Ken Sothman, Bears Superfan

Note: I apologize for the long absence, I just finished finals weeks for the first semester yesterday afternoon. Though it wasn't fun, I've seemed to have come out in one piece, and I did study up on some mind tricks from psychology we could possibly use on Rex if he morphs back to Hex Grossman. Now to the important stuff...

I have mixed feelings about today's game. Because with a close 34-31 victory over the Bucs of Tampa Bay, the Chicago Bears season was almost ended today.

The Bears season wouldn't have ended because it's the playoffs, for it's only week 15 so the one and done format is still a few weeks away. It wouldn't have been ended because they would've been eliminated from contention, for with this victory the Bears have actually improved to 12-2 and have clinched home-field advantage through the NFC Championship. And definitely not because of more poor play from starting quarterback Rex Grossman, who threw for a career high 339 yards with two touchdowns tagged along.

But the dreams of a Super Bowl in Miami almost ended due to an atrocious fourth-quarter from Chicago's defense, which up to this point, has been the proven back-bone and force that holds the fort together. And with three touchdowns in the fourth quarter, Buc's third-string quarterback Tim Rattay almost single-handedly catapoulted the walls down by sending the game into over-time after being down 24-3 midway through the third quarter.

Now I don't mean to jump on Urlacher and Company's case too hard, for they have saved this team many times this season, including a long stretch when Grossman's offense couldn't find the end zone if it was handed a map. But after the accumulation of injuries from starters Mike Brown, Tommie Harris, and Nathan Vasher, added in with the marathon that is the NFL season, I think it's safe to say after these past two weeks the defense just hasn't been the same. The Rams and Bucs, two teams with a combined record of 9-19 record, have been able to attack at will in the second-half with a combined 42 points. And today's second half almost cost not only the game in my opinion, but also the season.

Heading into the playoffs, the Bears can't afford to look vulnerable. As in case for past SuperBowl champions, the best example being last year's Pittsburgh Steelers, the most important factor heading into the playoffs is momentum. Without momentum (as in a four-game win streak) and a serious charge heading into the playoffs, the Bears would once again be the questionable bye-team that's one bad game from either side of the ball away from being eliminated. It took place in both 2002-2003 and 2005-2006, and it would once again take place this season. These next two games against the Lions and Packers may as well be considered the post-season.

For a more detailed comparison, look at the Colts. Every year the Indianpolis Colts come out firing, blowing teams away on the score-board, putting together highly impressive records through the first ten weeks, and wrapping up all considerable important regular-season goals through week 12. Then Peyton's crew goes into cruise control mode, and tend to finish the season on a less then prosperous note. And as I've pointed out many times in this blog, the total of Super Bowls they've been to during my 20 year-old life-time: zero.

Hopefully the boys on "D" can get themseleves rejuvenated and back to playing full-time "Lovie-Ball!" before it's too late. Signs of "Lovie-Ball!" reappeared when Alex Smith was stripped of the ball during over-time, and hopefully the style of defense is here to stay.

Because the last thing Bears fans need is another repeat of last year's Panthers game.