DR C U T L E R & Mr HYDE
What to expect on Cutler's first playoff game ?
Bears O line has much improved from earlier meeting and there will be no 6 sacks for Shawks which will make things easy for JC to pick apart Seattle's porous secondary.
As expected Saints reached average quota, scoring 36 on Shawks and one would figure Bears to score minimum of 30.
While things are looking better for Bears O line,red flags do appear on Bears defensive side that's somehow being compared to 85 legendary D . Bears D can be formidable but 85 hype is BS.
Jets ? scored 24 second quarter pts @ Chicago totaling 34 a couple of weeks ago while NE scored 36 about month ago.
While figuring Saints to score with ease last week,I must admit having failed to pay attention to Hasselbeck's capabilities.
In an abstract way,handicapping QB's can be like handicapping horses,checking big race performances and not so much smaller prep races or regular season games.The man owns several franchise records having played in 10 playoff games owning a 5-5 record and much to my chagrin, Hasselbeck flew under my radar.That being said,I have a tuff time seeing an emotional JC yoyo as 10 pt favorite in his playoff maiden race vs a rock steady proven vet as Hasselbeck who tossed a gem last week.
Jets n' Pats scored with ease vs Bears D and one can figure a seasoned pro with playoff success and high team momentum to manage at least 17 - 20 Pts.
Hence over seems to be the best play. After all, Bears have not covered a divisional playoff game since 1990 and Lovie Smith does not impress while Pete Carrol does seem to have Mojo and there is a familiarity ,deja vue factor that can't be ignored besides Shawks winning earlier this year @ Chicago.
In 07 playoffs ,Bears at home beat Seahawks 27-24 as 9 1/2 pts favs....Deja Who you say ? Think most will agree,neither one of these will make it past GB or Atl. Hope they do beat the crap out of each other for next week's $$$ payoff .
One knock on Hasselbeck,he's never won a playoff game on the road but on this day of 1 / 11 / 11 we can look back at the many firsts in the NFL seeing Jets first ever victory vs Steelers,seeing first sub 500 team to win a division, seeing first ever team sweeping it's division not making the playoffs ,Cutler and Matty ice's first playoff appearance and perhaps Hasselbeck getting his first playoff road win...LOL ? Personally,think it's madness to lay big bucks on a 10 pt fav team led by a bi-polar QB and with pressure on Lovey to win or be fired. IMO Buying the Hook to 10 1/2 would make more sense.
For me it's ...
O V E R
B $ L A