Saturday, February 03, 2007
The prediction
This is it. After going 5-1 in the playoffs, the Mainstream Media Calculator™ is back to choose one final game. I made a few tweaks to the formula, so hopefully it can give me a more accurate result. Granted, the outcomes have been okay, but the scores haven't been too close. Let's see what it spits out for this game.
Super Bowl XLI
Indianapolis Colts vs. Chicago Bears
Formulaic values: Peyton Manning big game + Rex Grossman sucks + Rex Grossman stinks + Rex Grossman is inconsistent + Rex Grossman can lose this game + Rex Grossman is awful at football + Rex Grossman will throw seven interceptions + Bob Sanders is the heart and soul of the universe + the '85 Bears love attention + Lovie Smith + Tony Dungy + yup, still black + Marvin Harrison hates the media + Brian Urlacher is ready to hit someone in the mouth + South Beach distractions + Maybe like Peyton Manning's team, maybe + Rex Grossman still sucks + so does the city of Indianapolis.
MMC says: Bears 27, Colts 20
Breakdown: Aside from all of the Rex Grossman criticism, the other big story of the week has been Indy's defense. Most people seem to think that it's suddenly turned into a good one because of its playoff performance. However, this line of thinking ignores the terrible showing against the Patriots, forgets that Baltimore's offense is bad and sweeps under the rug the fact that the Chiefs had a terrible gameplan going into the wild-card game.
But other than that, yes. The Colts defense is pretty strong.
I think the Bears will be able to put up some points in the game. I know Bob Sanders has been a nice boost against the run, but he is not the sole reason the Colts are allowing 100 rushing yards less in the playoffs. He's also a super-aggressive safety, and the Bears run the play-action pass as well as any team in football. If they can establish the run with any authority early in the game, Grossman will be able to pick his spots and grab big chunks of yardage. And that, in a vicious, Colt-kicking cycle, will keep the run open.
The only question is if the Bears can contain Peyton Manning. And honestly, I have no idea if they can. He's usually his own worst enemy -- if he's calm and collected, he can pick apart any defense, even the Bears. But if he doesn't have immediate success, he will force things and we might see Nate Vasher streaking 50 yards to the end zone for a pick-six.
Ooh, that makes me happy just thinking about it.
Overall, I do feel pretty confident about the Bears. Grossman won't be as bad as everyone is expecting (which I think is 9-for-25 for 140 yards and three interceptions) and Manning isn't going to throw for 400 yards. I'd be surprised if it wasn't a pretty even contest.
It's going to be fun. I'm ready to go.
Go Bears.
Read or Post a Comment
<< Home