A Good Weekend for the Bears?

I don't know why, but after a few weeks of silence, my first post will be about...football. As I said, don't ask.

But do ask yourself this: could it be a very good weekend for the Bears? The answer may just be yes.

Let's review: thus far this season, the Bears have looked more or less godawful. A D that's so completely banged up as to be almost beyond recognition (starting safety Mike Brown out for the season, Darwin Walker out, Dusty Dvoracek out, Tommie Harris playing at 70-80% of potential). A change at quarterback. Thankfully Tank Jones, his pit bulls, and home arsenal are no longer around to distract us.

It also hasn't been a particularly win-heavy season: only victories against a bad KC Chiefs squad, a somewhat impressive win over an overrated Packers team (but hey, we beat the Pack!), and last Sunday's win over the Philly Eagles. It's that last that was really the ray of light: Brian Griese - the beneficiary of that midseason switch at QB - led the team on a late 4th quarter drive down the field, 97 yards in all, for the winning touchdown. He also didn't throw a pick. If it had been Rex Grossman, both of these would have been shocking.

The losses for their part have been heinous - never mind the loss to San Diego, in large part because a TV guide wire got in the way, or the loss to a Dallas team that's clearly talented (though no where near as talented as the inhumanly good Patriots). It's the defeats at the hands of the Lions and Vikings that rankle.

This week, the Lions come to Soldier field. I don't know why, but I'm feeling good about this one. Yes the Lions are 4-2, but they're more illusion than reality. They've beaten the Raiders (big whoop), the Vikings, the Bears, and the Buccaneers - none are especially stellar teams. They've also lost to the Eagles and the Redskins - 34-3. A win here puts the Bears at 4-4 and at 2-2 in the division (Lions will be 2-1). A loss means the Lions are starting to pull away from the Bears (their two meetings will have been concluded) although it'd hardly be wise to crown them NFC North champs as they haven't played the Pack yet.

But to make things even juicier, both the Packers and Vikings may have a tough time winning this weekend. The Vikings are playing the Eagles about which a lot can be said. Assuming the Eagles stop Adrian Petersen, they basically win. The Packers play Denver, a team which has had its moments, at Denver (an undeniable advantage). And if the final play comes down to Denver kicker Jason Elam's leg, it's over for the Vikes - Elam's kicked the game-winning FG in every one of Denver's three wins this season, including last weekend's against the Steelers.

But what does it really matter? Whoever wins the NFC this year gets crushed by the Patriots. It's that simple. Unless of course Tom Brady breaks a leg or something, which I certainly hope doesn't happen (oh and they're only getting better as Richard Seymour may return in a few weeks...).

Right now, I have to expect the sacrificial lamb to come out of the NFC East, either Dallas or the Giants. Which begs the question did anyone look at a map when putting the NFC East together? Dallas is west of the Mississippi; it's east of Austin? While we're on topic of stupid things in the NFL, Miami LB Channing Crowder (the Dolphins are 0-7 and stink like week-old fish play in London this weekend) only recently learned that in fact he won't need a translator in London as people there speak English. Incredible.