Key to the Super Bowl (1 Viewer)

[Despyzer]

I've been asked my opinions on this game a few times this week, and I have always said it was going to come down to how well the Colts' run defense held up. If they showed up like they have all postseason, it should be a fairly low-scoring game easily favoring the Colts. If they revert to their regular season performance, it should be a shoot-out with the Colts in a squeaker.

Today's local paper said they keys to this game were the performances of each team's quarterbacks.

What do you think?

 

[jurb26]

My 2 biggest keys are field position (Special Teams) and Chi's ability to get the ball to Jones in space (the passing game).

 

[Despyzer]

field position (Special Teams)

Interesting. Another possible key that I'd considered was Devin Hester. He has the potential to break a game wide open with his returns or break his own team's back with his muffs.

 

[Bankerguy]

I think Chicago must start strong. IF Indy gets an early lead, it could be a long day for the Bears D.

 

[SmoovySmoov]

Bears Run D. They take that away, and make Indy one dimensional, getting pressure on Peyton, they will win.

 

[-OZ-]

Bears keys to winning:

1. Corners covering Marvin and Reggie

2. pressure on Peyton

3. Devin Hester (field position / STs)

Colts keys to winning

1. Peyton's performance under pressure

2. Run D

3. Kick away from Hester, kick out of bounds if neccessary

 

[Workhorse]

Adam Vinatieri's weak kickoffs. As the game goes on, AV's kickoffs often get shorter and shorter, especially playing outdoors. By the end of the game, he sometimes struggles to get the ball to the opposing 10 yard line.

If he's going to be kicking away from Hester, it could mean some really short kickoffs giving the Bears great field position or possibly kicking the ball out of bounds.

In a close game in the 4th quarter, this could be a big factor.

 

[softball]

2 words and you can quote me, take it to the bank, mark it down. BERNARD BERRIAN

Sorry man, the cover 2 is designed to stop this type of player.Muhsin Muhammad is going to be the guy. He'll find that soft spot and lay in it all day using his big body against the Colts D-Backs.Keys overall:Bears D MUST hurry Peyton and force 2 TOs that result in TDs for either the D or Offense (not FGs)Colts key is only to play their games. I think they are a better team overall.

 

[H.K.]

1. Peyton's performance under pressure

I've said this before, but if Manning plays like he did in the second half vs. NE, the Colts will win. If he plays like he did in the first half, Bears win.

 

[Gambler]

I like Rex to win the MVP award!

The kid will come up big tomorrow!

 

[BGP]

The Bears went 13-3, including a meaningless loss in week 17. Let's look at the Bears two other losses.

Week 9 vs mia: Rex Grossman 18/42 210 1 TD / 3 INTs

Week 12 @ nwe: Rex Grossman 15/34 176 0 TDs / 3 INTs

If Rex Grossman doesn't have an awful day, its hard to imagine the Colts winning.

 

[Despyzer]

Let's look at the Bears two other losses.Week 9 vs mia: Rex Grossman 18/42 210 1 TD / 3 INTsWeek 12 @ nwe: Rex Grossman 15/34 176 0 TDs / 3 INTs

What do those two teams have in common? They play in a superior conference. Maybe that's the key.

 

[gman8343]

To me the deciding factor is going to be whoever scores more points.

 

[DoubleG]

Let's look at the Bears two other losses.Week 9 vs mia: Rex Grossman 18/42 210 1 TD / 3 INTsWeek 12 @ nwe: Rex Grossman 15/34 176 0 TDs / 3 INTs

What do those two teams have in common? They play in a superior conference. Maybe that's the key.

You do realize that they beat the other two teams from the "superior conference" by a combined score of 50 to 7 right..and one of those was a shoutout...of an AFC playoff team...on the road.If Rex isn't terrible, it's not hard to see the Bears winning. Special Teams -> BearsDefense -> BearsOffense - Colts? Maybe. (keep in mind - both teams averaged the same number of points/game in the regular season - and the Bears are averaging more/game in the post season.)

 

[DoubleG]

To me the deciding factor is going to be whoever scores more points.

Me (as a youngin) : "Dad, who'dda think will win"Dad: "The team that scores the most points"Me: "Thanks Dad."Dad: "No problem - anything else?"

 

[Colin Dowling]

Manning.

 

[Wheelhouse]

Keys for the Colts:

1. control the line of scrimmage - stop the run and make Rex scramble

2. offensively be able to spread the ball around for short outs amongst the LB's, especially on 1st down

3. be able to run the ball to set up play action

Keys for the Bears:

1. control the line of scrimmage - effectively run the ball and run it well. less rex is better

2. must force the Colts to have 2nd and long, 3rd and long

3. don't allow the big play and don't find yourself down by 7+ early

 

[BigRed]

Hard choice between Grossman and the Colts' run D but I think it is w/o a doubt the QB. He's so hot n cold that if cold, they're doomed. If hot, the Colts are.

 

[BigRed]

I like Rex to win the MVP award! The kid will come up big tomorrow!

I don't know if you're kidding or not, but this could easily happen. Again he is so hot and cold that if hot, shouldn't surprise anyone with a clue.

