd half. Running game has done a good job though.

1:42 PM: 62 yards on 15 carries for the bears, they're on pace for 120 with a better than 4 YPC.

1:43 PM: Yeah, Dan, I saw that. I wanted to puke.

1:44 PM: TAMMY DUCKWORTH LOST HER FUCKING LEGS IN IRAQ! DEATH TAX! THESE FUCKIN CRETINS!

------------------BEARS AT 15:00

1:48 PM: Davis on the return, just shy of the 25, those fuckin winged rats are back.

1:49 PM: Gage runs two routes well, one of them is the slant, he executed it perfectly, but couldn't hold on to the fucking ball, Fins run it back to the the Bears 12.

--------------------DOLPHINS AT 14:40

1:50 PM: Brown for 2, brown for 6, 3rd and 4 from the 6.

1:51 PM: Wes Welker wide open and into the end zone. Justin Gage may be playing his last game in a Bears uniform.

--------------DOLPHINS 21 BEARS 10-----------------

1:53 PM: 30 yard return for Davis to the 36

----------------BEARS AT 13:06

1:54 PM: Jones gains 1, 2nd and 9.

1:55 PM: They rule it incomplete as Moose had the ball knocked out at the last second. Good call.

1:56 PM: 3rd and 9, come on pass protect...... Grossman Sacked. At least he held the ball.

1:57 PM: 47 yard punt, 3 yard return.

---------------- DOLPHINS AT 12:10

1:59 PM: Ronnie Brown gashing the Bears D, well into the secondary, shoved out by D Manning.

2:00 PM: 90 yards on the ground for Brown. Brown again for about 3. Urlacher and Brown hammer Brown on 2nd, gain of 1ish

2:01 PM: 3rd down and 5, really, really, really, really need the stop here. Wes Walker makes a great catch, but the refs are talking it over. Ruled incomplete. Correct call despite the guttural noises by the lisping color commentator.

2:05 PM: Ruling stands. Ok, Devin Hester, plant your feet at the 10 yard line, don't follow the ball any deeper than that. Punt bounces from the 16ish up to the 22.

---------------------BEARS AT 10:06

2:07 PM: Jones avoids the hole and runs right into one of the Miami tackles, gain of 3 instead of 7ish.

2:08 PM: Rex hits moose who turns and gets another 7 or 8 after the catch. First down.

2:09 PM: Rex hits Jones in the flat, up to the 40. Jones on the pitch, gets about 7 yards and the first down. Tait swung out on the most creative run block package Ron Turner's drawn up in a decade.

2:10 PM: Behind lead block of Desmond Clark, Jones gets about 4.

2:11 PM: Jones again, runs right into McKey. Flags late. Little or no gain. I'm guessing hold on the fins based on reaction to and position of the flags. Actually illegal hands to the face. Six of one.... first down bears.

2:12 PM: Penalty was on Keith Trailor, here's hoping they show the INT return vs the Jags in 01. Rex threw it away on 1st and 10.

2:13 PM: Swing out to McKey, gain of 5 ish.

2:14 PM: UGHHHHHHHHHHHHH. Intended for Clark and Grossman just overthrew him.

2:15 PM: Third ad for "The New Dodge Nitro"

----------------------DOLPHINS AT 5:55

2:16 PM: Harrington badly overthrows Chambers, 2nd and 10.

2:17 PM: Odd looking play, a little flip out to my guy out of Arizona, Derick Hagen, who gets 7. 3rd and 3. Booker had Vasher beat but Harrington overthrows him again. Dolphins haven't done a damn thing on offense, Bears have given them 21 points.

2:18 PM: 11 yards on the return for Hester.

------------------------BEARS AT 5:06

2:20 PM: Jones stutter steps in the backfield and gets nowhere. ONE CUT. MAKE ONE CUT THEN GO! WHY ISN'T BENSON IN?!?!

2:21 PM: Davis snags one, gain of 6, 3rd and 3. Complete to Davis on 3rd but I think he's short of the 1st.

2:22 PM: You gotta punt here, there's 18 minutes left and they haven't moved the ball at all, why risk giving it to them deep in your territory. You might consider a fake, but the Bears don't. Maynard bombs the punt.

--------------------DOLPHINS AT 3:26

2:24 PM: Brown dragged down in the backfield by Ogun. Wale couldn't wrap him up flying in on 2nd down after Vasher turned him back in, but the Bears swarm to the ball and it's 3rd down again.

2:25 PM: 3rd and 4. NATHAN VASHER IT'S ABOUT DAMN TIME.

Joey

Harrington

-----------------BEARS AT 1:56

2:26 PM: Jones for 3, 2nd and 7. Rex hit as he threw, threw it away.

2:27 PM: FG cuts it to eight and a one possession game, but you REALLY want 7 here. Rex threw it behind Gage as they try the slant again. I've got a bad feeling about this kick... Unfounded. Kick is good.

----------------DOLPHINS 21 - BEARS 13---------------

2:30 PM: Welker from the 6 to the 28 where the Dolphins will start.

-------------DOLPHINS AT 0:55

2:31 PM: Wow, Chambers one handed an errant Harrington pass and hauls it in, turns and got out of Vasher's grasp and picked up 5. Brown gets the carry and gets 4, it's 3rd and 1. Todd Johnson down, limping off. That's very bad.

-----------START OF THE 4TH QUARTER------------

2:34 PM Ronnie Brown grinds for the first.

2:35 PM: Chris Chambers is really good. gain of 18.

2:36 PM: Brown gains 2, 2nd and 8. Peanut all over chambers and the screen falls incomplete. It's 3rd and 8 and it's really time for a stop.

2:37 PM: Here we go. URLACHER DESTROYS SAMMY MORRIS!

2:38 PM: Hester on........... *deep breath* OH CHRIST. Marker down... please....

2:39 PM: Illegal Formation on the Dolphins. Dumb shit Hester got REALLY lucky.

2:40 PM: Punted downed at the one, but at least it'll be BEARS BALL. See how that works, Devin?

------------------BEARS AT 11:54

2:42 PM: Encroachment on the Dolphins and the Bears are out to the 6. Thanks, Keith.

2:43 PM: Benson in. He gets the carry and gets two. Benson gets the carry again, maybe a yard.

2:44 PM: HUGE 3rd down. Davis either fell or ran the wrong route as the pass was nowhere near, unfortunately I don't know if it would have mattered as the pass was that far out of bounds.

2:45 PM: Penalty here...... OFFSIDES! FIRST DOWN!

