Grossman benched, Bears injured, will it be Lions?
NFL Football at its best. NFL Football at its craziest.
Lovie Smith says It will be a Cold Day in Detroit when we use injuries for an excuse
It happens often.
Sometimes there is just no explanation for it.
What is it?
The team with the supposed disadvantage comes up big, sometimes in the very place where they are hurting.
The Bears are hurting with a number of injuries.
Some think the Lions are catching the Bears at the right time. Some think it’s the worst possible time to play the defending NFC champs.
Confused? Don’t be. Both scenarios are possible because the Bears are struggling. source
Two teams living in two different worlds
The Bears are a team that just went to the Super Bowl and wants to return. No, make that thinks they will return. In their minds, they are the favorites.
The Lions are an up and coming team, short on talent in certain areas, but much improved under Coach Rod Marinelli, especially in attitude. Rod has cleaned out almost the entire bad attitude that comes with continuous losing on any team.
This puts the Lions in a team on the rise, nothing to lose plane, while the Bears are on the already there, have everything to lose plane. In other words, the Bears must win this game. Losing this game to start out 1 - 3 would make for a very tough season.
That’s why this game will be tougher to win than it looks on paper.
The Bears are desperate — much like the Eagles were last week.
Many of the key Bears are hurt.
Tackle Tommie Harris, linebacker Lance Briggs and cornerback Charles Tillman were listed as questionable on Friday’s injury report. Harris sprained a knee, Briggs pulled a hamstring and Tillman sprained an ankle. source
In theory, this should make them weaker, but this gets back to the main point. Sometimes teams tend to rally when they look the weakest.
Rex Grossman is benched for Brian Griese and that could be an x-factor as well.
Sometimes Griese would call a play and then bark at Backus not to false start. But, as Backus said, it was good. The Wolverines went 12-0 and won their first — their only — national title since 1948.
“He took control of that offense,” Backus said. “He knows what it takes to be a leader. Years after that, you understand why he does it.” source
So will the Bears, backed into a corner, be snarling and fighting or will the Lions roar so loud that the whole of the NFL will hear them?
The Squibster is picking the Lions with the tipping point being that the game is on the Lions home field. (Squibster full disclosure - don’t make bets on my picks - season record 1 - 2)
If you want to see what a whole slew of writers are predicting then try out Detroit Lions at Content Quake today to see a compilation.
NFL Football Fan Question Are you picking Lions?
As always, any NFL Football related comments are welcome.
More blogs about football.
Related Stories
POSTED IN: Chicago Bears, Coach Lovie Smith, Coach Rod Marinelli, Detroit Lions, Lance Briggs, NFL Football, Predictions, Rex Grossman
3 opinions for Grossman benched, Bears injured, will it be Lions?
Rockwell
Sep 30, 2007 at 12:56 pm
Squibster…
This IS a tough game to pick. You have lined out all the reasons why it will be one of those games that comes down to the last minutes and field goal.
I’m guessing the Bears just need it more, because if they lose, they really are in a big hole.
And I will note, I’ve been pretty lucky so far this season… my average is .729.
James
Sep 30, 2007 at 8:16 pm
Rock,
guess it turns out to be one of your rare losses and one of Squbster’s rare wins. Even a Lions fan can win.
T.O.
Oct 3, 2007 at 5:20 pm
I bet on the Lions, too, though I was pretty sure that I was going to lose it for most of the game.
I frustrates me that Griese is getting so much grief over his performance. Sure, he had troubles, but John Elway and Joe Montana’s love child would have struggled with that incompetence surrounding him. The Bears are indescribably bad. If I was Lovie Smith I would be asking around to find a good realtor.
Have an opinion? Leave a comment: