Colts vs. Bears

[R. Richard]

OK, Literotica people, pick 'em!

I will start things off. I will pick the Colts.

The Colts have a high-octane offense and a defense that was very porous against the run. With the exception of one 35 yard run by Corey Dillon, the Colt defense pretty well stopped the Patriot running attack. The Colts offense was in high gear in the second half, with Peyton manning doing what he does.

The Bears have a very good defense, but they have Tommie Harris, a key defender, out with a torn hamstring. They will still play well on defense, but they will not have a snowstorm on their side in the Super Bowl. The Bear offense is suspect and is not expected to match the Colts offense.

R. Richard's Early Line: Colts by 4.5 points.

 

[S-Des]

OK, Literotica people, pick 'em!

I will start things off. I will pick the Colts.

The Colts have a high-octane offense and a defense that was very porous against the run. With the exception of one 35 yard run by Corey Dillon, the Colt defense pretty well stopped the Patriot running attack. The Colts offense was in high gear in the second half, with Peyton manning doing what he does.

The Bears have a very good defense, but they have Tommie Harris, a key defender, out with a torn hamstring. They will still play well on defense, but they will not have a snowstorm on their side in the Super Bowl. The Bear offense is suspect and is not expected to match the Colts offense.

R. Richard's Early Line: Colts by 4.5 points.

All fine reasoning except the Bears outscored the Colts during the regular season. They have a better running attack, better special teams, and a better defense. The Colts have a better quarterback and better receivers, but Manning had 2 terrible games before tonight. He has a history of "less than spectacular play" in the big games. Yes, the Colts could beat the bears, especially if they can't get pressure on Manning. However, the Colts are vulnerable in too many areas and all the Bears need is a couple of turnovers. I am very comfortable taking the Bears by 3.

 

[MrsDeathlynx]

I pay attention to football, I know how the game goes and how it's played, I even know most of the rules. But I'm not going based on that, I'm not even going based on stats...Since the Colts beat my team to get in the superbowl and my father's favorite team is the Bears I'll have to go with them. Dont' get me wrong, I'm glad the Colts finally made it (yes I know they made it before they were in Indi but that doesn't count...) but I'm a diehard Patriots fan so I have to say the Bears by 6. That's my story and I'm sticking to it, lol.

 

[Boota]

Until the playoffs I wasn't even convinced the Bears deserved to have the record they achieved. From what I've seen the offense has only played two good games, and both of those were playoff games. (Where it counts.) This could be the best Superbowl matchup in YEARS. The Colts offense against the Bears defense is what people want to see. The past doesn't matter once you get into the playoffs, but since that is all you have to go by when analyzing a potential outcome for a future game... I have to say Colts. Not just because I'm a fan, but because of the recent past. The Colts, albeit an ugly victory, have already beat a better defense than the Bears. They did it last week in Baltimore. Yes, I know some will argue, but the Ravens defense was the best in the league this year. They played tougher teams than the Bears did.

Being from the Midwest, I just think it's really cool to have two teams so close together playing in the Superbowl. Like Dungy said last night, "Let's just split the difference and play this one in Ft. Wayne."

 

[R. Richard]

The early line from the experts says Colts by 6 to 7 points.

 

[OhMissScarlett]

I'm a bad Illinoisan, I root for The Colts. Hey, it's not as bad as The Rams.

 

[S-Des]

The early line from the experts says Colts by 6 to 7 points.

Is that from the experts, or is it the betting line? The difference is, they set a betting line to get an even amount of money bet on both teams (so the house wins). It's all about playing to the average bettors beliefs. So far I'm hearing most of the national media picking the Colts, but that's not unexpected. Grossman had 7 games with a QB rating over 100 (the most in the league). The offense was tied for 2nd in the leauge in scoring and the team was all alone in 2nd (because our special teams & defense scored so much), yet most people share Boota's assesment that they're not very good. We put up 39 on a good Saints defense (who did play a tough schedule), yet no one believes. *shrug*

 

[R. Richard]

Is that from the experts, or is it the betting line? The difference is, they set a betting line to get an even amount of money bet on both teams (so the house wins). It's all about playing to the average bettors beliefs. So far I'm hearing most of the national media picking the Colts, but that's not unexpected. Grossman had 7 games with a QB rating over 100 (the most in the league). The offense was tied for 2nd in the leauge in scoring and the team was all alone in 2nd (because our special teams & defense scored so much), yet most people share Boota's assesment that they're not very good. We put up 38 on a good Saints defense (who did play a tough schedule), yet no one believes. *shrug*

Keep in mind that this is very early. However, the experts [two of them] say Colts by 6. The early betting line is Colts by 7.

