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Their last game just about drove me insane, but somehow the Bears managed to pull it off.
Handicap the upcoming playoff game against the Saints.
Bonus question. What do you think of Phil Luciano’s recent column?
Sports Illustrated depicts the Saints as miracle workers: “The Saints … will appear in their first conference championship to offer more salve to post-Katrina New Orleans.”
The San Antonio Express-News calls the team nothing less than “a beacon of hope for the Gulf South.” The paper, perhaps suggesting divine intervention on the side of the Saints, trots out a 77-year-old Roman Catholic priest to bluster: “This is not just good for the Saints. It’s good for the city of New Orleans.”
The New York Times, which usually is to sports coverage as I am to fashion critiques, insists that Saints’ success means nothing less than financial survival of the city via urban renewal: It quotes a Forbes editor as saying, “I think if they get to the Super Bowl, you’ll see a lot of talk of rebirth.” […]
Look, I’m sorry about Katrina. But are football fans and the rest of America so lunkheaded as to think New Orleans’ future rests on 60 minutes of football?
[Hat tip: Billy]
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Jan 19, 07 @ 9:18 am
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Give me a break. This angle is seriously reaching. Hack journalists.
GO BEARS!!!!!
Comment by Bridget Dooley Friday, Jan 19, 07 @ 9:27 am
If 60 minutes of football can really change New Orleans, I feel sorry for them. There is absolutely no way they are going to beat the Bears.
I was just in Chicago yesterday, and it was colder than… well you know. I have no faith in any team that plays in a dome, especially when they come up to Chi Town.
GO BEARS!
Comment by Scott Friday, Jan 19, 07 @ 9:31 am
Yes. The only thing bigger in sports history than a Saints Superbowl win would be a Cubs World Series title. The bottom of the pile to the top in one year is the best example that American hopes and dream are obtainable. Never underestimate the emotions that Americans invest in sporting events. If the Cubbies won the World Series in 08, an Obama presidentail win would not make page three until the Bears elimination from the playoffs.
Comment by Ali Bin Haddin Friday, Jan 19, 07 @ 9:45 am
I got a note yesterday from someone who visited New Orleans last weekend, and described a French Quarter that looked back physically but not in spirit - except on game day. And not only that, my correspondent wrote, folks there were intently paying attention to the Bears game.
It’s short-term relief, but show New Orleanians some compassion.
Beyond that, though, the focus of international media on New Orleans for two weeks if they make the Super Bowl will undoubtedly prompt more volunteers, donations, and even calls to the Bush Administration(and American) for further action to rebuild a city that was an international treasure.
An entire American city is still largely in ruins, dying. You can root for the Bears guilt-free, no doubt, but let’s not disparage both the short-term and (potential) long-term gain the amazing Saints might provide.
Comment by Steve Rhodes Friday, Jan 19, 07 @ 9:46 am
Maybe we should let the game be played out on Sunday, and leave all the pudit commentary go where it belongs, into thin air.
It’s just a football game, nothing more, nothing less.
Comment by Rex Friday, Jan 19, 07 @ 9:54 am
I am certainly hopeful that the SI Curse carries over to the Saints…GO BEARS!
Comment by Taylor Street Friday, Jan 19, 07 @ 9:57 am
The Bears are going to lose by 40 and I’ll fight any man who says otherwise. Go Saints Go! Your number 1 fan JP loves you with all his heart!!! XOXO
Comment by JP Val Friday, Jan 19, 07 @ 9:59 am
As far as the game, I think the Saints have a great shot. The Bears have been just an average team the last couple of months. I don’t buy into the weather talk. We forget that though these players currently play for the Saints, many have played with other NFL teams in cold climates, many played at cold climate colleges and many played at cold climate high schools. Even Urlacher played college call in New Mexico, which hardly prepared him for the cold Chicago games. But I don’t remember anyone ever talking about that his first year or two…
As far as the New Orleans issue, I think that having a successful team can mean a lot to a city. Having a successful franchise helps a city in many ways. With success comes profit and interest which allows the team to better pay its staff, donate more to the community, and keep from needing tax dollars every 5 years for a new stadium.
