Marcus
20-01-2007, 09:16 AM
Saints 11-6 http://images.nfl.com/teams/images/logos/NO2.gif
at
Bears 14-3 http://images.nfl.com/teams/images/logos/CHI2.gif
Top two seeds go at it.
And that's just the way the No. 1 Bears want it. "This is the matchup we wanted," says Chicago CB Nathan Vasher. "It's great for us, great for TV, everything. We wanted to see the highest-seeded team and beat the best."
It's January at Soldier Field, so the running game should play a big part in this one. Both teams come equipped with RB tandems. The Saints bring in "the big guy," as Bears LB Brian Urlacher calls him -- 6-foot-1, 232-pound Deuce McAllister -- and fleet rookie Reggie Bush. The pile-moving McAllister rumbled for a Saints playoff-record 143 yards and two TDs in the divisional game. Bush produced some spectacular moves, including a 4-yard TD scamper and a 25-yard run that set up a field goal.
The Bears have their own ground-eating tandem in Thomas Jones and Cedric Benson, the second-year runner who has been worked into the rotation more and more recently. The two combined for 1,857 yards this year and 111 yards (with two Jones TDs) in the divisional playoffs.
New Orleans -- 6-2 on the road this season -- arrives with the league's No. 1 offense, controlled by the '06 passing yardage leader Brees (4,418). His key targets have been WRs Marques Colston and Devery Henderson, but the Bears also will have to keep an eye on TE Billy Miller, who, after 129 yards this season, led Saints receivers last Saturday with 64 yards.
And for all the attention Grossman has received -- "he's taken us to 14 wins," says head coach Lovie Smith -- one stat is overlooked. Grossman's seven games of 100.0 passer ratings tied Peyton Manning for second most this year in the NFL behind St. Louis' Marc Bulger with eight.
Grossman's WR targets are as potent as New Orleans' -- Bernard Berrian (105 yards in the divisional playoffs with a 68-yard TD catch) and Muhsin Muhammad.
Championship tidbit: Bush can become the fourth Heisman Trophy winner to play in a Super Bowl in his rookie year, following RB Mike Garrett, Kansas City, 1966 season; RB Tony Dorsett, Dallas, 1977; and RB Ron Dayne, NY Giants, 2000. Only Dorsett won a Super Bowl ring.
at
Bears 14-3 http://images.nfl.com/teams/images/logos/CHI2.gif
Top two seeds go at it.
And that's just the way the No. 1 Bears want it. "This is the matchup we wanted," says Chicago CB Nathan Vasher. "It's great for us, great for TV, everything. We wanted to see the highest-seeded team and beat the best."
It's January at Soldier Field, so the running game should play a big part in this one. Both teams come equipped with RB tandems. The Saints bring in "the big guy," as Bears LB Brian Urlacher calls him -- 6-foot-1, 232-pound Deuce McAllister -- and fleet rookie Reggie Bush. The pile-moving McAllister rumbled for a Saints playoff-record 143 yards and two TDs in the divisional game. Bush produced some spectacular moves, including a 4-yard TD scamper and a 25-yard run that set up a field goal.
The Bears have their own ground-eating tandem in Thomas Jones and Cedric Benson, the second-year runner who has been worked into the rotation more and more recently. The two combined for 1,857 yards this year and 111 yards (with two Jones TDs) in the divisional playoffs.
New Orleans -- 6-2 on the road this season -- arrives with the league's No. 1 offense, controlled by the '06 passing yardage leader Brees (4,418). His key targets have been WRs Marques Colston and Devery Henderson, but the Bears also will have to keep an eye on TE Billy Miller, who, after 129 yards this season, led Saints receivers last Saturday with 64 yards.
And for all the attention Grossman has received -- "he's taken us to 14 wins," says head coach Lovie Smith -- one stat is overlooked. Grossman's seven games of 100.0 passer ratings tied Peyton Manning for second most this year in the NFL behind St. Louis' Marc Bulger with eight.
Grossman's WR targets are as potent as New Orleans' -- Bernard Berrian (105 yards in the divisional playoffs with a 68-yard TD catch) and Muhsin Muhammad.
Championship tidbit: Bush can become the fourth Heisman Trophy winner to play in a Super Bowl in his rookie year, following RB Mike Garrett, Kansas City, 1966 season; RB Tony Dorsett, Dallas, 1977; and RB Ron Dayne, NY Giants, 2000. Only Dorsett won a Super Bowl ring.