This year in Chicago Sports was an exciting and yet unfulfilling one. We had 3 teams go farther than they’ve gone in years only to have opportunities to reach new height completely unrealized, and at times in an embarrassing fashion. It was a series of highs and then smashed hopes, unless you were a White Sox or Blackhawk fan and then it pretty much sucked the whole time. But as we enter 2008 on a pretty collective sports low we look back at what was and cringe a little at what might have been in 2007. I am going to break this into two parts so here’s a look back at 2007’s teases as well as my picks for this weekend’s divisional match-ups.
Da Bears: The year could not have started better for the Chicago Bears. They avenged 2006’s failure against the Panthers with an overtime win against the Seahawks and then seemingly iced the cake with a dominant performance in the NFC title game. Then came the rain and the Colts and the Bears were trampled underfoot never really having much of a chance at their 2nd Super Bowl title after Hester’s opening kickoff return.
And then the offseason of unexpected turnover. Lovie’s tense contract situation, the unceremonious exit of Ron Rivera, Lance Briggs claim he’d never play for the Bears again, and the trade of Thomas Jones certainly created enough drama. And shortly after the season started in disarray, disappointment, a 1-2 record, and the benching of Rex every move came under the microscope. Everything that worked so well the year before was suddenly stuck in neutral. They couldn’t run the ball, couldn’t protect the QB, and after a rash of injuries they could barely field a defense. The switch to Brian Griese didn’t help. The switch back to Rex didn’t help, though he did play better. And the final move to Kyle Orton produced back to back wins, but too little too late. From Super Bowl to 7-9 and looking back on it I am still not entirely sure how it happened.
As they enter the off-season now there are obvious holes on the offensive line, safety, and resolutions needed for the Quarterback and Running Back situations. But after turmoil of last year and how far they fell I think it’s safe to say 2008 will probably be a calmer year.
Stumbling Bulls: The Chicago Bulls fall from grace was not quite as dramatic as the Bears, but going from 49wins to firing your coach on Christmas Eve is a pretty impressive drop off. It amazing how the Bulls have gone from the NBA’s premier up-n-coming team to the height of dysfunctional and disappointment. Last year we saw the potential of Ben Gordon, Luol Deng, and Kirk Hinrich aided by Ben Wallace. They swept the defending champions in the 1st round and managed to push the Detroit Pistons to 6 tough games that could have been more without some off shooting nights. But as in seasons past the Bulls were their own worst enemies. By losing the final game of the season and failing to get that 50th win the Bulls drew a much tougher playoff bracket. Even then they had the chance to beat the Pistons but dug themselves an insurmountable hole with their shooting woes early in the series.
All that aside, this was still supposed to be the team ready to make the leap. Even after the Celtics trade for Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett there were plenty of “experts” picking the Bulls to get to the finals. It made sense though. Another year for the core to grow, more Tyrus Thomas, replacing PJ Brown with Joe Smith, and adding Joakim Noah had to make them better. But another terrible start, the apparent demise of Ben Wallace boiled down to the entire team quitting on coach Scott Skiles. So now the Bulls are a team with flaws. Kirk Hinrich has regressed to his rookie year, they still have no post scoring or a guard who can consistently drive, and at this point they’ll be lucky to make the playoffs let alone make a deep run. But things are not as bad as they seem. The restricted status of Deng and Gordon this offseason will give the Bulls a lot of attractive trading trips that should bring them an all-star big man or shooting guard. The talent hasn’t disappeared and you still see the flashes from this team, but they certainly proved they couldn’t handle expectations.
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And now for some predictions….
I read a statistic that said the home team in divisional rounds win nearly 78% of their games. Given that the home teams are usually the best two in the conference it makes a lot of sense, and when I looked at the games this weekend I expect that to hold true. A lot of people have been bandwagon jumping and predicting upsets in Dallas and New England, but I’ve got a different underdog in mind:
Seahawks (+7.5) @ Packers
Ever since the Bears made that trip up to Seattle I’ve been sold on this team. They don’t have the best back four but as we’ve all heard they create a lot of pressure. The Bears beat the Packers twice this year by getting to Favre with pressure off the edges and forcing him into Favresc mistakes. Hunter Hillenmeyer played a key role in the second game and the Seahawks will have Julian Peterson playing that role Saturday afternoon (and upgrade no doubt). Plus you gotta figure Matt Hasselback will be smart enough to throw a touchdown pass to his own team this time, right? So with Deon Branch back and 3 wide out sets likely to give the Packers fits I am not only picking the Seahawks to cover but they are my underdog pick to win outright. Seahawks 31 Packers 28
Jaguars (+13) @ Patriots
Listen I know there is a growing movement of people who think the Jags are the team perfectly suited to end the Patriots run. Let me end the suspense, they aren’t. Enough of this “team built for the cold”. Enough of “they can keep Tom Brady on the sidelines”. And enough of “Garrard just doesn’t make the big mistake”. The team built to beat the Patriots is the Colts and they should get another crack at it. But for now though people’s dislike of the Pats is making them say some crazy things. I know they cheated (Rodney Harrison is further proof no one cares about steroids in football). I know they seem aloof and condescending at times. However, this is the best football team of most people’s life time and while they aren’t going to blow out the Jaguars, they are gonna win (I may regret this as all the upset talk has me feeling a blowout coming on). Jaguars 24 Patriots 34
Chargers @ Colts (-8)
This was the easiest pick of the weekend and I might still take the Colts if they doubled the points. When are people going to realize that the Colts are actually better than last year? They were the team that kicked ass in the playoffs all year and they were finally secure in themselves with that ring on their finger that they were no longer concerned with perfection (I just made the Colts sound like a 30 something bride). Add in Dallas Clark and Marvin Harrison for the Colts that they were missing the first time these teams player. Subtract Antonio Gates from the Chargers, no matter what they want you to believe. And finally realize that this is a battle between Norv Turner and Phillip Rivers against Tony Dungy and Peyton Manning! I had brief concerns about Manning’s historical struggles against 3-4 teams that apply a lot of pressure, but then I just remember it’s Turner and Phillips going to Indy and I feel better. Chargers 14 Colts 34
Giants @ Cowboys (-7.5)
Has three days in Cabo with a pretty woman ever been more overblown? Honestly! Shouldn’t we be talking more about Manning suddenly not sucking? Or about Romo’s fumble demons? Or how TO is about to go all injured star taking it to another level on the Giants crappy corners? This game is possibly worse than Jags/Patriots for people’s obsession about the underdog. Rule #1 of picking the playoff underdog should be “it’s never who you think”. The whole staple of Eli’s career at this point his he can’t string together good games. He’s played two straight where teams haven’t blitzed him and accordingly has looked like the Giants didn’t get completely hosed in trading for him (Rivers’ struggles help that as well), but now he is going into Dallas where he will get blitzed like nuts against a rested team that won 13 games… where do people see an upset? TO’s injury may have been the worst thing to happen to Giants fans this year. It gave them hope and gave Owens a stage to steal the limelight. Giants 17 Cowboys 31