2:46 PM: A HUGE gift. Slant again to Gage, a little high, tipped up, almost intercepted. Yikes.

2:47 PM: Rex Crushed as he threw, he got up, pass almost intercepted. 3rd and 10. This one's going to Moose. What did RMJ do to Harrington that Crowder didnt' do to Rex?

2:48 PM: Awful decision by Rex Grossman. Simply Awful.

-----------DOLPHINS AT 10:08

2:48 PM: Chris Chambers just made the play there, nothing else Tillman could have done. Bears are not going to take this one.

-----------------DOLPHINS 28 - BEARS 13-------------

2:51 PM: Davis runs it out from 2 yards deep, out to the 25.

--------------------BEARS AT 9:24

2:54 PM: Jones gain of 9. Thomas Jones, meet Jason Taylor, loss of 3.

2:55 PM: Rex to Clark for 15.

2:56 PM: Rex tries to find Moose outside, Incomplete. Jones on the carry, gets about 6. Incomplete pass, intended for Clark, 4th down and 4, bears will go.

2:57 PM: 4 receivers on the field. Vonnie Holiday jumps and I didn't see a single bear flinch. Encroachment. Thanks Fins.

2:58 PM: Rex finds Jones for 5 over the middle. Jones for 3 on 2nd, 3rd and 3.

2:59 PM: Rex sacked. Loss of 6. 4th and 9. Dierdorf "They're gonna have to try and convert" Gee, ya think? Rex overthrows Davis and that's pretty much game.

-------------DOLPHINS BALL AT WHATEVER

3:02 PM: Offsides on Harris

3:03 PM: Brown for little or no gain. Brown for 4 yards. 3rd and very short.

3:11 PM: I probably should have stayed in bed today.

4:52 PM:We learned nothing today, we confirmed yet again that: Thomas Jones is very average, Justin Gage is bad, Cedric Benson might be great or he might suck, the offensive line is overrated, Peanut Tilman is not as bad as his detractors make him out to be, nor as good as his defenders purport, the coaching staff is good but not great, and Devin Hester has an IQ slightly higher than that of Homo Erectus. The defense is one of the best in the league. They allowed 24 points after the offense spotted the Dolphins the ball inside the 25 three times. Yes they got gashed by Ronnie Brown, when you're on the field as long as they were that's going to happen against a good back, for the most part it didn't hurt them (The Fins narrowly won the TOP battle, but the reason they didn't have a 10 minute advantage was the long Bear drive early.)

Bears/49ers Running Thoughts

12:02 PM: Rolled out of bed after working midnight - 6 am. I'm groggy as hell. We'll see how this goes.

12:03 PM: Nice to see Fox getting into the holiday spirit, their play by play team in costume today, one dressed up as a skeleton and the other as a retard..... oh wait.

-----------------------BEARS DRIVE 15:00 1st

12:05 PM: We'll go with a little BBM too. Here we go, Davis from the 12, up to the 35, nice return.

12:06 PM: Give to Jones and he's DRAGGING tacklers

12:07 PM: Swing out to Jones, 1st down!

12:08 PM: Give to Jones again, looks like the bears are dedicated to the run, and as I say that, a swing to Berrian for about 7ish and another 1st down.


12:09 PM: Clock has run the whole game up to this point as Rex rolls out and throws it away, the Bears face their first 3rd down. 3rd and 3.

12:09 PM: Incomplete on 3rd down, going for Clark, Robbie Ghoullllllllllllllld MWHAHAHA is good from 43. Commercial break.



3-0 BEARS

-------------------------49ERS DRIVE 11:57 1st

12:12 PM: Bears kick off, ANDITSAFUMBLE! Bears recover, 9ers challenging.

12:14 PM: 49ers decide not to challenge. Fox is in commercial, bears are at the line, BBM has it.

----------------------------- BEARS DRIVE 11:57 1st

12:15 PM: Jones gets the give on 1st and 10 from the 15 and he bounces out to the left making two guys miss, 2nd and 7. Jones gets it again on 2nd and 2 and gets stuffed. 3rd and 2.


12:16 PM: Time out, San Francisco.

12:17 PM: So, first commercial break and the coffee is just starting to kick in. By the way, the song in that Budwiser "Don't Hold Back" commercials: "Galvanize" by Chemical Brothers. Catchy tune.

12:18 PM: Give go Thomas Jones, he looks stopped in the backfield, but he changes direction and he is IN for the touchdown!

10-0 BEARS

12:20 PM: So how about the NFL slate today? Every game either stinks to high heaven matchup wise (this one) or is fantastic. We'll break down the schedule as we go along, but I'm really looking forward to the Indy Denver game, it's win win. If Indy wins it exposes Denver as the frauds I believe them to be, if the, Broncos win, the Colts are no longer undefeated and I get to see a Manning lose, which is ALWAYS a good thing.

--------------------------49ERS DRIVE 10:49 1st

12:22 PM: Bears D takes the field for the first time, Frank Gore gets the carry and picks up 6. New starter Todd Johnson makes the tackle. 2nd and 10 and it looks like Tillman knew the play call, he wraps up Arnez Battle in the backfield for a loss of 4. 3rd down, Smith from the gun, steps up under pressure and flicks one out to the flat, RMJ is there to wrap up, short gain, bring on Hester. 9ers go 3 and out

12:24 PM: Fair Catch, bears ball at the 26.

-----------------------------BEARS DRIVE 8:27 1st

12:26 PM: Bears start their THIRD offensive drive of the game. Rex guns one to Moose up to the 42, a flag for illegal contact on the 9ers is declined. Summerall called him Mus-sin Moo-Ham-Ad.

12:27 PM: T Jones and the bears are GASHING the 9ers D.

12:28 PM: 2nd and 3 and Jones is taken down for a 3 yard loss, it's 3rd and 6.

12:29 PM: Rex hits Berrian on the slant but Berrian can't get away from the Safety and it's 4th and 2, Maynard on. The Punt lands at the 3 and bounds into the endzone. The newest Bear Darren McClover can't save it, and the 9ers will start at the 20.

Wasn't Benson supposed to have the 3rd drive?

-------------------------49ERS DRIVE 6:07 1st

12:30 PM: Frank Gore gets the carry and picks up 18.

12:31 PM: Gore gets 2, 2nd and 8

12:32 PM: OV-ER-RAT-TED Brian Urlacher comes down with a tipped ball and intercepts the pass. Oh he also applied the pressure and tipped the ball. Yep, overrated.

---------------------BEARS DRIVE 4:43 1st

12:33 PM: Rex hits Berrian for a 1st.

