The Grease-Man gets it done

Let's start out giving credit where credit is due: Brian Griese played a damn good game. I'll be the first to admit that after  McNabb's touchdown pass to Schobel, I did not think the Bears would come back to win that game. Thankfully, the Grease-Man proved me wrong, engineering an 11-play, 97-yard drive with no timeouts in 1:43. What's most impressive is that Griese called all the plays on that final drive- something great enough to win over even the staunchest of Grossman supporter (um, me). The Grease-Man's final numbers were fairly spectacular (27-41, 322 yards, 1 touchdown, 0 picks), and there is no way the Bears score on that final drive with Rex or Orton playing quarterback. Is Brian Griese a great quarterback, and the long term answer to Chicago sports most perplexing question? Certainly not, but he's got the job done the last few weeks and he is clearly capable of leading this team for at least this season and 08', if it comes down to that.

Let's throw out some kudos to my guy Ron Turner as well. The Eagles didn't let Hester even think about touching the ball on returns, so Turner gives him his most offensive playing time this year. That was great to see. If the opposition won't let him return it, you got to try to get the ball in his hands any other way possible. Now sure, Hester cost the Bears a timeout in the fourth quarter because he's smart enough to know where to lineup on a basic wide receiver screen- but his two catches on the final drive were as important as any.

That was the good, as for the bad: does anyone actually think the Bears are any good? They had to get this win and they did, but the performance was anything but convincing. They still can't run the ball and the defense would have probably got flattened if not for an inspired effort from Urlacher (no doubt because I called him out last week). The Bears just seem to have 9 wins written all over them, which isn't bad, but this team's ceiling is somewhere around 13 or 14. Of course, it's pretty hard when Vasher is still out and other guys are banged up, so maybe this victory is more impressive then some people would like to think. I've said it all along and I'll say it again, if the Bears sneak into the playoffs, and are healthy by then, watch out. Sure the Cowboys are pretty good, but the Giants don't scare me and the a healthy, experience-laden Bears team could make noise in the NFC and beyond.

Looking at the schedule, you have to like the Bears chances to make a run. Next week in Detroit is the epitome of a must win. I don't think it'll come easy, but it's unlikely the Bears get swept by the Lions. After that the Bears have a bye week to continue to get healthy, followed by games at Oakland and at Seattle. It's never easy on the road, but those two contests are certainly winnable. I don't trust C-Pep with Oakland, and Shaun Alexander's immense decline has hurt Seattle almost as much as it's hurt my fantasy football team, It's Raining (Pac)Man. Games at home against the Giants, on the road versus Washington, and at home against Green Bay will determine this teams fate, but the Bears have to put themselves in a good position first. This win started that, hopefully the ball will keep on rolling.