The main concern seems to be if the Bears fall behind early. The thinking is that Grossman will not be able to rally the Bears in that situation. The Colts, even if they fall behind [as againt the Patriots] can score in bunches and come back. As always, ya' pays your money and ya' takes ya' choice!

 

[Carnevil9]

You guys are all whacked. The Bears will win by two touchdowns.....Carney

 

[S-Des]

Keep in mind that this is very early. However, the experts [two of them] say Colts by 6. The early betting line is Colts by 7.

The main concern seems to be if the Bears fall behind early. The thinking is that Grossman will not be able to rally the Bears in that situation. The Colts, even if they fall behind [as againt the Patriots] can score in bunches and come back. As always, ya' pays your money and ya' takes ya' choice!

I agree, that does make me nervous (and from the sound of sports radio, most of Chicago). However, Rex managed to bring them back against Seatle and had a clutch drive (after a bad start) against the Saints after they almost took the lead. He's young and he's no Payton Manning, but then again we don't put him in position to be. I think the most telling thing for the game will be Indy's run defense. They were awesome the first two playoff games. They looked very beatable against the Patriots. If they play like that against the Bears, I think the coaches will run the ball at Indy all day to keep the Colt's offense off the field. If they can stop the run and make it Manning vs Grossman....

 

[R. Richard]

I agree, that does make me nervous (and from the sound of sports radio, most of Chicago). However, Rex managed to bring them back against Seatle and had a clutch drive (after a bad start) against the Saints after they almost took the lead. He's young and he's no Payton Manning, but then again we don't put him in position to be. I think the most telling thing for the game will be Indy's run defense. They were awesome the first two playoff games. They looked very beatable against the Patriots. If they play like that against the Bears, I think the coaches will run the ball at Indy all day to keep the Colt's offense off the field. If they can stop the run and make it Manning vs Grossman....

Actually, from the stats line, they did a good job against the Patriots's ground game except for one 35 yeard run by Corey Dillon. You also have to take into account that Brady is considered to be a much more dangerous quarterback than Grossman. The Colts defense will be more oriented to stopping the Bear's running game.

As you say, it is very probable that Chicago will try to use a running game against the Colts to keep the Colts offense off the field and to try to exploit the probable weaknesses in the Colt's run defense.

 

[drksideofthemoon]

Da Bears...I think the Bears defence will be able to handle Manning's offence.

I'm just hoping for a good solid game....

 

[R. Richard]

Da Bears...I think the Bears defence will be able to handle Manning's offence.

I'm just hoping for a good solid game....

It should be an interesting game. However, don't forget that the Colts have a pretty good running game as well as Manning's arm.

 

[JamesSD]

When in doubt, use a sports cliche:

"Defense Wins Championships"

Trent Dilfer - Brad Johnson - Rex Grossman? (Mediocre Superbowl winning QBs carried by outstanding team efforts)

I pick the Bears to win, and am tempted to bet a modest amount on them covering the spread. (Taking the points on the team playing against Peyton Manning is a historically good bet)

 

[Liar]

I guess if http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e394/mi_liar/bears.jpg are not too close, I can get them with http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e394/mi_liar/colts.jpg before they maul me.




Ya mean the game? Oh. Well, http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e394/mi_liar/bears.jpg. Like some pointed out, defense. Now, I dunno squat about the teams, but they've been solid in that direction, from what I've heard.

 

[lipsofanangel]

My heart is so torn! I don't pay attention to the stats all that much so I just kind of go with my gut...and it's not helping me much right now.

I'm going to say...the Colts, but not by much. Peyton's the only good thing to ever come out of the University of Tennessee!

 

[R. Richard]

I'm going to say...the Colts, but not by much. Peyton's the only good thing to ever come out of the University of Tennessee!

James McGill Buchanan (UT Knoxville ’41) won the Nobel Prize in 1986 for his theory of public choice in politics and economics.

 

[onetrulyshy]

as much as i love Peyton...i am from Chicago..so it has to be Bears all the way

 

[Boota]

An interesting thing about this Superbowl matchup from the perspective of a lot of Colts fans in Indiana - for the years before we had the Colts many of us were Bears fans. There are a lot of people here in Kokomo who feel like they can't lose either way. They want the Colts to win, but they wouldn't be bothered as much by losing to the Bears. It's not like losing to the fucking Cowboys. LOL.

Analysis I heard today from a Bears fan (that I tend to agree with):

"When the Colts defense plays THEIR game, the Bears defense isn't that much better than they are. If that should happen it will come down to Manning versus Grossman. In that case, we have a Colts victory. If the Colts defense plays even halfway decent, they will stop Grossman's 'typical' game. If the Bears make mistakes on the defense Manning will make them pay for it. The Bears HAVE to play a perfect game in most realistic scenarios to have a chance at winning."

