Frankly, this DOES surprise me.

[Joe Hittle]

The Bears went to the open-air University of Minnesota stadium tonight, and actually clinched the NFC North title tonight, largely on the efforts of Devon Hester.

It's not how they did it that surprises me, it's that they did it at all.

While I've qualified other posts on other topics with lines like "I'm not a _____ fan, but..." I must confess that I've long been a proponent of the idea that "if they ever bring professional football back to Chicago, I'll gladly be a Bears fan again."

Despite last week's drubbing they got from the Patriots, the Bears appear to have actually found something offensively while under the tutelage of Offensive Co-ordinator Mike Martz.

However, I did chuckle quite a bit when reading another post in another thread which openly included the Bears as one of the "best teams" at some point this season.

So, I have to ask myself, "are the Bears good, or was the North simply THAT bad this year?" A few weeks ago I would have landed on the second position, but, to rebound the way they did after the whipping they got a week ago, maybe it's time to rethink my position.

Of course, if you're a Lions fan, you're still smoldering with "we beat the Bears twice this year, but they had the ref's steal the wins from us." And, you likely have a point.

One thing for sure, this year's Bears team has never inspired a lot of confidence in anyone, including long-time Bears fans, so again, that they won the division crown does surprise me.

But, it IS a nice surprise.

Here's hoping for more of them in January.

Joe

[Bob Hunter]

Joe,

I think they played a very weak team last night. Right now the Vikings are a mess. They cast their lot with Favre and it hasn't worked out too well. There is no question in my mind they deserve the Division title, I mean just look at Green Bay right now. Things have kind of fallen apart for them with Aaron Rodgers out. And Detroit has another vintage Detroit year. No question about it, the Bears not only played well enough to deserve the title, but along the way they got a little unexpected help from the competition. That said, I look for Philadelphia or Atlanta to take the NFC this year.

[Joe Hittle]

Joe,

I think they played a very weak team last night. Right now the Vikings are a mess. They cast their lot with Favre and it hasn't worked out too well. There is no question in my mind they deserve the Division title, I mean just look at Green Bay right now. Things have kind of fallen apart for them with Aaron Rodgers out. And Detroit has another vintage Detroit year. No question about it, the Bears not only played well enough to deserve the title, but along the way they got a little unexpected help from the competition. That said, I look for Philadelphia or Atlanta to take the NFC this year.

Minnesota's year has definitely been one of surprises, and not good ones, along the way. The big question there now is will Frazier show enough in the final 2 games for the ownership to offer him a contract?

The Bears, on the other hand, have been surprising in exactly the opposite direction. Going into the season the rationale was that this would be the last year we would be strapped with Lovey Smith. Instead, his collection of former head coaches as Assistant/Co-ordinators has moved what was expected in many circles to be no better than a 5-11 team to 10-4 currently, and against a schedule that was anything but a cake-walk. The Bears haven't fared too badly against the vaunted AFC East.

Notice that even as a long time Bears observer/fan, I'm not claiming that this is "THE team" to beat in the NFC.

I'm just celebrating on one of those few occasions when Chicago fans get the opportunity :-)

Joe

[Shea Zellweger]

I don't think the Bears are that good, but they have had some good games this year. They've done a good job of humiliating bad teams and benefiting from poor officiating against okay teams. They've had two good wins this year- week 3 against a pretty solid Packer team, which Brian Urlacher called an "ugly win" and included a Green Bay team record for penalties in a game; then week 12 against Philly, which was a present from Andy Reid, who decided to kick a FG on 4th-and-manageable with <5 minutes remaining, apparently thinking that they had a better shot at the Onsides kick than 4th down conversion.
Of course, wins are wins, and the Bears are 10-4 and on track for the #2 seed in the playoffs. Their last 2 games are against Green Bay and the Jets, so if they get that bye, it'll be because they earned it.

[Joe Hittle]

I don't think the Bears are that good, but they have had some good games this year. They've done a good job of humiliating bad teams and benefiting from poor officiating against okay teams. They've had two good wins this year- week 3 against a pretty solid Packer team, which Brian Urlacher called an "ugly win" and included a Green Bay team record for penalties in a game; then week 12 against Philly, which was a present from Andy Reid, who decided to kick a FG on 4th-and-manageable with <5 minutes remaining, apparently thinking that they had a better shot at the Onsides kick than 4th down conversion.
Of course, wins are wins, and the Bears are 10-4 and on track for the #2 seed in the playoffs. Their last 2 games are against Green Bay and the Jets, so if they get that bye, it'll be because they earned it.

One thing for sure, if what we are witnessing is a team that "has arrived," they haven't traveled very far :-)

But, I do think that they finally may have a coaching staff together than can take them places. Whether or not they can get past either Philadelphia or Atlanta in the playoffs is highly suspect, but if this plays out the way I expect it to, Atlanta will play the winner of Green Bay/New York, and the Bears will likely get Philadelphia (seeding still to be determined) in the divisional round.

As it was a couple of years ago, despite the "vaunted defense" hype, the Bears only real strength is in their special teams. In other words, as goes Hester, so goes da Bears.

And that is always totally unpredictable.

[Shea Zellweger]

Joe,

I think they played a very weak team last night. Right now the Vikings are a mess. They cast their lot with Favre and it hasn't worked out too well. There is no question in my mind they deserve the Division title, I mean just look at Green Bay right now. Things have kind of fallen apart for them with Aaron Rodgers out. And Detroit has another vintage Detroit year. No question about it, the Bears not only played well enough to deserve the title, but along the way they got a little unexpected help from the competition. That said, I look for Philadelphia or Atlanta to take the NFC this year.

I don't think Rodgers' injury makes the Bears "deserving" of the Division title. Green Bay will probably get Rodgers back this week or the next, and may very well knock off the Bears on Sunday. They lost to New England by less than a TD with a backup in, who's to say they wouldn't have won with Rodgers in? The Packers with Rodgers are the best team in the NFC North, and based on the difference in their games against New England these past two weeks, the Packers just might be better without Rodgers as well.

[Joe Hittle]

FWIW, it won't surprise me if someone, somewhere (although probably not Green Bay) soon (like next season) is going to have the same sort of thoughts about Matt Flynn that New England fans are having for Danny Woodhead.

If I were a New England fan I'd have to admit that the harsh breeze that eminated last Sunday afternoon was the effects of "our" collective sighs of relief. Shanahan's looking for a quarterback, and isn't likely to find one "in camp." Which, of course, raises the question, where will Donovan McNabb spend his time as back-up next year?

Joe

[Shea Zellweger]

FWIW, it won't surprise me if someone, somewhere (although probably not Green Bay) soon (like next season) is going to have the same sort of thoughts about Matt Flynn that New England fans are having for Danny Woodhead.

If I were a New England fan I'd have to admit that the harsh breeze that eminated last Sunday afternoon was the effects of "our" collective sighs of relief. Shanahan's looking for a quarterback, and isn't likely to find one "in camp." Which, of course, raises the question, where will Donovan McNabb spend his time as back-up next year?

Joe

Arizona, and he may just start. Flynn may very well be set up to get a starting job next season if the Packers will trade him, but there are some quality QBs coming out of college right now as well (by some estimates, Cam Newton is only the 3rd or 4th best option). If the Eagles can get Vick to agree to an extension, Kolb may be picking up a starting role as well. On the whole, I think the market for Flynn might be limited, but there will probably be a place for him to get a little more playing time...