Urlacher's Big Day Not Enough, But Proves His Importance
The book is finally closed on the 2010 Chicago Bears season. And while it's a disappointing end, it's a season that few saw coming.
Watch CBS News
The book is finally closed on the 2010 Chicago Bears season. And while it's a disappointing end, it's a season that few saw coming.
We have spent the better part of the week, now, talking about ourselves as much as we have the Bears and the Packers.
The Chicago Bears have a tradition of defensive excellence. It started with the "Monsters of the Midway" and continues today with players like Lance Briggs, Brian Urlacher and Julius Peppers.
It's been said numerous times by talk show hosts this week: "Even if the Bears win the Super Bowl, people are still going to wonder how good this team really was."
Early this season, there were some people unhappy with Julius Peppers' production because he wasn't racking up sacks like they expected.
The Chicago Bears wanted to look more like the Monsters of the Midway. The Bears' defense showed that kind of power Sunday when they dominated the Seattle Seahawks.
The Bears aren't underestimating the Seattle Seahawks after they defeated the Saints last week and after their loss to Seattle in October.
The talk has already started, or continued for that matter, that the Seattle Seahawks don't deserve to be in the playoffs. They ended the season 7-9, but upset the defending Super Bowl Champions in the first round.
Not too long ago, many people were calling for Jerry Angelo to be fired. But there's no denying that he's made two moves that have lead the Bears to the playoffs this season.
The Bears won't be playing this week, as the number two-seed they've earned a first round bye in the NFC Playoffs. And according to Boomer Esiason, former NFL quarterback, there are even more positives for the Bears.
Brian Urlacher, Devin Hester, Julius Peppers and Lance Briggs were all named to the Pro-Bowl this season. But is there a bigger honor awaiting these players once their careers are over?
Chicago Bears general manager Jerry Angelo announced that he has no plans to step aside after this season. He even seemed to be rejuvenated with the Bears' success this season.
A year ago today, the Chicago Bears held a press conference declaring that they valued continuity, but also wanted drastic changes. As crazy as that sounded at the time, that's exactly what happened.
One year ago today, the leaders of the Bears held one of the worst press conferences in Chicago sports history.
To say that the Bears' defense is never satisfied is an understatement. No matter what the outcome of the game is, the defense always feels like they could have done better, that they're not perfect yet.
As the biggest free-agent of last offseason, Julius Peppers signed a contract for over $90 million with the Chicago Bears, and he's lived up to the expectations that came with it.
Getting away with something is not evidence that it was a good idea. There are times in the life of every thoughtful person when we look back at a decision to take a risk of some kind, and think "Well, that probably wasn't too smart.
The Minnesota Vikings finally did something right this season. By beating the Philadelphia Eagles, the Vikings gave the Bears a guaranteed first round bye in the NFC Playoffs.
The NFL announced the rosters for the 2011 Pro Bowl team, Brian Urlacher was among four Bears to be named to the team. See the complete roster here.
Bears' fans are starting to like what they see on the field. The team's newest star, Julius Peppers, has been as advertised and the offense is starting to put up some points.
Just before the Jets face the Bears, controversy breaks out about Rex Ryan. The Jets need to win to secure a spot in the playoffs and the attention on Ryan's foot-fetish videos might distract him from the game. The Bears already clinched a playoff spot for the first time since 2006 and it's Jay Cutler's first NFL post-season of his career.
Monday night's game resulted in a few things for the Bears. Devin Hester is now, officially, the greatest returner of all-time, as if that was ever in doubt.
One of the biggest surprises this season has been the outstanding play of defensive lineman Matt Toeaina.
Prominent aspects of this year's Bears discussion are winding together for Sunday afternoon's game against the Patriots at Soldier Field.
The Bears have had success this season with their cover two defensive scheme. The Bears didn't change for Michael Vick and the Philadelphia Eagles, and they probably won't change for Tom Brady and the Patriots.
