Be afraid, Chicago, be very ... wait, you already are

[Freak Nasty]

Some people say this Super Bowl between the Colts and Bears will be historic. Two great teams, clearly the two best in football. Fascinating subplots. Hall of Fame players on both sides.

I agree. This sucker is going to make history. In fact, Super Bowl XLI has me so jacked up, I'm digging through a history book right now. Bear with me as I look for a piece of information.

Here it comes. Here it is. Here you go:
The biggest blowout in Super Bowl history was 17 years ago. That was Super Bowl XXIV, when the Denver Broncos needed 20 IVs of fluid pumped into their locker room after San Francisco beat the blood, sweat and piss out of them 55-10.
This game will be like that.

Indianapolis is going to absolutely destroy the Bears.
You a betting man or woman? Take the Colts, who are favored by a touchdown. Not a betting man or woman? Start now. Ex-Colts quarterback Art Schlichter would tell you: This is free money. Cherry-picking. Chalk.

Every variable in this game hinges on the Bears. If you're Chicago or a Chicago fan, that's not comforting. Because the Bears need almost every variable to break the right way to keep this game close.

See, there are no variables where the Colts are involved. The running backs are solid and don't fumble. The receivers are in the Pro Bowl. The defense is better than it has been all season. Adam Vinatieri is the fourth-most accurate kicker in NFL history and already has won two Super Bowls with last-second kicks.

And then at quarterback, the most variable position of all, is Peyton Manning. And he's no variable. He's easy money. On that short turf, in this warm weather, inside that semi-friendly stadium, Manning is going to throw until his arm falls off. The only variable is the first digit of his final passing tally. Will he throw for 300 yards? Or 400?
Manning was a Hall of Fame quarterback years ago, and two weeks ago he overcame his freak-out moment when he rallied the Colts past New England in the fourth quarter of the AFC Championship Game. That was his pressure test, and he aced it.
Super Bowl XLI? This is his cake, and he's going to eat it.

As for Bears quarterback Rex Grossman, this is his bed. And he's going to wet it.

Grossman is actually a better quarterback than the next few paragraphs are going to make him sound. I'm not trying to have it both ways -- I'm just trying to give an accurate description of the guy entering this very specific game. And this is how I see Rex Grossman:

Good young quarterback. Bright future. No chance on Sunday.

Why? Because even if Colts defensive ends Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis don't hold positional meetings in the Chicago backfield, their very presence is going to spook Grossman. And he already has plenty of reason to spook himself.
I'm guessing there hasn't been a less-inspiring quarterback to enter a Super Bowl since this spectacle started 40 years ago. Grossman is a full-scale panic attack. He started the NFC title game 5-for-20. The Bears defense kept it close with the Saints until he shook free from his funk, but if he starts 5-for-20 on Sunday, the Colts will be ahead 28-3 at halftime.

Grossman has the prerequisite ****iness and swagger of an NFL quarterback, but he has spent the past two weeks being asked why he's such a head case. His teammates have been dealing with the same questions. They are going to enter Sunday's game tight, scared and worrying as much about their quarterback as about their own responsibilities.

And when the Bears aren't worrying about Grossman, it'll be because they're freaking out over return man Devin Hester. Two months ago I was in love with Hester, who had six touchdown returns in the Bears' first 13 games. At that pace he was an MVP candidate. I said so. To thank me, Hester has spent the past five games -- three in the regular season, two in the playoffs -- handling kicks as if they were covered in goo.

When Manning isn't passing the Colts up and down the field, Hester is going to muff a punt Sunday. The Colts are going to turn that muff into seven points, and then they're going to kick to Chicago, who will put the ball in Grossman's hands.

The city of Chicago will be scared. The Bears sideline will be scared. Grossman will be scared.

This game is already over. We just need a score.

[JGs Tighten]

Well said!

[dtowntitan]

go colts!!!!!!!!

[nytitan1]

couldnt agree more look this is colts year . only thing think that the bears have over colts are special teams only thing that could hurt them well we shall see. go colts.

[smoke_armada]

A few weeks ago, ****y buckeye fans and most of the country believed that unbeatable OSU would paste my Gators. Didn't happen.

Yeah the NFC is weak and Indy will likely win but nothing in the NFL is guaranteed my friend, except parity.

Sigh.......Here goes the old cliche...... "I just want to see a good game".

[RGV Titan]

Wow, Payton. Well, I took the bears and 7 points. It'll be close. I'd enjoy the Colts to win by 3 but there's no doubt the bears can win. That's what makes this Super Bowl so exciting. I'd be happy regardless of who wins.

The Bears: huge offensive line, good backs and receivers, and a great DEFENSE. I think Grossman will do well enough to win.

[adavis99]

I'd like to see BU give manning a nice welcome-to-the-superbowl gift in the first quarter...

I hate horseface

[smoke_armada]

Grossman better make some plays. Otherwise it's Payton Manning in our face for a year. Ouch.

[Ghostface]

Rex just plain sucks as a quarterback. Can't even take a snap well. Any pressure on him and he pee's his pants. When Indy wins they should vote Rex as their MVP. Of course as I am writting this Rex tosses an INT. Damn he sucks...

[smoke_armada]

Originally Posted by Ghostface

Rex just plain sucks as a quarterback. Can't even take a snap well. Any pressure on him and he pee's his pants. When Indy wins they should vote Rex as their MVP. Of course as I am writting this Rex tosses an INT. Damn he sucks...

While I'll agree that Rex is clearly having one of the worst games of his season, I think that your assesment that he "sucks" is weak. He is the starting quarterback of a SUPER BOWL TEAM. I agree, his decisions under pressure aren't good. He's young. I think the pick on the bomb was both a bad play call and a slippery ball. The pass before to muhammed was thrown behind and caught by a good receiver, that was a worse pass than the pick. Plenty to choose from here. Missed snaps are inexcusable in any weather.

U think greasy is a better starter? Rex has heart and will get better.

Freak Nasty's post has proven to be partially true. Well thought out and written also. I've seen worse Super Bowls.

[nytitan1]

you know what they say defense wins superbowls hahahahahaha rexi had his usual bad game sorry but bears defense just not that good.

[smoke_armada]

Props to Indy, better team tonight.

[Ghostface]

Originally Posted by smoke_armada

While I'll agree that Rex is clearly having one of the worst games of his season, I think that your assesment that he "sucks" is weak. He is the starting quarterback of a SUPER BOWL TEAM. I agree, his decisions under pressure aren't good. He's young. I think the pick on the bomb was both a bad play call and a slippery ball. The pass before to muhammed was thrown behind and caught by a good receiver, that was a worse pass than the pick. Plenty to choose from here. Missed snaps are inexcusable in any weather.

U think greasy is a better starter? Rex has heart and will get better.

Freak Nasty's post has proven to be partially true. Well thought out and written also. I've seen worse Super Bowls.

Worst game of the season? He has had quite a few worst games of the season this year and some good ones. I agree he will get better....if he is allowed to continue starting.

Congrats Indy

[smoke_armada]

Didn't address PM. Guy's a pro. Got the job done tonight. To the victor...

[CdnTitan LE 4x4]

*cheers* ...i tilt my glass,, *hiccup* GO COLTS!! WELL DONE