12:34 PM: THERE'S Benson, gain on the play of one

12:35 PM: Rex hits Clark for big yardage, down to the 10. I think the bears should put Griese in, this Rex Grosston sucks. Text message from Bill on Summerall: "Good lord he sounds like he's at Death's door."

12:36 PM: Missed what happened on 1st, short gain regardless, rex hits McKey for another few on 2nd, 3rd and goal from the 5. Rex flicks one over the top to Moose, amazing pass, touchdown.

17-0 BEARS (BEAT THAT SPREAD! BEAT THAT SPREAD!)

--------------------------49ERS Drive 1:55 1st.

12:38 PM: Touchback, 9ers start at the 20. Heavy on the right side. Urlacher has Smith wrapped up, but he gets away, AND THE BALL COMES OUT TOMMIE HARRIS UP WITH IT! AND HE'S DOWN TO THE 13!

--------------BEARS DRIVE 1:42 1st

12:40 PM: First down, and Rex hits Clark down to the 2.

12:41 PM: Turn and the give to Benson, leaping, touchdown.

24-0 BEARS STILL FIRST QUARTER, 49ers have run 7 offensive plays Most points in one quarter in bears history.

--------------------------49ERS DRIVE 1:02 1st

12:42 PM: Kick taken at the 2, run up to the 26 where the 9ers start their 3rd drive.

12:43 PM: Give to Gore, gain of 1. Give to Gore again, the pigeons are back on the field, Gets a few but it's 3rd down.


---------------END OF THE FIRST: BEARS 24 - 49ERS 0-----------------

12:47 PM: 3rd and 4 Ogunleye sacks Smith for a loss of 6. If a team could collectivly hold a position, the 49ers would be in the fetal position right now.

12:48 PM: ARE YOU KIDDING ME! Devin Hester 42 yards and it sets the bears up at the 24!

--------------------BEARS DRIVE 14:38 2nd

12:49 PM: Jones gets 4 on 1st, 3 on 2nd. Firefox crashed during this posting, and it now has a "restore session" option on crash, I got all of my tabs and windows back exactly as they were! Cool!

12:50 PM: Rex hits Clark for big yards down to the 5. 3 catches 40 yards for Clark.

12:51 PM: Jones near the goaline, but a hold on Gilmore makes it 1st and goal from the 13.

12:52 PM: Give to Jones, bounces down to the 7. 2nd and goal.

12:53 PM: Rex going for Clark, I think the ball hit him straight in the face... incomplete. Oh it was tipped. 3rd down. Rex hits Moose at the 2, he turns and gets to the 1, it's 4th down. Bears are going.

12:54 PM: Rex hits Clark on a play action, nobody in the area, Touchdown, Flag. No Foul, TOUCHDOWN


31-0 BEARS The Bears are avenging week 1 2003, if your memory is foggy, 49-7 49ers in the Bears' most recent trip to the bay. The 7 points in that game, Desmond Clark's first bears TD.The most recent Bears TD.... Desmond Clark Coincidence? I think..... not.

--------------------------49ERS DRIVE 10:33 2nd

1:00 PM: After the touchback, Smith hits Battle for 11 yards, there's a flag in the Bears secondary. hahahaha Offensive Pass Interference. It's coming back.

1:01 PM: 1st and 20 from the 9ers 10, give to gore, and he's stopped, gain of 2.

1:02 PM: Swing pass, about 10 yards, 3rd and 9ish. Alex Smith has NO chance, gets through the line and to Smith who has to dump it off, 3 and out.

1:03 PM: Kick it out of bounds, keep it out of Hester's hands

---------------------------------BEARS DRIVE 8:31 2ND

1:05 PM: Swing to Jones, gain of 5. Wait. Illegal contact on the 9ers. First down.

1:06 PM: Give to Jones, gain of 4. Timeout 9ers, their 2nd. I assure you it won't make a damn bit of difference.

1:08 PM: While we're at the break, the packers are about to make it 21-0 over the cardinals. Leinart is 1 for 9, James has 10 carries for 35 yards. I wonder if The 2 and 4 Green Fucking Bay Packers are who the Cardinals thought they were...

1:09 PM: Rex goes to Moose about 25 yards. Summerall said that this is the sharpest he's seen Rex look in a long time. Think about that.

1:10 PM: Jones on the carry, 1 yard.

1:11 PM: Rex hits Moose who plucked it just above the grass, replay shows it was indeed a catch but really... if it had been picked and returned for 7, it wouldn't matter much in the grand scheme of things, 3rd and 1.

1:12 PM: Jones plows forward for the 1st.

1:13 PM: Fox stat: 1st downs Bears 14 49ers 2. Swing to Berrian for little or no gain... 1 yard

1:14 PM: Swing to Jones grabs 6 and it'll be 3rd and short. Rex 16 of 19, 149, 2, 0, he sucks

1:15 PM: Rex throws one as he slipping but it falls incomplete.... 4th and 3, Ghoulllllld out from 36 Mwhahahah. Good

34-0 BEARS

---------------------49ERS DRIVE 3:15 2nd

1:18 PM: Da nanananananananananananaNA danananananananananannanananaNA DananaNAnananNA DaNanananaNA (Cliffs of Dover, Best. Guitar. Instrumental. Ever! Eric Johnson gains about 30 on the best 9er play thusfar. Tillman almost picks Smith on the next play.

1:19 PM: 2nd and 10 and a pass complete to Antonio Bryant. Vasher wraps up and throws him backwards, gain of 1. What does it say about the tenor of this game that I'm really disappointed that the 9ers were able to cross the 50?

1:20 PM: IM from Paul "Summerall is ridiculously bad

-----------------------TWO MINUTE WARNING-----------------------

1:22 PM: 3rd and 9, Caught by Battle at the 43, he's short of the first.

1:23 PM: Bears call time. Actually 9ers called time.

1:24 PM: 9ers are going and why not... He found a wide open gore around the 18, and there's a flag, Thayer says Gore was out of bounds, I think Manning's going to get a facemask... But Gore WAS out of bounds, 4th and 6, might as well go again.

1:26 PM: They will, Bears call time before the snap. Really this time, 9ers are out of time outs. so it HAS to be the Bears.

1:27 PM: Ok, here we go. Pass caught, ball knocked out, intercepted by RMJ. Todd Johnson JACKED UP Antonio Bryant.

-------------------BEARS DRIVE 1:12 2nd

1:28 PM: Benson carries, gets 11. Then another 6 or so on 1st. Clock running, Bears content to run it out here it seems.

