The good thing is the Bears won the division and earned the bye.
The bad thing is the void of fresh, local football analysis. I’m pointing the thumb as much as the finger because I have participated in the blather.
“The quarterback doesn’t smile.” … “A contract extension is due Lovie Smith.” … ” ‘Enlightened’ Greg Olsen finally realizes he should contribute more.”
I feel shame.
So on to kickoff, mercifully just two days away, and the “what if?” game for the Bears and Seahawks.
What if: the Bears have protection problems early and often and a couple of “gimme” scores spark the Seahawks to a quick 10-0 lead?
Mike Martz will win my affection for life by still sticking to his newborn desire for a running game. If the Bears are going to produce the landslide victory most are predicting, Matt Forte has to be the biggest reason why. It’s even more critical if the game is tight.
Forte getting back on track has been the most under-discussed component of the Bears season.
What if: the Seahawks somehow take a lead into the locker room?
More than 61,000 should boo.
What if: the chesty Pete Carroll makes good on his promise to punt to Devin Hester?
He will rue that decision. I’d find it refreshing, however, if the Seahawks afford opportunities to Hester and keep the mercurial returner in check.
I’m seeing double from watching playoff teams, in meaningful moments, fall asleep and not cover kicks and punts like NFL players should. That’s the biggest reason the Colts got tripped by the Jets in the final minute Saturday.
What if: Jay Cutler gets knocked out of the game on the Bears’ first possession?
The Bears still will win but won’t cover the 10.
What if: the Packers upset the top-seeded Falcons on Saturday and visit Soldier Field to meet the Bears in the NFC championship next Sunday?
The suits at Fox would be dancing in the streets. That matchup would bust the NFC title tilt ratings standard, set by the Cowboys and 49ers (the Dwight Clark game) when the average audience flirted with 70 million viewers.
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What if: history repeats itself and Smith calls a defensive timeout with two seconds left in the second or fourth quarter, giving Matt Hasselbeck a shot at drawing a pass-interference call that leads to Seattle points?
I’ll dig through my garage and find the pitchforks and torches that I abandoned after the Bears’ 27-13 win against the Vikings in Week 10. Regardless of the final score.
What if: one Bears offensive lineman yields three sacks (the Seahawks had six against the Bears in Week 6) and false starts twice?
He wins a date with Brandi Favre, the unseemly 34-year-old sister of the former NFL quarterback.
Dan McNeil hosts the “Danny Mac Show” weekdays between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. on WSCR-AM 670.
