Bears Blitz

Published by Bob Warja on December 29, 2010
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears

With the surprising win by a Vikings team playing only for pride on a Tuesday night edition of your NFL, the Bears are locked into at least the number two seed and a first round bye in the playoffs.

In addition, the Bears now have a chance at the number one seed. No matter what, they are assured of having to play one less game. That’s particularly important in a parity-filled NFC.

In a wide open playoffs where seemingly any team can beat another team in a given week, Minnesota actually did the Bears a rare favor, though I’m sure that wasn’t its motivation.

Speaking of motivation, where were the Eagles tonight? Philadelphia certainly had much more to play for than the Vikes, though they hardly played like it mattered.

Michael Vick, who has had an otherwise remarkable year, committed three turnovers, on a fumble and two interceptions as the Vikings shocked the Eagles 24-14 in a game that had been postponed due to nasty weather.

The loss knocked Philadelphia (10-5) out of contention for a first-round playoff bye. Instead, the Eagles are locked into the NFC’s No. 3 seed and will host the No. 6 seed on Jan. 8 or 9.

This also makes their last game against the Cowboys meaningless, so Vick and some other starters may rest.

Adrian Peterson ran for 118 yards and a score in the Vikings win, but what really matters to Bears fans is that first round bye.

On a day when the team announced that four members of the Bears—Lance Briggs, Devin Hester, Julius Peppers and Brian Urlacher—made the Pro Bowl, this was a late Christmas present for sure.

Meanwhile, how will the bye week affect the Bears? Will it make them rusty?

Well, consider what the regular season bye did for Chicago.

Going into the bye week, the team had lost two consecutive home games to two very mediocre teams and the offense looked lost.

Then—Bang!—adjustments were made and the Bears won their next five games. So, if recent history is any guide, the Bears will use the bye to become even better for its first playoff game in four years.

However, there will be those who remember 2005, when the Bears came off a first-round bye by sputtering in the divisional round at Soldier Field against the Carolina Panthers.

Still, it’s hard not to think that a bye isn’t beneficial to the Bears. And, thanks to the rival Vikings, it’s a reality.

Look, if it wasn’t considered a benefit, they would allow teams to decide if they want it, sort of like the team that wins the coin toss can elect to kick or receive the ball.

But that’s not the way it works, and with good reason.

It will be interesting to see what Lovie Smith decides to do on Sunday against the Green Bay Packers now that the game is meaningless.

When Smith was hired as Bears coach, he stated that beating the Packers was his focus, and to this day, he has held firm to that belief.

Recognizing that, will he rest his starters or will he go full throttle to beat the hated Pack?

I don’t know, but at least the decision is up to the Bears, thanks to a Vikings team that refuses to give up.

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