1:29 PM: Rex swings it out to Jason McKey.... and he picks up.... twenty six? interesting.

1:30 PM: Rex hits Desmond Clark, and the Bears are just pissing on the 9ers

41-0 BEARS. The "This is like Madden" references are coming in hot and heavy.

-----------------------49ERS DRIVE.... AW FUCK IT.

1:33 PM: Alex Smith takes a knee.

-----------------------HALFTIME BEARS 41 - 49ERS 0---------------------------

--------------------49ERS DRIVE 15:00 3rd

1:48 PM: From the 27, Gore, no gain.

1:50 PM: The 9ers got a first down there somehow, and then picked up 11 on a pass to Eric Johnson.

1:51 PM: 9ers into bear territory again. Time to shut this shit down. The former PSU Quarterback Michael Robinson loses a yard. 2nd down

1:52 PM: Arnez Battle gets the catch and makes a bunch of Bears miss, but goes mostly east/west, and it's 3rd down and 6.

1:53 PM: Caught by Bryant down to the 23, gain of 16. It's basically a matter of preserving the shutout at this point.

1:54 PM: Great coverage by Tillman there. 2nd and 10. Smith hits a receiver on the hands, but it's dropped, 3rd down.

1:55 PM: 3rd and 10 Smith overshoots his intended target but it looks like there's going to be a roughing the passer call against the Bears.... Oh wait. 15 yard facemask on the 49ERS, 3rd and 25 and that would turn a 40 yard FG attempt into a 55 yard attempt if the bears can hold them on 3rd.

1:56 PM: Smith hit as he delivers... do the 9ers try a FG here, go for it, or punt, They'll punt. Worell picks up an odd hop at the 10, ill advised but the Bears will start at the 11.

-------------------------BEARS DRIVE 10:42 3rd

1:59 PM: Rex still in, no surprise, give to Jones, that's a surprise. Jones gets the carry on 2nd down too and between the two, gets a 1st.

2:00 PM: Rex goes long for Gilmore and it's almost intercepted. 10 yard penalty on the bears, 1st and 20.

2:01 PM: Jones carries, Gain of 4 2nd and 16, Jones carries, gain of 5, 3rd and 11.

2:02 PM: Great pocket presence by Rex, finds Clark, first down

2:03 PM: Jones carries for 2.

2:04 PM: Jones' 4th catch on the day gets 7. 3rd and short. Time out, 49ers.

2:07 PM: Me, to Goffman: "here comes the swing pass to the fullback or the play action to the TE coming off into the flat on the delay" Swing to Mckey, gain of 4, first down.

2:08 PM: Loss of 1 on 1st, but Rex hits Berrian for 16 on a great RAC, 1st down.

2:09 PM: Jones on the carry, short yardage, 2nd down, Rex goes short to Clark, incomplete, but it's hard to make a catch when you're being anally raped by a linebacker. Pass interference, 1st down.

2:10 PM: Give to Jones and he picks up about 11 yards, first down inside the 10.

2:11 PM: Jones PLOWS down to the 2, 110 yards and a Tuddy on 22 for Jones. Time out bears.

2:12 PM: Around the league, 3 more TDs in the air from Vick, David Carr out in Houston, GB killing Zona. Baltimore destroying "America's Team" in the dome.

2:14 PM: Fumble on the snap, picked up by Rex, He goes for Moose in the back corner, but was basically throwing it away. 3rd and goal.

2:15 PM: Rex goes for Gabe Reid in the back of the endzone, broken up by former Bear Walt Harris. Bears going on 4th... I'm kinda shocked. Give to Jones, he can't get in. That drive took over 9 minutes, unfortunate that it didn't net points, but it was exactly what the Bears wanted.

--------------------------------49ERS Drive 1:28 3rd.

2:18 PM: Gore from the 1/2 yard line gets out to about the 4. Griese warming up. Whatever, put Benson in...

2:19 PM: 2nd and 6, pass goes through the hands of Vasher but there's an offsides on Alex Brown. 2nd and a yard.

2:20 PM: Urlacher with the stuff (stuff=TFL) and it's 3rd and 3

--------------------END OF THE 3RD: BEARS 41 - 49ERS 0------------------

2:22 PM: 3rd and 2 from the 8. Smith tucks and rolls, looks like a designed run, gain of 10ish

2:23 PM: Alex Smith makes a really nice move to avoid the rush and finds Battle for about 15 yards. Alex Smith, all things considered (which is a LOT of things) has had a half way decent game.

2:24 PM: Frank Gore breaks one big time, a 53 yard run, it's 1st and goal from the 9 for the 49ERS.

2:25 PM: Smith under heavy pressure finds Robinson and gets down to the 5. Gore, no gain, 3rd down. Do the 9ers take a cheapy FG if the Bears hold, or do they go again? I think it's two down territory.

2:26 PM: Vasher slaps it away from Battle, flag down. Holding on the Bea- no, on the 49ers, ref pointed the wrong way. Declined, here comes Nedney... perfect from inside 30 in his career. Kick is good. Shutout off the boards but it's their right to do so.... jerks.

41-3 BEARS

------------------------BEARS DRIVE 11:25

2:30 PM: Kick returned to the 31, Griese coming out.

And there's a... TIME OUT

WHERE?

On the field...

...Oh.

2:33 PM: Griese throws a one-hopper to Berrian, 2nd down. Benson in. St Clare and Metcalf in on the OLine. Benson carries and gains 3. 3rd down.

2:34 PM: Griese sacked, Benson whiffed on the block... well maybe the pass blocking deficiencies thing carries some weight after all. Maynard on for the 2nd time today. A BOMB of a kick but a decent return leaves only a 34 yard net.


--------------------------49ERS Drive 9:57 4th

2:37 PM: Smith scrambles, Tank has him low, Tommie crushes him high, 2nd and 8.

2:38 PM: Smith hits Bryant Gilmore on a comeback but Gilmore was out, incomplete pass.

2:39 PM: Smith scrambled and picks up the 1st.

2:40 PM: 1st and 10 Give to Gore big hole and DManning is there to wrap up, but not before gore gets about 20.

2:41 PM: 1st and 10 from the 30, Smith incomplete going long.

2:42 PM: Todd Johnson forces a fumble on a Frank Gore reception on a screen pass, but a 9er lineman falls on it. the run and fumble give the 9ers a 1st at the 16.

2:43 PM: Smith to Bryant for the Touchdown.


41-10 BEARS

------------------BEARS DRIVE 6:41 4th

2:46 PM: This latest "This is our country" Chevy commercial is a total abortion.

