Bears v. Colts

As we all know, the super bowl is just around the corner. Being a Bears fan, I am extremely excited, considering its been over 20 years since the last time they have come this far. But how good are their chances? Everyone has been saying that the AFC is so dominant over the NFC, and that it doesn't really matter who they have to play. Although the AFC does seem to have stronger teams, it is the Super Bowl, and they are rarely dominated by one side.

Simulations and predictions from ESPN seem to favor the Colts but the odds don't look too bad. If you look at all the factors, I think you'll be able to come up with a pretty good prediction. First, lets look at the quarterbacks. This is kind of a joke. Rex Grossman is extremely inferior to Manning, who is considered by many to be the best QB in the league. Both Grossman and Manning have been known to choke, however. Luckily for the Bears, Grossman seems to do his worst against teams that are considered an "easy win". He played his two worst games against the Dolphins and the Cardinals...two of the worst teams in the NFL. Manning seems to choke more often in the big games, especially the playoffs, and hopefully the Bears defense will be able to capitalize if Manning decides to do so. Lets just face the facts though, if this game comes down to a throwing match, the Bears don't really have a chance.

The Bears defense is a critical factor in their success. The Bears are known for having the best defense in the NFL, but they've been slipping lately. Compared to the Colts, the Bears are ranked significantly higher when it comes to total defense. They allow less yards on more offensive attempts than the Colts. The ability of the Defense to stop Manning will be a deciding factor in the game. We can't forget Joseph Addai, the Colts' running back, either. The Bears will need to step up their rush defense as well as their pass defense in order to win this one.

We all know the Colts defense is not quite as tight as the Bears, but they aren't bad by any means. Grossman will need to be playing a good game, as well as the Bears' running game, which is consisted of Thomas Jones and Cedric Benson. Colts' corner backs will really need to step up their game in order to keep the points off the board. Bernard Berrian is a significant deep threat, and the Colts will have to keep up with him if they want to stop the deep ball.

Offensively, the Colts have a better Quarterback, a better line, and a better overall team. Defensively, the Bears have a better team. I believe this game will be decided mainly by the Bears ability to stop Peyton Manning. If they are able to, I think the Bears will be able to pull this one out. I hope the old saying stands true.."offense wins games, but defense wins championships".