Manning Bowl
Well Bears fans, I don't want to sound like a jackass...but I told you so.
As expected, the Colts came out and eventually dominated the Bears - they are the better team after all. Without naming names, I cannot for the life of me figure out why so many people would pick the team with the far inferior QB to win the game. "It's because their defense is so bad ass" is what I kept hearing - how'd that work out???? I think the Bears "dominating" defense gave up 425 total yards or so which is A TON in the NFL. Although they did force 3 turnovers, the mighty Bears gave up 5 of their own.
At least it was a good game. I think the weather played into the Bears favor early, but not often. After Hester ran back the opening kick 92 yards for a TD I was a bit worried, but then I remembered the Ohio State/Florida game.
As I go back and look at the box score, I keep wondering how the Bears were even in this game for so long. Manning was surgical in his dismantling of Bears defense - once he threw that pick he settled down and just dumped off where the Bears let him and it was all over from there.
Here are my quick hit observations for the FINAL football game for several months (NO, I don't count the Pro Bowl):
- Just like the Patriots game, the Colts didn't really panic when they got down. I chalk that up to Tony Dungy's demeanor and attitude permeating throughout the clubhouse.
- Aside from that one INT that Peyton through, he was great. He found a rhythm that was never shaken.
- Notice how the Colts kicked off after that first run back? I still can't believe they kicked to him to begin with - did you not see what this guy's been doing all year? And by the way, I think I called him taking one back to the house.
- NEWS SHOCKER: The Colts out muscled the Bears on both lines. The offensive line held the Bears front 7 at bay most all of the day. And aside from one big run by Thomas Jones, they kept the Chicago running game in check. I don't think too many people will refer to the Colts defense as soft any longer.
- Time of possession: Colts 38 minutes to the Bears 22 minutes. When you can't hold on to the ball and you can't stop the other team, you've got no chance.
- I'll say it again, I'm astonished that the Bears were even in this game. Chalk it up to playing some very tough red zone defense coupled with the endless monsoon that fell throughout the game. Can you imagine if this game had been on a dry field or in a dome? Indy would have scored almost 50 points on them.
- The Colts running game was surprisingly dominant. Rhodes led the way with 113 rushing yards, but Adai had a great day running AND receiving out of the backfield (140 total yards). You think Edgerrin James is still glad he made the move to Arizona?
- Rex Grossman was...well, he was Rex Grossman. Look, I don't dislike this kid at all, but man he is quite a ways from where he needs to be as a starter for a Super Bowl team. Of course in his defense, they only ran like 19 plays in the first half.
- MVP: I think it's deserved that Manning got it, but in reality I think you could have given it to a number of players - especially Rhodes and/or Adai. But at the end of the day, this was Manning's day, it was Manning's team and he led them to this victory. Maybe now people will get off his back just a bit.
- Finally, a special SHOUT OUT to an old co-worker of mine, Seth Taylor. Art Director extraordinaire with Latinworks here in Austin. The Bud Light commercial with Carlos Mencia in the classroom teaching the foreigners how to order a bud light in different parts of the country was Seth's brain child. I can only imagine how awesome it is to get a concept chosen and used in the Super Bowl - which happens to be the "super bowl" of advertising as well. Good job Seth, but I can still kick your ass on a golf course.
Schizophrenic Longhorns:
What is the deal with these guys???? I mean, you go into Lubbock and manhandle a pretty darn good Tech team (or so it seemed about a week and 3 losses ago) and then come home and lose to Kansas State?? Don't get me wrong, Kstate is a pretty decent team - they've got the exact same record as the horns - but Texas has no business losing that game on their own home court. Look, this team is young, I get that, but they've got to start putting a string of wins together. The Big 12 is pretty tough this year and they're still most definitely in the conference title hunt, but it's astonishing to me how this team has not yet learned how to win these kinds of games.
Rivalry Week begins tonight when the Longhorns visit College Station to take on the Red Hot Aggies - who just beat Kansas, in Kansas, for the first time EVER in school history. You think the aggies have some momentum?? I believe Texas is capable of beating just about any team in the country on any given night, but in reality, it's just not that likely. I'm not sure which Texas team will show up tonight, but I'll be honest (and it pains me to say this), I just don't see Texas beating this Aggie team, especially not on the road. Can they do it? Sure. Will they? I don't think so. I'm going with Aggies by 10+ in this game.
With that said, Kevin Durant gets more exciting every time I watch him. He had another 30 point game against the Wildcats on Saturday - I think he's scored 30+ in every conference game so far. We'll see how he does against the very aggressive aggie defense tonight, but I'm predicting another 30 point run by KD. Hopefully it will be enough.
24:
I can't wait to see how Jack gets out of the current bind and more importantly, what he does to his own brother. It's a tough one, the horns and 24 are on at the same time. What to do....
Enjoy the week folks. I'm out of town all week so another update to come next weekend where college and pro hoops will dominate the Sportsrant for quite some time. Oh, and don't forget, college baseball kicked off this past weekend - we'll be diving into that throughout the year as well.