Sure the Saints aren’t going to totally dictate the rebuilding of N.O., but their success can certainly help to mend the broken city. Chicago can take the loss after all, we’ve been there before.
Comment by Robbie Friday, Jan 19, 07 @ 10:20 am
The White Sox winning in 2005 surely did not solve all of the south side’s problems, nor will New Orleans’ be solved by the Saints winning. It’s great that they’re having a wonderful season, and to the extent it brings happiness to people who could use some, terrific.
Most people seem to predicting a close game with a Saints win; I agree that it’ll be close, but I think the Bears pull it out. Rex Grossman will once again not be terrible (as I predicted last week over YDD’s protests), and the Bears will get some big plays. New Orleans will move the ball, too, but I think the Bears get it done at the end again. I’ll say 34-31 Chicago, to set up a rematch of Super Bowl XX.
Comment by Gus Frerotte's Clipboard Friday, Jan 19, 07 @ 10:29 am
I picked the Seahawks to win last week, and my prediction was based on the talents of Shaun Alexander and Maurice Morris. Well, Mike Holmgren did his worst, and Matt Hasselbeck had no business throwing as much as he did in cold weather (especially with two broken fingers).
That said, I think Sean Payton (or Malcolm in the Middle) will learn from the Big Show’s mistakes and run Deuce McAllister and Reggie Bush down the Bears’ throats. Seriously, when was the last time that a duo like McAllister and Bush were in the same backfield? Even if the weather is cold, the Saints O-line can punish anyone, and Jammal Brown is a beast.
Saints 20, Bears 17
Oh, and my boy Peyton Manning will pick apart the Pats.
Colts 31, Patriots 20
Bonus: Governor Blagojevich will wager state contracts against Governor Blanco’s kickbacks.
Comment by Team Sleep Friday, Jan 19, 07 @ 10:51 am
I think Robbie Gould will have to win it again. The weather (if there is any) will make the biggest difference to the placekickers and ours is better than theirs. I think the Bears win by 6 (two Gould field goals).
Comment by Jaded Friday, Jan 19, 07 @ 10:54 am
Forgot about the bonus question.
I think it is a good article (for those of you who called him a hack journalist, read the whole article and not just the blurb provided by Miller). It calls into question all the BS about how a Saints victory will revive New Orleans if they win. It won’t and that is pretty much what he says. He basically says root for your team and remember it is just a football game. I think he is right.
Comment by Jaded Friday, Jan 19, 07 @ 11:13 am
Cold.
Snowing.
Windy.
Soldier Field.
…Bears by 4 on a touchdown off a turnover in the last few minutes.
DA BEARS!
Comment by NW burbs Friday, Jan 19, 07 @ 11:17 am
If the Saints win the SuperBowl they could go to the White House and present Bush with a #0 jersey on behalf of the people of New Orleans.
Comment by Anon Friday, Jan 19, 07 @ 11:25 am
The major role the Saints have played this season is to remind the rest of the country that something very special in the United States psyche will be lost if the city of New Orleans fails or collapses. As it still could.
That said, there is no way that a Super Bowl Saints team will play any major role in a New Orleans renaissance. The fundamental problems facing the city are political, not spiritual.
And nobody deserves to win a sports game because the home city has had a terrible ordeal. That is all left behind on the field. To their credit, if you ask the Saints players themselves about this hype, they don’t say anything of the kind. They say they will win because they’re a fundamentally better team.
I think they are, too, and I think their running backs are going to pound the Bears silly Sunday. They win it by more than a touchdown.
Go Saints.
Comment by ZC Friday, Jan 19, 07 @ 12:29 pm
No Tommie Harris is proving to be a big problem for the Bears, as the pass rush is weak and the opposing offensive coordinator no longer needs to plan around him, double team him, etc.
