Feature: The Gridiron Grind

Bears Emerging as NFC Dark Horse

Author: Dwayne Dunham
Published: September 28, 2010 at 1:58 am
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After Monday night's win over the Green Bay Packers, the Chicago Bears are the only team left undefeated after Week 3.

Yes. The Chicago Bears.

Of course there are a lot of skeptics, and of course Chicago is far from perfect on their way to 3-0, but hey, they are 3-0 nonetheless. Yes, they got bailed out on Calvin Johnson's "incomplete pass," but as crazy as the rule is, it is a rule, and Megatron did not complete the catch as the rule states by simply getting up. It was controversial, but the Bears got the W anyways.

Then the Bears go into Dallas, and assert their will on the Cowboys offensively and defensively. Jay Cutler looked flawless, Devin Hester made a spectacular catch, and the defense forced Jason Witten, Tony Romo's favorite target, out of the game. Oh yeah, Romo had a couple of interceptions in that game as well (both to DJ Moore).

This game, the Packers gave Chicago some major assists in penalties; in fact, they gave them the most amount of penalties and matched their team record as well, including a pass interference that bailed out a Cutler interception. But as much as the Packers beat themselves, the Bears took advantage of the golden opportunity Green Bay gave them, setting up Robbie Gould's game winning field goal to send them to 3-0.

So many can think that the Bears are not legit, because wins were handed to them, does this not sound like 2006, when the Bears had Rex Grossman at quarterback, and they got off to a 10-1 start en route to a 13-3 season and a NFC Championship. Nobody expected that in Chicago, and just like this year's edition, the defense is healthy, and even better with the addition of Julius Peppers.

Simply put, the Bears don't have to win soundly, they just have to win. And this team has more going for themselves than the team in 2006. Even though it's very early to talk Super Bowl, do not be surprised if the Monsters of the Midway crash the playoff party. They have beaten two Super Bowl contenders, and with a soft part of the schedule coming up (at NY Giants, at Carolina [Peppers' return to Carolina], Seattle, Washington) they could be 7-0 by the bye week.

Like it or not, the Bears could be a contender. Though it is three weeks in the season and there's a lot of football left, it remains to be seen, but this team under Lovie Smith just does enough to win. And at the end of the day, that's all you need.

 
 

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Article Author: Dwayne Dunham

Sports fanatic, I cover as much as I can, from NBA to NASCAR, from NHL to Tennis. I am also into the latest gadgets and technology. I like to write for the love of writing and for the love of the game and sport. I love to hear other folks' point of views on things and be enlightened. …

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