Looking at the ratings off Mops offense I realized that 3 things would have to go my way if I was to have a shot at winning. 1. I would have to win the dice battle which I did. 2. If he turned the ball over I had a shot at pulling it out which did happen and 3. I didn't need any wierd things happening to my Bears which in the end it did and it came at a very costly time.
There was also a 4th factor which always seems to go against me and that is I had to make my 65% or better field goals. Of course though that didn't happen. Its one of the reasons why I hate kickers.
On St. Louis's second series they would start at the Bears 46 yard line and use a series of quick out passes with those 90-100 reception ratings and those great LG receivers chewing up yards. Within 6 plays Mop and his boys were at my 11 and I started praying for one of those goofy turnover rolls. I guess someone was listening to me as Kurt Warner (25-34-224) tried to go over the middle to Issac Bruce and Tony Parrish wasn't going to have any of that as he picked it off. Of course the errant pass was more likely due to the fact that sometimes "Little fingers Warner" has trouble gripping the football. At any rate I was pretty estatic at this point but that estatic word would turn into alot of cussing later on.
Chicago began its first scoring drive in the 2nd quarter as the opening quarter closed out with St Louis punting it away to them. Chicago always exciting ground it out offense went to work as James Allen (7-25) and Anthony Thomas (28-130) took command and helped lead the Bears down the field. On 3rd and 4 from its own 46 Thomas went off tackle and found a seam and rambled 27 yards to the Cardinals 27 before being brought down. That drive would stall at the 18 and Paul Edinger would come on to hit the 35 yard field goal and give Chicago an early 3-0 lead. St Louis though would come right back as Warner hooked up with Torry Holt (6-129) for a 54 yard gain to the Bears 19. Someone on the Bears completley missed Holt as he flew by them. Just five plays later though the Rams had to settle for a Jeff Wilkins 30 yard field goal and a 3-3 tie.
With 1:23 to go the Bears got the ball back at their own 32 and to be honest I was content on going in to the half even at 3-3. Then things changed when the dice gods shined on me as Thomas went 40 yards to the Rams 21. With 11 ticks left the Bears were sitting at the 5 yard line facing a 1st and goal with one timeout left. I screwed the pooch on this one as I was worried about throwing an INT with Jim Miller (19-25-142) and didn't want to throw away sure points. After all its almost impossible to miss a 100% field goal try. Thomas would go down to the 2 yard line and the Bears called their final timeout to bring on Edinger who gave them a 6-3 halftime advantage. As I looked back I got way to conservative and should have threw the darn thing.
Both teams battled in the 3rd quarter as the Bears keyed on the short dink passes by playing mostly tight pass D. It was a ploy that was working as time and time again Warner went to those passes in trying to get the big gain if he could catch me in Man to Man or worse yet a zone. I got the first big break early in the 3rd when again Warner had troubles identifying colors correclty. RW McQuarters gave the Bears the ball at the Cards 10 yard line. Noodle arm Miller though thought a 10 yard pass may hurt his arm so he dumps it off for a 2 yard gain then the defense keys on Thomas who can muster nothing. Edinger again was called upon and his 26 yard field goal was good making it a 9-3 Bears lead.
With 2:48 to go in the 3rd the Cards faced a tough decision and Mop sent out his offense to try to convert a 4th and 1 from their 49 yard line. The Bears were ready for it and stopped Faulk just short of the marker and appeared to take over the ball. Wait though some stupid redneck Bears defender decided he had to get invovled in some extra action and strut like he had just saved the world and a flag came down for unsportmanlike conduct. A dumb penalty by a dumb Bear player got the wrath from me. Well I guess you could actually say it was SAT that got my wrath. Two plays later it was 10-9 St Louis as Warner and Holt matched up again for a 26 yard strike. I still say my linemen was held but I was likely just wishing and seeing things.
With 11:11 to go Chicago had a shot to retake the lead. Prior to this though after moving down to
the Cards 31 the Bears had an offensive player get stupid and he was called for a personal foul. Not sure what he said but I'm sure it was likely something that can't be repeated. This would move them from a 77% FG to a 0% FG. Luckily though it was still first down and eventually they would get back to the Cards 36 with a 66% shot. Then it happened. He would miss the 53 yard attempt and the Bears came away empty.
St Louis then ripped the Bears secondary and 3 plays later sat at the Bears 31. Again though the door was left open thanks to another Warner misread and this time Jerry Azumah picked it off. This would lead to the cussing, throwing of object and thank goodness my wife wasn't home or she may have sent me to my room without supper. Facing a 3rd and 14 from its own 42 the Bears called the screen and caught the Rams in the wrong defense and the roll was gonna be a reception and with a LG receiver of 9 it surely would turn into a great gain. Problem was a "UNUSUAL PLAY" would negate everything. As Miller dropped back and began to throw the ball came out of his hands and lay on the ground. Thinking it was just a incomplete pass the Bears were caught standing around scratching their asses as the Cards Brian Young scooped it up and went 38 yards in the other direction for the game clinching touchdown and a 17-9 lead. Well it would be a game clinching touchdown even though a few more scores would come. Miller as he went to the sideline was asked if he had borrowed Warner's hands for that play. Shortly after a fight broke out on the sideline.
With 5:42 to play the game was not yet lost and the Bears moved down the field to the Rams 16 from its own 13. The would even convert a 4th and 10 from its own 13 when Miller found Marty Booker for a 16 yard gain. At this point the Bears were rejoicing while Mop was giving his boys a good tongue lashing. They would though with just 2 minutes to go be forced to kick the field goal on 4th and 5 and Edinger came away successful and now there truely was still hope as Chicago only trailed 17-12. With all 3 timeouts left the Bears opted to kick it away and hopefully force a punt.
Marshall Faulk (12-76) though ended that thought as he found a huge hole over the right side going 54 yards to the Bears 13. Clip boards flew, headsets got smashed as the Bears coaching staff was seen biting each others heads off. While all this was going Trung Canidate took it in from 12 yards out for the final score.
Chicago now must regroup because even at 8-3 they are still fighting for the division title. They are likely however almost guaranteed a playoff spot. In the end though this team has really overachieved and have won more than its fair share of games like this. St Louis now moves to 7-4 and the 49ers recent loss puts them in a dead tie for first now. Chicago faces Philadelphia next week while the Rams continues its pursuit of a division title with a tilt against Minnesota.
--submitted by Bill Vogt--
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