If the Bears can’t get to Brees, and I don’t think they can, the Saints will score quite a lot. That leaves it up to Rex, who will need to a huge game for the Bears to win.
Comment by Bubs Friday, Jan 19, 07 @ 1:16 pm
Bubs that about sums it up. Tommie Harris was their best defensive player until his injury. Urlacher gets blocked more without Harris commanding attention. Shedding blocks is not Urlacher’s forte.
Comment by Tom Friday, Jan 19, 07 @ 2:30 pm
Let’s see.
The bad Rex will appear.
Defense gets 7 pts.
Hester gets 7 pts.
Gould kicks 3 for 9 pts.
Saints Offense rings up 3 TD’s -21 points.
Defense will return at least one of Rex’s bombs - 7 pts.
2 Fg’s - 6 pts.
Saints 34 - Bears 23. Suicide rate is up in Chi-town.
Comment by Papa Legba Friday, Jan 19, 07 @ 2:46 pm
Just heard the Cubs are signing football players great way to avoid conditioning issues.
How about Pinella telling a radio audience that he had not talked with w/Pryor yet. Sounds like dejavu all over again
Comment by Reddbyrd Friday, Jan 19, 07 @ 3:26 pm
look how well New England is playing in the playoffs - recent playoff experience cannot be overrated. New Orleans is delighted to have made it this far, after a 3-13 season last year. Their coach (from Naperville) is already the toast of the town.
Chicago is playoff experienced from last year and better prepared for the hype and the cold.
New Orleans won’t be rebuilt in a year, and their football team cannot expect to go from terrible to best in the league in just one year.
Bears by 4 in a game high scoring by Bears’ standards. Not because they are the better team or lucky, but because they are more poised for the post-season opportunity, as New Orleans will be next year. And the Bears players are mad as hell as being just 2 1/2 point favorites when playing at home.
Comment by capitol view Friday, Jan 19, 07 @ 3:29 pm
A Saints win will justify all the rebuilding below sea level. Game ball to Brownie.
A Saints loss will cause the levees to breach once again…what motivation for their team.
Bears win if Rex gets 20 or more yards running. Seriously, that is key. A couple of delayed draws and swing outs are all that is rquired to keep the Saints defense honest.
On the ground, the Saints will run either Bush or McAlister with the other in the slot. Lots of problems for the Bear linebackers. Watch for motion out of two back set and also out of the slot. This will be Rivera’s biggest test and will determine if he moves up on the hiring interview charts.
Turner needs to keep his slot back in and watch how the tailback blocks. Rex has been sacked, forced fumbled, etc when the outside linebacker on the strong side does a delayed blitz as he sees the slot man go downfield. Get rid of that set. And make sure that the back kept in does more than lunge at the rush and wave at the blocker and at Rex, saying ‘I’m open.’
Too tough to call…take the points
Comment by Truthful James Friday, Jan 19, 07 @ 4:19 pm
Mixed loyalty here. A Bears fan from way before Butkus but also like Coach Sean Peyton who happens to be an Eastern Illinois U alum. Still, it’s gonna be cold and snow–Da Bears by 3. If not, life goes on and work returns Monday.
Comment by zatoichi Friday, Jan 19, 07 @ 4:44 pm
so now it is Monday - and the Bears clobbered the Saints, while the Colts barely snuck by the Patriots. So who is favored to win the Super Bowl? The Colts, of course.
During the Bears game, a factoid was flashed across the bottom of the screen - in the previous 9 playoff games of indoor stadium teams against outdoor stadium teams, where the playoff game was played outside, the outdoor stadium team won all nine games. But this factor was obviously ignored by the odds makers.
Can the Bears beat the Colts / Manning? Believe it, baby. Take the odds at whatever they are. A lot of Bears fans must have won a lot of money as a result of last Sunday’s game, and more will be won by Chicgao backers on Feb. 4th.
Comment by capitol view Monday, Jan 22, 07 @ 9:45 am