 

[Hairy Snowman]

Keys for the Colts:

1. control the line of scrimmage - stop the run and make Rex scramble

2. offensively be able to spread the ball around for short outs amongst the LB's, especially on 1st down

3. be able to run the ball to set up play action

Keys for the Bears:

1. control the line of scrimmage - effectively run the ball and run it well. less rex is better

2. must force the Colts to have 2nd and long, 3rd and long

3. don't allow the big play and don't find yourself down by 7+ early

Very As a Gator I just want to say this - Rex was always a good big game QB. His letdowns were usually against suposedly "inferior" competition.

 

[Despyzer]

Let's look at the Bears two other losses.Week 9 vs mia: Rex Grossman 18/42 210 1 TD / 3 INTsWeek 12 @ nwe: Rex Grossman 15/34 176 0 TDs / 3 INTs

What do those two teams have in common? They play in a superior conference. Maybe that's the key.

You do realize that they beat the other two teams from the "superior conference" by a combined score of 50 to 7 right..and one of those was a shoutout...of an AFC playoff team...on the road.If Rex isn't terrible, it's not hard to see the Bears winning. Special Teams -> BearsDefense -> BearsOffense - Colts? Maybe. (keep in mind - both teams averaged the same number of points/game in the regular season - and the Bears are averaging more/game in the post season.)

Bears vs. NFC = 11-1Bears vs. AFC = 2-2You don't see any discrepancy here? The best team in the NFC could only muster a .500 record against the other conference.

 

[Hamstring]

The Pats game was pretty close. 3-1 it could have been. Such a small sample. I'll take a 12 game sample over a 4 game one.

 

[WhoDat]

My feeling is that the game will hinge on the coach (Dungy or Lovie) that is willing to take a calculated risk early, which would be that coach having unquestionable confidence in his team and his own decision making abilities. It will set the tone and the rest of the game will fall into line accordingly. While I would like to see the Colts win the game, my feeling is that Lovie will throw it all on the table early and, most likely, swing a win.

 

[Hairy Snowman]

Let's look at the Bears two other losses.Week 9 vs mia: Rex Grossman 18/42 210 1 TD / 3 INTsWeek 12 @ nwe: Rex Grossman 15/34 176 0 TDs / 3 INTs

What do those two teams have in common? They play in a superior conference. Maybe that's the key.

You do realize that they beat the other two teams from the "superior conference" by a combined score of 50 to 7 right..and one of those was a shoutout...of an AFC playoff team...on the road.If Rex isn't terrible, it's not hard to see the Bears winning. Special Teams -> BearsDefense -> BearsOffense - Colts? Maybe. (keep in mind - both teams averaged the same number of points/game in the regular season - and the Bears are averaging more/game in the post season.)

Bears vs. NFC = 11-1Bears vs. AFC = 2-2You don't see any discrepancy here? The best team in the NFC could only muster a .500 record against the other conference.

Colts at home 8-0Colts away from home 4-4You don't see any discrepancy here? The best team in the AFC could only muster a .500 record away from their home crowd.Statistics can lie - it will be whatever it will be -

 

[Family Matters]

A key match up that could easily tilt the outcome is the match up involving TE-D. Clark who will likely be covered by Urlacher. If Indy can exploit the match up with Clark then it could be a long day for the Bears.

 

[Ed Wood]

Bears keys to winning: 1. Corners covering Marvin and Reggie2. pressure on Peyton

This is it in a nutshell. IF the Bears can't pressure Manning, the corners will not be able to stay with Harrison and Wayne (not to mention Clark). And the pressure, at least to start, must begin with just the front four. If they have to blitz too much to get pressure, Manning will pick them apart IMO.Colts 30, Bears 16.

 

[Hairy Snowman]

Its raining here!



Ball should be wet!!!!!

 

[Gambler]

I like Rex to win the MVP award! The kid will come up big tomorrow!

I don't know if you're kidding or not, but this could easily happen. Again he is so hot and cold that if hot, shouldn't surprise anyone with a clue.

Rex got a bad rep based on 2 games. The Bears didn't score 427 pts. with some smuck at Qb.

 

[Chaz McNulty]

Bears Run D. They take that away, and make Indy one dimensional, getting pressure on Peyton, they will win.

I agree. The only way I see the Bears winning is if they completely shut down the run. I think that even an average running game from Indy will put them over the top. If Addai rushes for anywhere near a 100 yds, this game wont be close.

 

[Chaz McNulty]

The biggest factor will be which team can score more points than the other team.

Way off base here. I think it will have more to do with who gives up the least amount of points.

 

[-OZ-]

Bears keys to winning: 1. Corners covering Marvin and Reggie2. pressure on Peyton 3. Devin Hester (field position / STs)Colts keys to winning1. Peyton's performance under pressure2. Run D3. Kick away from Hester, kick out of bounds if neccessary

 

[Despyzer]

Avoiding turnovers

 

[Despyzer]

Statistics can lie

And sometimes they don't. The NFC was exposed as inferior yet again.