Do the Bears still have a legitimate shot at making the playoffs? With Adrian Peterson as their starting running back, it’s going to be tough. It’s not like Ced Ben was lighting the world on fire when he was starting, but he at least has discernable talent. And the 1-2 punch of Benson and Peterson is at least more proven then Peterson and Garrett Wolfe, who should get his first real opportunity starting this week. Wolfe hasn’t done much so far, but also hasn’t really been given a chance. If the Bears are going to go on a run, Wolfe could play a pivotal role.

As a friend pointed out yesterday, without Benson, Rex will never have a better opportunity to prove his worth. If Grossman is ever going to prove he’s a competent starting quarterback, this is his best opportunity. The Bears have to the throw the ball now, and since returning as the starter, the coaching staff seems to better understand Grossman’s strengths and limitations. Peterson is better pass catcher and pass blocker anyway, so look for Grossman to throw the ball around 40 times per game the rest of the season.

There’s only one problem: the Bears face the Giants this week, a team with one of the NFL’s best collection of pass rusher. Osi, Strahan, Kiwanuka and Tuck should be salivating at the thought of Grossman throwing 40 passes, and could foil the entire operation. It’s common knowledge that Rex struggles when he’s faced with constant pressure- look no further then Week 1 against the Chargers if you need evidence- and the Giants could be one team a pass-happy offense wouldn’t work against.

The best storyline in this game is the battle between Grossman and Eli Manning, probably the two most maligned starting quarterback in the NFL. Usually when a matchup like that is built up, something else plays a bigger role in determining the game, but I have a feeling the quarterback who plays better on Sunday will come out the victor. I’ll take my chances with Grossman over Eli, and like the Bears chances to win this Sunday. The Bears can probably make the playoffs at 9-7 which means they need to win all but one of their final games against the Giants (H), Redskins (A), Vikings (A), Packers (H), and Saints (H). It really is a playoff game every week now- they Bears got it done last week, let’ see if they can do it again.

Full story

There isn’t a cooler athlete in the world then Devin Hester. It’s almost impossible to fully appreciate what he’s done since coming to the Bears. He makes even the NFL’s biggest athletic freaks look like mortals. Consider Brian Urlacher, a...

Full story

Maybe we'll talk the Sox next time?ep2.mp3...

Full story

Aside Reconstruction Site Left and Leaving ...

Full story

So much for Joe Cowley's 'sources'. A 5-year, $90 million contract was too rich for Kenny's blood, and rightfully so. That contract will look horrible in a couple years for a centerfielder who is already 32. But it doesn't look...

Full story

I haven’t written a White Sox post in forever, and it’s because of a lot of different reasons. There is just too much to say about last season, when the club won 15 or so fewer games then expected, and...

Full story

The first ever TUP podcast, featuring Eddie Money. On the next show, we'll have Scott Phillips from Windy City HS Hoops. Episode 1.mp3Tell me if this work...

Full story

By: GordonBombayWhat a down year for sports in the city of Chicago.  The Sox and Bears have been huge disappointments to say the least and so far the Bulls are way too inconsistent.  Oh yeah, the Cubs?- who gives a...

Full story

You know what’s kind of funny? The Bears have played positively awful this season, but an impressive win against the Seahawks would render the first nine games completely meaningless. If the Bears come out and blow the doors off Seattle,...

Full story

An Iowa student with a Michigan bias -- and Wazzu ties, too -- breaks down the Big Ten conference with attempted objectivity, week by weekI just can't do it.I want to. Bad. But I can't. Picking Michigan over Ohio State...

Full story

Maybe the Bulls aren’t as good as some anticipated they would be this season, but at 1-5 after playing a fairly easy schedule, they certainly aren’t this bad. Things won’t get easier any time soon, as the Bulls start their...

Full story

Chicago has always produced more basketball talent then any other town, from Kevin Garnett to Isaiah Thomas.  In the second part of our college hoops preview, we take a look at some of college basketball’s best players with Chicago connections....

Full story

Is it just me or was what we witnessed Sunday the least entertaining football game of all-time? Congrats Bears, you barely beat the Raiders, a team that has now lost five straight and still employs- and starts- Robert Gallery. Sure,...

Full story

An Iowa student with a Michigan bias -- and Wazzu ties, too -- breaks down the Big Ten conference with attempted objectivity, week by week It's a two-horse race. I said so at the beginning of the year, and I'm...

Full story

Here’s the second part of our Talking Hoops segment here at BlogsbyFans, answering questions from the rest of the network.First up, Stop Mike Lupica1.  The Bulls need a down low presence, right?  I know you are a Kobe fan (so...

Full story

Over at Depressed Fan, Brian has started a new series of back-and-fourth conversation called Talking Hoops. Head over to his post to see how this is all working. Here's the first two questions he gave me:1.  OK, I'll get the...

Full story

In order of projected finish, preseason national rank in parenthesis.1. Indiana (#9)Names to know: PF DJ White, SG Eric Gordon, SF Jamarcus EllisIt’s very likely that Indiana could have three of the Big 10’s five best players by the end...

Full story

I recently fired short lived columnist Eddie Money from this site for producing nothing stripper jokes and pictures of fat babies. Here is his final post, which led me to fire him.The Bears definitely did not lose this week, thanks...

Full story

While the Bulls 0-3 start is disappointing, it certainly isn’t season ending. Remember this team usually starts slow: in 2004, Deng, Gordon, Duhon, and Nocioni’s rookie season, the Bulls started off 0-9 before finally getting a victory in Utah that...

Full story

Killing in the Name Bulls on Parade Guerilla Radio ...

Full story

It feels kind of weird focusing on next year so soon, after only eight games. It reminds me of my childhood, when Cade McNown, Curtis Enis, or Shane Mathews would be running the Bears into the ground on an annual...

Full story

An Iowa student with a Michigan bias -- and Wazzu ties, too -- breaks down the Big Ten conference with attempted objectivity, week by week State week. Michigan takes on Michigan State in East Lansing, and everybody this side of...

Full story