Easily my favorite reality show of all time and just one of my favorite shows period, is Survivor. Even if you've never seen an episode, I'm pretty sure you at least know the premise. The show's slogan is "Outwit, Outplay, Outlast: SURVIVOR".
At the end of the Bears/Packers game on Sunday I finally got around to watching this past week's episode of Survivor off my DVR. I was half way through the episode and I still couldn't get the awful taste of the Bear's game out of my mouth. Then I saw the Survivor slogan on the screen, "Outwit, Outplay, Outlast", and I thought, what if the Bears were one tribe and the Packers were the other, who would win? Then my little short lived day dream came to a screeching halt when I instantly pictured Jeff Probst tallying the votes and saying "The first team to be eliminated from Survivor, Chicago Bears. Lovie, please bring me your torch".
The Packers outwit, outlast, and certainly outplayed the Bears on Sunday and simply just showed that they are in a whole other class. From the opening drive on, the Packers were in control of this one. When you have a 14-0 lead and you've got Fabio on steroids (Clay Matthews) on one side of the ball and Rodgers on the other, the game is over. Packers 27 Bears 17
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Keys To The Game:
*Jay Cutler was bad. I spent some time defending Jay last week but there is no defending him here. I thought the O-line played about as well as it could, giving him enough time to drop back, read the defense, and make an accurate throw. He was only hit four times, three of which were sacks. He missed Roy Williams early on a stutter and go route that may have resulted in six points or at the very least, a big gain. He airmailed a few others and even his two touchdown passes were thrown behind the receiver. To me, coaching from my couch, Jay looks shell shocked. In his three years with the Bears he's been sacked over 100 times, the most of any other quarterback in that time. He starts getting happy feet in the pocket and bad things happen. I just think the combination of Jay, Martz, the O-line and the receivers are like mixing oil and water. Seeing how Jay isn't going anywhere, I think Martz is gone after this season (if not sooner).
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*Oh yeah, the receivers were bad too. Roy dropped a slightly behind thrown ball for a TD and Knox dropped a big 3rd down pass. I give Johnny credit though. Not many receivers are brave enough to attempt to catch a ball with their face mask but Johnny went for it. Kudos kid, that took guts. I'll be ok with you going with your hands next time though. No shame in that.
*Aaron Rodgers is good. The debate for the best QB in the league right now stops after Brady and Rodgers. He's so accurate and agile that he's nearly impossible to stop. The play that stood out to me was the one where he dropped back and had no initial receivers open. He moved around the pocket then eventually broke out and scrambled to his left. His receiver Jennings notices where Rodgers is heading and runs an impromptu little out and Rodgers hits him with a strike for a first down. Can you imagine Jay and Devin getting that done?! No sir! If you're lucky, maybe in Madden 12, maybe (on rookie).
*Lance Briggs was the best Bear on Sunday. He played his best game of the short year and was all over the field. The tackle for loss and forced fumble in the fourth was his highlight of the day. Great pick by Urlacher too. Deja Vu from week one.
*The fake punt return (see video) was one of the cooler plays I've seen in a long time and it shows how great Dave Toub is. It's really a shame they burned it in that situation and it didn't work out but I'm sure he's got plenty of others up his sleeve. Hey, do you think he's got any offensive plays??
Player of the Game: Aaron Rodgers. I'm SO glad he's in our division for the next 10 or so years...(single tear)
Play of the Game: Pick a Jermichael Finley touchdown. I'll go with the third one where he was lined up off the right tackle then went to split out wide. I saw Steltz run over to match up with him and I swear I could hear what Rodgers was thinking at that moment. It was something like, "HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA". Three step drop, touchdown, game over. Too easy.
The only saving grace after the game is that might be the best team in football. Like last week though you're not necessarily upset with the loss, you're upset with the performance and the way it happened. This team has a lot of room to improve but I really think it will start next week. Cam Newton and the Panthers have been impressive but I think this defense is ready to beat up on a rookie. I can picture Probst saying it now. "Cam, please bring me your torch". (HEY! I know that was CHEESY but what do you expect. I've got Packers on the mind) (AHH! Cheesy again?! Ok I'm done) 1-2 Bearsssss