2:48 PM: Brian Baldinger of a 50 year old picture of Summerall "as preserved as ever"......make your own joke.... Benson gets about a yard on a 1st down run and about 3 yards on a 2nd down catch.

2:49 PM: A Puh-puh-puh Pete gets the 1st down on his 2nd carry. Benson back in.

2:50 PM: Benson gets a yard. As long as the Bears keep beating the 49ers in the Orange Jerseys, I'm Ok with them. McKey gets a carry and gets... meh

2:51 PM: 3rd and 8. Rasheed David wide open, 21 yards, flag down Offensive PI against Reid, 3rd and 18.

2:52 PM: Screen to Peterson, Bears got 8, needed 18, Maynard on again.

2:53 PM: 52 yard punt, 9 yard return

---------------------TWO MINUTE WARNING---------------------

------------------49ERS DRIVE 2:00 4th

2:57 PM: Smith pass, short gain, Smith pass, incomplete, SMITH SACKED... GUESS WHO! Mark Anderson forced fumble and the Bears recover!

2:58 PM: The Bears are taking knees and the morons at Solider are booing... what the hell crowd? You're embarrassing Bears fans everywhere. Why get anyone hurt? a 31 point win isn't enough?

-------------------------FINAL SCORE BEARS 41 - 49ERS 10----------------

Running Journal Bears/Cards (via facebook)

Starting at 7:30 tonight, I'll be posting my thoughts on the bears/cards game as it happens.... right here!

Edit, so I lied, the early returns are in, and yeah I'm just ripping off Bill Simmons, sue me.

Wait, no, don't.

6:00 pm: I just watched NFL Prime Time for the first time this year, now hosted by Stu Scott, Jaws and Ditka. What a sad, sad state that show has become. Now I have to watch Berman and Irvin on countdown, *sigh* I hate ESPN.

6:06 pm: I'm sorry, but Rachel Nichols is hot.

6:16 pm: Random thought, best reason to root for the Bears this year: the 85 Bears go away forever, we don't have to hear from any of them ever again, especially Ditka, who hasn't had a realistic football thought in about 15 years.

6:31 pm: Steve Young, jeez, I know Berman's a dolt, and Irivn's a borderline retard, but I expect a little bit more out of the BYU grad. His "best decision" by a quarterback on sunday was Drew Bledsoe's 2nd TD past to Owens. Did anyone SEE this play? Young sure didn't, Beldsoe threw an ill-advsed pass into tight double coverage, only a spectacular play by Owens saved that from being an interception.

Young follows that with his "under pressure" performance, which he gave to Roeth on a play where Roeth's fake screen pass, fake hand off gave him ample time to throw the ball with ZERO pressure in his face, ok, maybe I'm taking "pressure" in the wrong context, but even though the outcome was in doubt at that point, there was little question to anyone watching that the steelers had the game in hand.

Steve just regained a little by pantsing Berman leading into his "fab 5"

CAN'T THIS GAME START ALREADY!

6:43 pm: Yes, Rachel, the reason the Bears are so much better this year is because the defense bowls together, it has nothing to do with THE STARTING QUARTERBACK! Oh, and Tank Johnson isn't starting in place of Ian Scott, Tank is the new starter.

She's still hot though...

6:57 pm: Berman: "Chicago fans want me to decide, is it Davie Jones Urlacher or Duke of Urlacher" Decide? I think fans all over this country just want you to go away.

7:05 pm: Hearing Wayne Larrivee on the '85 highlights warms my heart.

7:17 pm: Oliver Ross, Chris Lewinski (Buh... but Clinton!), Alex Stepanovich, Reggie Wells, Leonard Davis. There's your Arizona Cardinals offensive line. Davis is the best of the bunch, and he's still no better than a top 15 tackle.

7:20 pm: I thnk Sal Palentonio knows a guy who knows a guy.

7:22 pm: This Kenny Mayne/Robbie Gould piece is fantastic.

7:25 pm: Do I listen to the technically superior call on WBBM AM, or do I listen to Kornheiser pants Theisman on ESPN... I think I'll try to do both.

7:31 pm: I'd be so pissed if I were a Cardinals fan. ESPN has done everything but come out and say they're rooting for the Bears tonight.

7:35 pm: Oh god it's almost here. We may see Tommie Harris in the backfield tonight if the bears get in a goal to go from <5.>throws the challenge flag. YOU CAN'T CHALLENGE FORWARD PROGRESS! I did not know that, it's a ballgame again.

7:37 pm: HDTV is not kind to Mike Torico's head or Michelle Tafoya's face.

7:38 pm: Bears have won the toss, and will recieve.

7:40 pm: Hank Williams leads us in, and, .... oh my god it's Jim Belushi in the open. Eat my ass, Jim.

7:42 pm: A Puh Puh Puh Pete gets the kick, and Rex JUST misses a wide open Berrian, damn. Classic Ron Turner on that play, go for the throat early, don't worry, it'll be there again.

7:44 pm: T Jones gets a yard, and then Rex throws a ball right to Eric Green, Gage was open behind him, Clark (?) in front of him, bad pass by Rex, Bears go 3 and out, oh well, decent punt by Maynard, here comes the D.

7:45 pm: Good protection by the Cards line on 1st down, gave Leinart enough time to find Bolden, Cards are fired up, but the bears swallow up Edge on 2nd and 5, 3rd down.

7:46 pm: Briggs JUST missed Leinart who found Johnson, they measure... but I think they got it. They did.

7:47 pm: The cards start fast. Pass on 1st to Leonard Pope, my guy out of Georgia... only his 4th catch of the season thusfar. Close to the 1st down. Edge Plows and gets the first.

7:49 pm: Edge again and the Cards are gashing the Bears D on this first drive, 9 yards on 1st down on back to back serieseseseses. James again, if the yellow line is right forward progress gives him the first, and it does.

7:50 pm: First down Cards, on a pass to Bolden anyone see Lance Briggs on that last play? That's why he's not going to get paid Urlacher money from the Bears.

7:51 pm: Edge on 1st gets 5, Edge on 2nd gets 6, first down.

7:52 pm: This is where the Bears usually clamp down.... Edge gets 6 more...

7:53 pm: Briggs overuns the tackle, and Bryant Johnson gives the Cards the lead.

7:56 pm: Alright, Bears, you just got shat upon on National TV. Prove that you're the best team in the league. For the record, I'm not worried.

