
Originally Posted by
Dagan81
In a strange, bizarre way, despite the fact that I hate the Packers with every ounce of fiber within my soul, I want to play them again. I want to play them again because I want revenge for what I saw was a game that should have been won by the Bears in Week 17. Luckily, there was no consequence for losing to the Packers or I would be sitting here, calling for Lovie Smith's ouster as head coach. I tend to agree with you that I thought that Green Bay should have scored at least two more times to seal the deal in Philadelphia. Twenty-one points on the Philadelphia Eagles is hardly a safe bet that you're going to win; the Eagles made a furious comeback effort against the Bears back on November 28 that, had the game not been dominated for three quarters by Chicago, could have easily been a reversal of fortune and a win instead for Philadelphia. I was a little shocked that Mike McCarthy played it so conservatively; it reminds me of Johnny Majors back when he coached at Tennessee from 1977-1992. He would keep the foot on the accelerator for 2 1/2 to 3 quarters of play, only to sit on leads in the last quarter of the game, and I distinctly remember one game in 1992 at Neyland Stadium where he did this and it cost us the game on a last second field goal against Arkansas, and it resulted in us not getting to play Alabama the next week as two teams with undefeated, 6-0 records.
You are right - Mike McCarthy CANNOT afford to be conservative against the Falcons, or they will eat his lunch for him. I have a feeling that we are going to see a third Bears/Packers game in what will be the most meaningful game between the two in the history of the rivalry. I dare say that Mike Martz isn't going to pussyfoot around this time by going away from the run, and this time, he will run to set up the playaction pass. I know you are excited at the prospect of a third Bears/Packers match up, as am I. I will go ahead and make predictions for the Divisional Round right now:
Bears 34, Seahawks 13; Packers 24, Falcons 20. You heard it hear, Bears fans: Dagan81 is going to be a Packer Backer next week. I want the Packers so bad that I can taste it.