As expected, the Colts came out and eventually dominated the Bears - they are the better team after all. Without naming names, I cannot for the life of me figure out why so many people would pick the team with the far inferior QB to win the game. "It's because their defense is so bad ass" is what I kept hearing - how'd that work out???? I think the Bears "dominating" defense gave up 425 total yards or so which is A TON in the NFL. Although they did force 3 turnovers, the mighty Bears gave up 5 of their own.
At least it was a good game. I think the weather played into the Bears favor early, but not often. After Hester ran back the opening kick 92 yards for a TD I was a bit worried, but then I remembered the Ohio State/Florida game.
As I go back and look at the box score, I keep wondering how the Bears were even in this game for so long. Manning was surgical in his dismantling of Bears defense - once he threw that pick he settled down and just dumped off where the Bears let him and it was all over from there.
Here are my quick hit observations for the FINAL football game for several months (NO, I don't count the Pro Bowl):
- Just like the Patriots game, the Colts didn't really panic when they got down. I chalk that up to Tony Dungy's demeanor and attitude permeating throughout the clubhouse.
- Aside from that one INT that Peyton through, he was great. He found a rhythm that was never shaken.
- Notice how the Colts kicked off after that first run back? I still can't believe they kicked to him to begin with - did you not see what this guy's been doing all year? And by the way, I think I called him taking one back to the house.
- NEWS SHOCKER: The Colts out muscled the Bears on both lines. The offensive line held the Bears front 7 at bay most all of the day. And aside from one big run by Thomas Jones, they kept the Chicago running game in check. I don't think too many people will refer to the Colts defense as soft any longer.
- Time of possession: Colts 38 minutes to the Bears 22 minutes. When you can't hold on to the ball and you can't stop the other team, you've got no chance.
- I'll say it again, I'm astonished that the Bears were even in this game. Chalk it up to playing some very tough red zone defense coupled with the endless monsoon that fell throughout the game. Can you imagine if this game had been on a dry field or in a dome? Indy would have scored almost 50 points on them.
- The Colts running game was surprisingly dominant. Rhodes led the way with 113 rushing yards, but Adai had a great day running AND receiving out of the backfield (140 total yards). You think Edgerrin James is still glad he made the move to Arizona?
- Rex Grossman was...well, he was Rex Grossman. Look, I don't dislike this kid at all, but man he is quite a ways from where he needs to be as a starter for a Super Bowl team. Of course in his defense, they only ran like 19 plays in the first half.
- MVP: I think it's deserved that Manning got it, but in reality I think you could have given it to a number of players - especially Rhodes and/or Adai. But at the end of the day, this was Manning's day, it was Manning's team and he led them to this victory. Maybe now people will get off his back just a bit.
- Finally, a special SHOUT OUT to an old co-worker of mine, Seth Taylor. Art Director extraordinaire with Latinworks here in Austin. The Bud Light commercial with Carlos Mencia in the classroom teaching the foreigners how to order a bud light in different parts of the country was Seth's brain child. I can only imagine how awesome it is to get a concept chosen and used in the Super Bowl - which happens to be the "super bowl" of advertising as well. Good job Seth, but I can still kick your ass on a golf course.
Schizophrenic Longhorns:
What is the deal with these guys???? I mean, you go into Lubbock and manhandle a pretty darn good Tech team (or so it seemed about a week and 3 losses ago) and then come home and lose to Kansas State?? Don't get me wrong, Kstate is a pretty decent team - they've got the exact same record as the horns - but Texas has no business losing that game on their own home court. Look, this team is young, I get that, but they've got to start putting a string of wins together. The Big 12 is pretty tough this year and they're still most definitely in the conference title hunt, but it's astonishing to me how this team has not yet learned how to win these kinds of games.
Rivalry Week begins tonight when the Longhorns visit College Station to take on the Red Hot Aggies - who just beat Kansas, in Kansas, for the first time EVER in school history. You think the aggies have some momentum?? I believe Texas is capable of beating just about any team in the country on any given night, but in reality, it's just not that likely. I'm not sure which Texas team will show up tonight, but I'll be honest (and it pains me to say this), I just don't see Texas beating this Aggie team, especially not on the road. Can they do it? Sure. Will they? I don't think so. I'm going with Aggies by 10+ in this game.
With that said, Kevin Durant gets more exciting every time I watch him. He had another 30 point game against the Wildcats on Saturday - I think he's scored 30+ in every conference game so far. We'll see how he does against the very aggressive aggie defense tonight, but I'm predicting another 30 point run by KD. Hopefully it will be enough.
24:
I can't wait to see how Jack gets out of the current bind and more importantly, what he does to his own brother. It's a tough one, the horns and 24 are on at the same time. What to do....
Enjoy the week folks. I'm out of town all week so another update to come next weekend where college and pro hoops will dominate the Sportsrant for quite some time. Oh, and don't forget, college baseball kicked off this past weekend - we'll be diving into that throughout the year as well.
posted by The Bearden Wonder at 8:31 AM
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