7:59 pm: little flare to Moose... two yards, Rex dump to TJones for 6, good play there, 3rd and 2, this is huge. Oh my god, Berrian was WIDE open just past the sticks, Davis wasn't running for the ball, Rolle covered that like it was a punt and proved why he's a DB and not a WR. Dante Wesley makes a HUGE play on the punt. Here's your chance to redeem yourselves, D.

8:03 pm: Brown and Tillman crunch each other on first, they try a similar play on 2nd and 4ish but Hunter wraps up. 3rd down, shut them down here, Bears.

8:04 pm: NATHAN VASHER... even if it hit the ground it's 4th down...

8:04:30 pm: Yep, that definatly hit the ground, but it's punt time for the Cards.

8:08 pm: What an AWFUL pass by Leinart, regardless of whether or not Vasher caught it. Get rid of the ball, son.

8:09 pm: I don't know what I like better, Scott Player's single bar facemask, or Devin Hester's full face breathe right strip. Hester bumps into Todd Johnson, fortunatly nobody touched the ball, Bears still have shitty field postion to start this drive.

8:12 pm: False Start. 1st and 15, still not worried....................

8:13 pm: Desmond Clark! Hey, nobody coverd him. Incomplete going to moose on the outside. Jason McKey gets on on the swing pass and it's 3rd and long again... ugh.

8:15 pm: Oy Vey, cards dropped 8, and Rex put up an awful, awful pass. Picked and run back quite a way.

8:16 pm: Edge gets 2 on 1st. Loses 3 on 2nd, the D is stepping up here.

8:17 pm: Urlacher misses a tackle, and the line gave Bolden enough time to set up... nothing's going right thusfar. Let the quarter end....

8:19 pm: This is the Cardinals' SuperBowl.... Bears can still win this game.

8:21 pm: Toss play, TJones gets 3. Screen pass, Jones gets 4. HUGE play coming up to start the 2nd quarter.

8:24 pm: Bears are going to look for Reid or Gilmore on this play, unless Benson goes in, in which case, look for the plow.

8:25 pm: Show's what I know... ouch, Berrian gets crunched and can't hold onto the reception which would have given them the 1st down.

8:26 pm: There was NOTHING else the Bears could have done right there, the play worked, and you can't fault Berrian for not holding on. If the Bears are gong to win, the defense has to make plays here and try to swing the momentum.

8:27 pm: Danny, Rivera's doing just about everything right, the Cards' just have a perfect gameplan tonight, Bears D is starting to stuff things here, the screen was shut down quickly on 1st and the penetration shut down the run on 2nd. 3rd and 12.

8:28 pm: Bears sent Briggs there and Leinart had to get rid of it quicker than he'd have liked. D Manning was a hawk on that play. Hester goes straight up the field and gets 15. That's how you do it, Devin.

8:29 pm: Paul informs me that Charles Barkley has joined the MNF booth, that's what WBBM is for. ESPN summons the 4 horsemen by pairing Barkley and Theisman.

8:32 pm: Ok, Bears, you've spotted them 14 points, forget about it, play football.

8:33 pm: Uh oh. Where the hell was that going?

8:34 pm: I guess the Cardinals signed Q Mitchell this week, back to back false starts...

8:37 pm: I don't konw if you could possibly capture what's wrong with ESPN and sports in general any better than than that 'This is Sportscenter' commercial with Chad Johnson.

8:40 pm: WHY DID JONES HESITATE?!?! He had the 1st there if he just runs.

8:43 pm: It is AMAZING how much better the game just got as I crack my first Rolling Rock.

8:45 pm: Touchback. Cards go to work, Edge get a yard.

8:46 pm: Vasher makes the tackle following an incomplete, and the Cards go 3 and out.

8:49 pm: That's why you'd rather not have a right tackle playing left tackle... Cardinals ball. I can't wait to hear the morons blame Rex on that.

8:51 pm: JJ Arrignton's making plays, and I'm offically worried.

8:53 pm: Bolden gets called for a hold on a James run, but regardless, Lance Briggs just let Edge go right though his hands.

8:54 pm: Rackers extends the lead... why didn't the Bears decline the hold, it would have been 4th down. They got the FG either way, but why give them another play?

8:57 pm: Thomas Jones gets 5 yards on 1st down... incomplete on 2nd, Rex finds Clark on 3rd, 1st down... phew, Bears need points here.

8:58 pm: Bill: 4

8:59 pm: Jones has a great run, and Moose negates it with an illegal block. When it rains it pours.

9:00 pm: Oh boy does it ever. I need another beer.

9:01 pm: Anquan Bolden 19 yards, he was WIDE open, we've hit the warning, Bears have hit the wall.

9:01 pm: Paul: 99 problems would be an improvement at this point. The D needs a takeaway here in the WORST way.

9:05 pm: Rackers is lining up here, looks like it'll be a 20-0 game at the half. Bears adjustments for the 2nd half... Well, stop playing so poorly. Wrap up on tackles, and the the O line needs to protect Rex. Rex needs to play better, simple as that. Cardinals will get the ball to start, it's gonna be up to the D to turn this around early, but obviously the game is in the offense's hands.

Dennis Green will adjust his belt for the 2nd half after consuming an entire honey baked ham with a side of bacon.

9:20 pm: Ooohkay. 20 point game,Cards' ball, everything that could have gone wrong has gone wrong and more. Let's see if they can turn it around, they can't possibly play this bad in the 2nd half.... can they?

9:22 pm: Holding on the kickoff, Edge plows on 1st for 1. Bears shift things around big time on 2nd down, huge gap between the tackles, Brown gets in Leinarts face but Leinart was able to get it to his target, it's 3rd and 4. Briggs gets his hand up and bats down the ball. Cards go 3 and out, good start for the D, but I'm not worried about that unit.

9:25 pm: I still hate the Hester pick.

9:26 pm: Oooh boy, here we go. Jones makes something out of nothing on 1st, 2nd and 5. Jones takes the draw play for 4 yards, it's 3rd down. Jones carries and gets close..... could be the biggest spot of the game. Theisman says Jones is short, so of course he got the 1st.

9:29 pm: Getting 10 yards never seemed so hard, Rex finds Clark, the only guy who's done anything in the reciving corps tonight, another dozen yards or so.

9:30 pm: Rex hits Davis for another 14 and the Bears are on the march for the first time this eve.

9:31 pm: Jones carries for short yards. Jones actually got no yardage on that play and Rex and Moose have a miscommunication that leads to an incompletion on 2nd down, it's 3rd and long. Rex JUST gets the play off and finds Davis for the 1st.

