On any given Sunday anything can happen in the NFL.  Don't believe me?  Look no further than yesterday's game between Chicago and Green Bay.  The Bears limped into the game at 5-9, missing several key pieces of their defense, (not that its mattered much anyway) and having their offense run by a third string quarterback.  Green Bay on the other hand, was playing for home field for the playoffs and was being led by the most celebrated QB in the game this side of Tom and Peyton.  When the smoke cleared, the Bears had won easily 35-7, cementing not only a convincing victory, but a season sweep of their hated rival.

It makes you wonder.  If you are a Green Bay fan, it should scare you when a quarterback who has played seventeen years in Green Bay, Wisconsin says that the conditions were the worst he's ever played in. Excuse me?  So, Mr. Hillbilly, what happens if you open the playoffs at home in weather like this?  They call it "the frozen tundra" up there, dude.  Perhaps you should consider signing with a team that plays in a dome if you are going to let the weather bother you.  Or dial up Bart Starr or Jerry Kramer or any of the other living Green Bay legends and ask them about the "Ice Bowl."  The "Ice Bowl" made this game seem like it was being played in Hawaii.

For the Bears, they played their most inspired football of the year.  They were emotional.  They made plays (except on the Ryan Grant 66 yard touchdown run.) They controlled the clock.  Yes, their offense still struggled, especially in the first half.  Yes, they still need a quarterback and running back and an offensive line, but it was nice, for one day, to watch what might have been.  And what might have been could have been a whole lot better if these guys hadn't driven it in the ditch in week four against Detroit, week six against Minnesota, and week eight against Detroit.  Then there were the close losses against Seattle, the Giants, Washington and the Vikings.  Is this the team that went to the Super Bowl last year or just some hulk of it?  Yesterday, they looked like they could almost beat anyone in the NFC.

For their part, Green bay didn't even show up.  The Bears, for the most part, shut down their running game and the elements  shut down their passing game.  The pressed and pressured the Elderly Hillbilly who ran for his life most of the day.  And the Bears linebackers and DBs (and defensive end Alex Brown dropping into coverage like a linebacker) shut down the vaulted Green Bay receivers.  The Bears special teams dominated the Packers blocking punts (one returned for a touchdown) and setting the Bears up in great field position time after time. It was a thing of beauty, all afternoon.

For the Packers, what might have been could be home field advantage and a showdown with Dallas in Green bay rather than Dallas where the Elderly Hillbilly is 0-9 lifetime. 

You hope that this win will be a springboard to a quick return to prominence for the Bears.  But then, you still see the weaknesses, even in a game like this, and you realize that maybe ten or twelve of these guys, some of them key cogs most likely will not be back next year.  Minnesota is better, Detroit is better and Green Bay is better, so the black and blue division is back, but so is actually having to win 10-12 games to win a title.  So out of the victory, the takeaway is do you have enough confidence in Lovie and Jerry to believe that they will turn this thing around next year?  If you answered  in the negative, you are not alone.  On to New Orleans and on to the golf course.

Lighting Round

• Green Bay linebacker Nick Barnett needs to understand if you play dirty, bad things happen.  You were flapping your gums all day, pal, so you get what you get.  Quit whining.
• The Vikings had a chance to seal the deal and didn't. With the Skins late season surge, it's no wonder Joe Gibbs may get extended. 
  
• Like the Vikings, the Browns choke away a chance at a sure playoff date. The Titans stay in the hunt. Next week ought to be interesting as the Browns meet weak sister San Francisco at home (where they are 6-1) and the Titans take on an Indy team that most likely be treating it like a pre-season game, even though NBC has pirated the game for national TV.  One thing is fairly obvious: If the Browns fail to make it, Romeo Crennel fails to keep his job.
  
• The Jags are in and may be the second hottest team in the AFC.  But could they beat you know who?
• We told you a couple of weeks ago that John Fox may be in trouble in Carolina. 
  
• The Blackhawks are starting to win fans.  Makes you wish Bill Wirtz would have left us sooner.
• Rick Neuheisel refuses to talk about possibly getting the UCLA job.  NCAA President Myles "Zero Tolerance" Brand plans to deploy and NCAA swat team to Westwood if Neuheisel does get hired.
• Jimbo Fisher would rather wait for Bobby Bowden to retire/die than coach at West Virginia.
• Out in Hawaii, Boise State proves it can't win there (twice).
  
• I don't know who her boyfriend is, but I bet the dude is whipped beyond recognition.  Kathryn Heigl is a very attractive woman---until she speaks or attempts to think. Over under on this one is 14 months.  I'll take the slightly over.
  
• Today's list: The Unsportsmen of the Year.