The thing is, though, you don't play these games on paper. If we did that the Colts would have been handed the Superbowl championship last year without having to take the field in the playoffs and then losing to the Steelers. For all the talk and the possible outcomes, what's going to happen is going to happen and the best you can hope for is a fairly called game that is played well by both sides. Sadly, most Superbowl's don't end up being really good games. But sometimes...

 

[R. Richard]

The thing is, though, you don't play these games on paper. If we did that the Colts would have been handed the Superbowl championship last year without having to take the field in the playoffs and then losing to the Steelers. For all the talk and the possible outcomes, what's going to happen is going to happen and the best you can hope for is a fairly called game that is played well by both sides. Sadly, most Superbowl's don't end up being really good games. But sometimes...

Late in the 1965 season, Tom Matte filled in as an emergency quarterback when Baltimore Colts QBs Johnny Unitas and Gary Cuozzo went down with season-ending injuries in consecutive home losses to the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers. For the Colts' regular-season finale (a 20-17 win) against the Los Angeles Rams and the following weekend's one-game playoff at Green Bay (a 13-10 overtime loss), Colts head coach Don Shula put a list of plays on a wristband that Matte wore. At the end of the 1965 season there was something called the Playoff Bowl, which was a consolation game between the second place team from each conference. The Baltimore Colts defeated the Dallas Cowboys, 35-3 in the Playoff Bowl.

There was no way the 1965 Baltimore Colts could seriously challenge either Green Bay or Dallas with a halfback at quarterback. However, the Baltimore team sucked it up and barely lost to the Packers and then blasted the Cowboys. And that's why they play the games!

 

[Belegon]

like it was said before, these games aren't played on paper...or the Chargers would win and I would be ecstatic...

I won't be upset with either result....no matter what, a group of fans that have spent a long time suffering (at least twenty years) wins...

I will celebrate for either team...

 

[Guest]

The Bears!!

My Man is from Chicago and when they won the World Series against the my Astros(I'm from Houston so he moved here) I never heard the end of it .

So, I learned my lesson and I will side with the Bears . From what I hear from him, they have a defense to reckon with.

 

[R. Richard]

The betting line still shows the Colts as 7 point favorites.

 

[JamesSD]

The betting line still shows the Colts as 7 point favorites.

I imagine it will stay there.

The Colts get more national coverage. Peyton Manning is a marketable star, and Marvin Harrison is a likely future hall of famer, who as far as I know has no off the field issues, unlike most marquee recievers. Couple that with the fact they beat the Patriots, the team of one of the biggest sports markets in the country (Boston), and I think a lot of people overestimate them.

The Bears have Brian Urlacher, an outstanding player, but sort of a visually scary guy, not to mention defensive players don't put up the gaudy stats of offense. The Bears offense is a solid O-line and a bunch of effective role players. Mushin Muhammad is a very good wide out, but I doubt he has any name recognition outside of football fans.

Not only that, as I mentioned earlier, bettors just seem more willing to give up a few points when they're betting on Peyton Manning.

It's hard to justify a line of more than 3 or 4 in a neutral stadium. Both teams are quite good, and I really don't see a blowout barring a key injury.

 

[S-Des]

I imagine it will stay there.

The Colts get more national coverage. Peyton Manning is a marketable star, and Marvin Harrison is a likely future hall of famer, who as far as I know has no off the field issues, unlike most marquee recievers. Couple that with the fact they beat the Patriots, the team of one of the biggest sports markets in the country (Boston), and I think a lot of people overestimate them.

The Bears have Brian Urlacher, an outstanding player, but sort of a visually scary guy, not to mention defensive players don't put up the gaudy stats of offense. The Bears offense is a solid O-line and a bunch of effective role players. Mushin Muhammad is a very good wide out, but I doubt he has any name recognition outside of football fans.

Not only that, as I mentioned earlier, bettors just seem more willing to give up a few points when they're betting on Peyton Manning.

It's hard to justify a line of more than 3 or 4 in a neutral stadium. Both teams are quite good, and I really don't see a blowout barring a key injury.

All are good points. I can understand people being more willing to bet on the Colts. They are definitely the easier pick (especially since they're from the tougher conference). Still, I'm not buying it. Yes, Baltimore's defense is better than the Bears, but then again Indy couldn't score on them (lots of field goals). The Raven's have a terrible offense. The Bears will do better at keeping the Colts offense off the field. Special teams will play a big part (since Hester can be as big a negative as he can a positive). However, in the end, it's going to come down to the Bears offense running at the Colts defense. Despite them having a couple of good games, I think they're vulnerable. Assuming we don't lose the turnover battle (I know, big assumption), I feel very good about my guys.

Still, Manning scares the crap out of me...(but on the bright side, Grossman has a 10 point higher QB rating for this post season ).