9:32 pm: Field Goal range for the Bears, and Rex finds Berrian short, he breaks a tackle and moves down to the 3 yard line, screw the FG, the Bears MUST get 7 here.

9:33 pm: Fullback trap to Jason McKey, nothing, may have lost a yard, lost two actually, christ I didn't like that call. Rex rolls and throws it away, I'm SO glad he didn't try to force it, 3rd and goal.

9:34 pm: Rex throws an awkward pass for Berrian but Bernard can't come down with it, Gould comes on, Bears inability to convert in the red zone strikes again, not good....

9:35 pm: Gould doesn't miss, Bears get on the board, it's time to 3 and out them again, D.

9:38 pm: Illegal proceedure on the kickoff. Cards start at the 40, my god EVERYTHING is going wrong.

9:41 pm: Cardinals try to go for the throat, deep over the middle to Bolden, but the ball is behind it's target and it's 2nd down...

9:42 pm: Edge carries gets about 6, it's 3rd down. Todd Johnson does the ONE thing he does well and CRUSHES Troy Walters to break up a would-be first down. The Cardinals go 3 and out, but there's a marker on the punt, even if it's running into the kicker it's still going to be enough for a 1st down. The refs make it a 15 yarder and it's a moot point.... wow, horseshit call.

9:43 pm: Briggs gets another deflection, so he's almost made up for his missed tackles. Devin Hester is covering Anquan Bolden, good christ help us.

9:44 pm: False start on the Cardinals 2nd and 15.

9:45 pm: Mike Brown breaks up a pass, 3rd down. Time for another stop here, Bears.

9:46 pm: Bears fail to get to Leinart on the rush and he's able to find Bolden in front of Vasher for 16. they're in field goal range already.

9:47 pm: James gets nothing on first down. Breaks a tackle (Urlacher I think) on 2nd down but there's a flag down... Illegal Formation. Bears get a break.

9:48 pm: Arrignton carries, Brown takes him down, gain of 5, 3rd down.

9:49 pm: JJ Arrington picks up the 1st on 3rd and 9. This is getting brutal.

9:50 pm: Briggs hits James for a loss of 1. The Cardinals continue to burn the clock though...

9:51 pm: And with that, the Carindals roll Leinart out, and it's incomplete, thank's for the clock stop, Denny. Brown takes down Edge on the shotgun draw and it's 4th down. Rackers on to try from 29. It's good, 23-3, Bears can't allow them to score again, and must score a touchdown on this drive.

9:55 pm: Benson into the game on the next drive for the Bears. I really fail to see the point, he's not the kind of back that can come in and turn it on, he needs to get into a lather. This move should have been made at the start of the 2nd quarter. Here's hoping it works out.

9:57 pm: Bears try to hit Berrian long and can't, can't blame them for trying it, but Rex could have put a little more touch on the ball. 2nd and 10 Rex goes to benson on the Swing and Benson gets 8 where Jones would have had 4. Rex finds Davis on 3rd, but Davis can't hang on, it's 4th down and the Bears have to punt. There's almost no sand left in the Bears' Hourglass.

10:01 pm: MARK ANDERSON!!! and Mike Brown gets his 7th career touchdown on penultimate play of the 3rd quarter. A few more grains just got added to that Hourglass. Still a LOT of work to do.

10:06 pm: Bears D has some swagger back, the Cardinals had to burn a timeout.
10:04 pm: Dan: Does it mean anything? No, not yet. Bears D needs to make ANOTHER play, if not another score, then a sack or a big stop on 3rd and the offense needs a touchdown. Then it'll mean something.

10:09 pm: Mike Brown and RMJ are out. Bolden caught a first down pass, followed by an Edge first down run thanks in part to another Briggs missed tackle.

10:12 pm: P-Nut nearly picks Leinart on 3rd and 10, Bears are going to get the ball, down two scores with 11:55 to play.

10:14 pm: The offense has had one decent drive today, now they need two scoring drives the next two times they have the ball. Can it be done, yes, but it's going to take a championship performance.

10:16 pm: Cedric is still in the game and he got the carrie on 1st down, got 4 yards but Rex had to throw it away on 2nd down, and now things are dicy. I don't think it's 4 down territory now, and Moose is down. Thayer asks "Is that moose's first drop on a 3rd down that..." and the answer is no, Moose's streak is "Consecutive third down catches for a first down" which basically means that he's really good at running to the sticks on 3rd down, but as Jeff astutly pointed out last week, he's also the #1 option on most plays, so his route usually sends him past the sticks. This may be the most overblown and overrated stat I've ever heard. It's not impressive.

10:20 pm: Theisman: "This is where the Bears defense has to step up and make plays" Thanks, Joe. No gain, and an incomplete, which stopped the clock, it's 3rd down and long, must get the stop here. Bears send 6 and Urlacher slaps the ball back. The Bear D is flying around now and hitting on all cyllanders. Hester runs it back to the 44, the bears are perfectly set up here, only 1:44 has run off since the start of the last Bears drive, the time is now.

10:25 pm: Unabated to the Quarterback, it's 1st and 5.

10:26 pm: Another horrid pass, 2nd down and 5. Jones is back in the game. Cards jummped offsides again, it's got to be an offsides, they let the play run.... It was, declinded, jones got 9ish on the run, 1st and 10.

10:27 pm: Rex either threw an awful pass, or threw it away, I can't tell. I'm guessing he threw it away because the pressure was on him again. 2nd and 10 and Rex threw the fade, while Berrian ran the post, although Theiman makes a decent point that Berrian was interfeared with. Grossman goes deep for daivs and misses him on 3rd, Krutz says go for it, I'm inclined to agree, a FG makes it a 10 point game.

10:29 pm: 4th and 10, Darnell dockett takes in a batted pass, and he runs it all the way back, I was sure he was down, but the way things are going tonight... No, he was definatly down there. Davis threw himself infront of Dockett and Dockett's knee was down, still it's going to be Cards ball as the Bears squander great field position.

10:34 pm: Run, run, pass, punt, 2 minutes off the clock. Hester on the field. doesn't get much. Bears need to go about 70 yards to score, and then get the ball back and score again.

10:36 pm: Clark, 9ish, false start, 2nd and 6 after the penalty on Garza. Pass is batted again and Rex hits the ground hard. He gets up much to the chagrin of the start Giese morons. Rex is able to find Berrian for a 15 yards and a 1st down on 3rd and 6.

10:38 pm: An incomplete pass opens the 2nd series and now there's flags everywhere, the play is held up and the bears jumped again, AGAIN it was Garza. Unacceptable at this point in the game.

