"It's not worth playing if you can't win." Such was the famous line that was completed by pee-wee hockey superstar, Gordon Bombay, in "Mighty Ducks," merely seconds before missing his game-winning penalty shot by a quarter of an inch, ultimately costing his team the championship in overtime. I think most professional athletes, this side of Latrell Sprewell, would agree with Bombay's statement, none more so than those playing in their respective title games.
And unlike any of the other three major sports, in football, just one game separates the men from the boys, the strong from the weak, the winners from the losers. Yet, at the end of the day, only one team can be crowned victorious, while the other, like Bombay and his squad, head home wondering what might have been, had that one, critical play gone in its favor. It's the Super Bowl, and honestly, there's nothing quite like it.
When the Indianapolis Colts (15-4) square-off against the Chicago Bears (15-3) on Sunday evening in Miami for Super Bowl XLI, we can guarantee that emotions will be running at an all-time high with the game's seemingly infinite number of subplots.
None of these, however, is more prominent than the showdown between the first two African-American head coaches in NFL history to lead their teams to the Super Bowl: the Colts' Tony Dungy and the Bears' Lovie Smith. Two of the game's most brilliant, poised and beloved characters will take center stage in rewriting the history books, in an epic clash of the nice guys. Did I mention they were best friends, too?
Then there's Peyton Manning (finally; finally?) making his long-awaited first Super Bowl appearance, and the city of Chicago reviving the "Saturday Night Live" line "Da Bears" with extreme alacrity; each story combining with one another to set the stage for football's biggest game. So without further ado, I give you the predictions for Super Bowl XLI.
Why the Colts will win:
When I was in fifth grade, I began to write my first articles dealing with professional sports. Initially, I wrote them to impress my teacher, an ardent Philadelphia Eagles fan, by regaling him with my "expert" knowledge of receiver, Irving Fryar, and secondly, to keep my classmates up to date with current sports affairs (very important). The first article I ever wrote was on Peyton Manning, then the rookie quarterback of the Indianapolis Colts, who captained them to a progressive, albeit dismal, 3-13 record in 1998. I remember writing about how Manning (26 TDs, 28 INTs) was trying his hardest every Sunday, but that he had minimal to no talent around him, which ultimately prevented his team from winning games.
Essentially, I was taking the blame off of the two-time MVP, and placing it on the rest of his starting cast. I titled the piece: "Playing hard without a descent team." (My father later informed me that descent and decent were two completely different words with two completely different meanings). Nevertheless, Colts management finally amassed several skilled players that eventually developed into an AFC powerhouse with Manning at its epicenter. Now, he's still playing hard, but on a better-than-decent team?a great team.
The Colts have arguably one of the most potent offenses ever to play in a Super Bowl?with Manning, Pro-Bowl receivers Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne, and explosive rookie running back Joseph Addai, not to mention an impenetrable offensive line led by touchdown-machine Jeff Saturday. Also, the Bears' Cover 2 defensive scheme should create some tremendous opportunities for the versatile tight end Dallas Clark, who amazingly leads all postseason players in reception yards with 281. But believe it or not, the Colts' offense isn't even their strong point; at least not in these playoffs. Playoffs?!
Indianapolis will enter Sunday's game with the top-ranked defense this postseason, leading in takeaways (eight) and second in sacks (seven). Quite a turnaround for a defense that was ranked 21st during the regular season, wouldn't you say? With the erratic Rex Grossman under center for Chicago, the Colts' main concern will be running back Thomas Jones, who is coming off of a huge week against the Saints, in which he rushed for 123 yards on 19 carries for two scores in the NFC Championship game. The Colts run stoppage has been resilient as well, limiting Patriots' running back Corey Dillon to 48 yards last week, the Ravens' Jamal Lewis to 53 the week before, and the Chiefs' Larry Johnson to just 32 in round one. Jones should be a piece of cake for Booga McFarland & Co., thus virtually shutting down the entire Bears' offense.
Last note: Although Peyton Manning hasn't had great success thus far in the playoffs (two TDs, six INTs), he's certainly due, so don't be surprised if he unleashes the proverbial beast on Chicago's stout defense. Sorry, this is the last note: the Colts have Adam Vinatieri, too.
X-Factor: Ben Utecht, TE.
Why the Bears will win:
Just think back to that Monday night game on October 16, 2006, in Arizona, when the Bears played their worst game of the season, turned the ball over six times, scored a measly three points on offense, and still came out of the desert victorious over the Cardinals, 24-23. (I need not insert the infamous quote from Denny Green's post-game tirade here, for it goes without saying). Now granted, that was the Cardinals. These are the Colts. But the Chicago Bears have overcome incredible odds this postseason to reach Super Bowl XLI. They've done it with a mediocre defense (ranked seventh this postseason) that's allowed an average of 249 yards through the air, an unpredictable quarterback, and overall, a young, inexperienced group of players. But they seem to thrive on that.
Trust me, I, more than anyone else this season, have struggled in trying to uncover the mystery that is Chicago Bears' winning formula, and, in failing to do so, have labeled them as "overrated," "a joke," or my favorite, "so bad." But the truth of the matter is, they aren't any of those things. They're actually quite good, and, dare I say, underrated?
During the regular season the Bears possessed the fifth-best defense in the league, with the most forced fumbles (20) and the second-most interceptions (24). And Rex Grossman, whom I was convinced would fail in this league the second he was drafted by the Bears, really isn't that gross, man. Considering that Rams' quarterback Marc Bulger once went to the Pro Bowl in 2003 with 22 touchdowns and 22 interceptions, Grossman's numbers (23 TDs, 20 INTs) actually aren't too bad for a guy who is seen virtually as a walking stigma of himself, and bear in mind that he's thrown only one pick this postseason.
Ultimately, the Bears' hopes on offense will rely on its line, especially left tackle, John Tait, who will have to not only contain defensive end, Dwight Freeney, but create significant space also for running backs Jones and Cedric Benson, which could prove to be a daunting task. The same goes for guard Ruben Brown and center Olin Kreutz.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Bears will have to truly rise to the occasion to ensure that the lead doesn't get away from them too early. If defensive ends Adewale Ogunleye and Alex Brown can pressure Manning into forcing some tough throws, cornerbacks Nathan Vasher and Charles Tillman are both quick enough to get in front of the speedy Harrison and Wayne, and could create some turnovers, especially if middle linebacker Brian Urlacher can pick up the second or third options on the Colts' plays to their solid core of tight ends.
Last note: The last time a perennial player entered the Super Bowl facing a potential incarceration suit following the game, like Bears defensive tackle Tank Johnson is, was Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis in Super Bowl 35. They won 34-7 over the Giants.
X-Factor: Muhsin Muhammad, WR (Don't forget kick/punt return specialist, Devin Hester, either).
Bottom Line: Before anyone even thought about this match-up, the obvious choice to win was the Colts, and all signs appear to indicate that this just might be Peyton Manning's year, especially after getting that gigantic New England monkey off his back two weeks ago. But if the old adage "defense wins championships" holds true, then the pick has got to be the Bears.
Just remember, that no matter what anyone tells you, the better team doesn't always win the championship, and I would strongly urge that Rex Grossman watch the famous "One Time" speech in the classic children's movie "Little Giants." For indeed, that's all the "worst quarterback in Super Bowl history" needs to do: win one time.
Chicago 27 Indianapolis 24, MVP: Rex Grossman.