SOURCE: Everyedge.com

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Hopefully none of these situations occur, at least not landing on our squad. Once the game gets under way the teams generally play close to form. In years gone by there were many one sided slaughters, but less so over the past several years. Coaches have done a better job of preparing players and the athletes have faced similar pressures in their history. The weekly games are far more scrutinized with do or die pressures than in season’s past.

The Super Bowl is a step up certainly but not the quantum jump that once was the case. So I’ll be making my pick based on their play during the season and not expecting anything far outside their norm.

Good luck, enjoy the game and the off season. Come to think of it, is there an offseason?

Pat’s Picks

Last week the Bears came through and Grossman was good again. He has won some minimal begrudging respect. But it is been commonly stated that he didn’t lose these two playoff games and that is far from the truth. He won those two and played with true grit.

I had New England +3½ last week, which lost. It’s funny I found myself hoping that the Colts would win by three as the game progressed. The inane comments that Manning was a choker and this game would define him had me pulling for the guy. I just do not think it fair that a great player would have to win that game for validation. So the gorilla is removed, just too bad it was by four. The ape would’ve jumped off with three.

Chicago and Indianapolis

These two create a sense of the unknown given that they have not played since 2004 when Indy won 41-10 in Chicago. While two years does not seem that long ago it was a substantially different Bears team than this current edition. The Bears are 2-2 against the AFC, which included a tough four point loss in New England when Chicago was on the last leg of a three game road trip.

Certainly we will hear that Grossman is no match for Manning. While I’m not suggesting these two are equal I am going to point out that Grossman is undervalued as is the offense. On average the Colts gained 50 yards more per game than Chicago, which is not totally overwhelming. Both teams averaged just over 26 ppg during the course of the season and Indy has the upper hand in third down efficiency with a 56-36 percent edge.

Defensively Chicago gave up 40 less yards per game and had a 16 percent edge in stopping opponents on third down. The Bears really had an edge in points allowed, giving up 6.5 ppg less than Indy. When you look at both sides of the ball one can see where these two are very evenly matched. Manning gives the Colts some edges but the Bears defense can limit his effectiveness with a stout rush. That sore thumb he has may become a story here as well. I suspect the hard running of Chicago will create real problems especially if the Bears get a lead.

I do not see enough advantages here to award substantial points to Indy. I’ll take the better defense and grab Chicago with the points. And hope that Grossman is focused.

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