10:39 pm: Robert Griffith ends the game as Rex is picked again.

10:40 pm: P-NUT TILMAN AND IT'S ALIVE Denny Green eats... no, wait, I'm sorry, that's throws the challenge flag. YOU CAN'T CHALLENGE FORWARD PROGRESS! I did not know that, it's a ballgame again.

10:46 pm: After a great kick return, JJ Arrington puts his Cal education to good use as he picks up the taunting penalty. 4:53 to play. Vasher's got Bolden 1 on 1 and the safetys are Worell and Johnson, James goes nowhere on 1st.

10:47 pm: Bolden gets 15 yards and a 1st down on a slant play, here comes a run, Bears pretty much have to stop them on the next 3 plays.

10:48 pm: Urlacher erases James and the bears call time. 2nd and 12 coming up for the cards. (1)

10:50 pm: Leinart behind Bolden, incomplete, (2) Thank you for saving a time out Denny. Leinart rolls out, INCOMPLETE (3) HESTER'S GOT ROOM
THERE HE GOES
THERE HE GOES
THERE HE GOES
I LOVE THE HESTER PICK
NO FLAGS
NO FLAGS
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

10:54 pm: As Bill can verify thanks to our phone call, I just screamed for litereally 90 seconds, D needs to do it one more time. I just called Eric who's somewhere in the middle of Iowa with no cable and poor radio, unaware of everything following the 5th Rex INT. He sounded half dead.

10:55 pm: To Bolden, Johnson grabs him and won't let go, Urlacher finishes him off. on 2nd down, James gets the first on a dump, and we've hit the warning.

10:57 pm: Neil Rackers is about as good as it gets, and the cards only need about 17 yards. The Bears cannot run the clock out on them, they have to get them to go out on downs here. Urlacher bats down a Leinart pass. that's one. Leinart hits Bolden for 6, out of bounds, 3rd and 4, two down territory.

10:59 pm: One sack bears, please.

11:00 pm: The other Ayanbadejo catches a little swing and nobody's covering him, he gets about 10, they're at the 31 and it's 1st down. 48 yarder from this point but Leinart just hit Bolden down to the 23, it's a 40 yarder. Bears might need to start using their time outs.

11:01 pm: A little run for James, the Bears use their time out, if they can get the stop here, the Cards will kick and the Bears will have a chance to come down and match. if they can't get the stop the Bears will need a shank or block on the FG.

11:02 pm: James carries, Bears hold, there's 53 seconds left, the FG will take about 5, the kickoff will take another 5-10, the bears will have about 45 seconds and no time outs to try and get into Robbie Gould range, unless Rackers missed a 40....

NO GOOD IT'S NO GOOD IT'S NO GOOD IT'S NO GOOD!



I saw the 49er game
I saw the Cleveland game

That was the most amazing game I've ever seen. Grossman turns the ball over 6 times, and the Bears win!

11:38 pm: I set my DVR to record as soon as Sportscenter started, and it picks up the last 15 minutes (assuming you hadn't changed channels) it started with the bears holding on 3rd down, right before the Hester return. As I watch this over again, I truly beleive that this team is going to win the Superbowl.

11:44 pm: My final thought for this journal. Following the last Rex interception, I began to type an update that read something to the effect of "Well, this team wasn't going to go 16-0 anyway, and they have the bye week..." right as P-Nut was running the ball back on the James fumble. At this point, I'm in total disbelief. This isn't a smoke and mirrors football team, they destroyed 4 of their first 5 opponents including the defending NFC Champions. They snuck out of the Hump Dome with a win, and they just found a way to come back from down 20 points for only the second time in the 80+ years of the franchise. Cardinal fans must feel like Cubs fans felt following game 6 of the 2003 NLCS, but I don't care about them now. My team is 6-0 heading into the bye, and as bad as they looked tonight, they're still undefeated.


AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

HHHHHHHHHH! BEARS WIN!

THE 104 GAME BASEBALL SEASON

In an effort to make baseball an event, something special, a league on par with the NFL in buzzworthyness and gambling possibilities, less of a slog, I’ve completely destroyed most baseball traditions to present to you:

THE 104 GAME BASEBALL SEASON

In order to create the proper 104 game season, we have to do a little realignment

Contract the Kansas City Royals
Combine the Florida Marlins and Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Move the Florida Franchise to the AL
Move the Brewers back to the AL
Create two divisions in each league of 7 teams each
Hockey style scoring to determine standings
Division winners, and two wild card teams make the playoffs with the highest number of points in their respective leauge
26 weeks of baseball, with weeks solidly defined, much like in the NFL

The first 12 weekends of the season consist of 4 game intra-league series, played on Thu-Fri-Sat-Sun with 1 NL and one AL series being Fri-Sat-Sun-Mon.

The two Monday games, will consist of an evening and a night game, with scheduling designed around making the wrap-around Monday series the two best of the weekend

Hockey Style Scoring.

Lose the series = 0 points
Win the series = 2 points
Sweep the series = 4 points
Split = 1 per team

The following 4 weekends of the season would allow for interleague play, 3 game series, Fri-Sat-Sun with two series Fri-Sun-Mon or Fri-Sat-Mon

Lose = 0
Win = 2
Sweep = 3

The following six weeks follow the same pattern as the first 12 weeks of the season

The final four weeks are five game series Thu-Fri-Sat-Sun-Tue (to avoid MNF) All Sunday games would be afternoon games.

Lose = 0
Win 3 = 2
Win 4 = 3
Sweep = 6

The Interleauge series will consist of two home series and two road series, based random draw before the season, with one of each team’s 4 series devoted to a regional matchup.

The four 5 game series at the end of the season are always divisional matchups games. Two home, two road, based on points standings heading into the final month. The top 5 teams in each division play each other one time each, the bottom two teams in the division will play each other twice, and the bottom two teams in the opposite division in the same league one series each.

The remaining 18 series will consist of home at home within the respective division, and one series against six of the seven intra-league teams.

The all star game is abolished since it no longer matters, however, during the interleague stretch, players will convene on the four Tuesdays at neutral sites for the BALCO home run derby, the Adidas running bases tournament, the Rollings 500 tournament, and the Tom Emanski throw-a-ball-from-centerfield-into-a-garbage-can-tipped-over-at-home tournament. Each of the 28 teams will submit a player to each of the four tournaments, the players will compete on both an overall scale, and against their division, The four division winners will take home 3 points for their teams, the 2^nd place 2, and the 3^rd and 4^th place 1 point each, the overall top highest scorer in each league will earn their team an extra 1 point.