Resurgent Bears set for Panthers rematch
All along, the Chicago Bears claimed they would reach this point. They said they would make the playoffs, stuck together through a tough start and proved their preseason predictions were more than just hollow training camp chatter.
After a first-round playoff bye, after a season proving the doubters wrong, the Bears host the Carolina Panthers today, with the winner advancing to the NFC championship game against Seattle.
It all seemed unlikely, especially after a loss to Cleveland that dropped Chicago to 1-3 and left linebacker Lance Briggs wondering: “Are we that bad?”
The answer was an emphatic no. The Bears won eight straight after that, 10 of their last 12, and captured the NFC North. They dominated the Panthers 13-3 at Soldier Field, sacking Jake Delhomme eight times.
Now, they meet again.
The Bears are in the playoffs for the first time in four years and are looking for their first playoff victory since beating Minnesota in the first round following the 1994 season. After going 13-3 and earning a bye in 2001, they lost by 14 to Philadelphia.
The Panthers became the first road team since 1980 to score a playoff shutout when they beat the New York Giants 23-0 in the opening round last week. The defense forced five turnovers and the offense ran over a Giants team hurt by injuries to its linebacking corps.
None of this seemed to awe Bears middle linebacker Brian Urlacher, who cut off a question about the Panthers’ running game this week by saying, “We’re not the Giants.”
Colts glad to be home
Indianapolis coach Tony Dungy spent a quarter-century chasing home-field advantage throughout the playoffs before he finally earned it.
He doesn’t intend to let that reward slip away today against his old team, Pittsburgh, in the divisional playoffs.
“It’s our opportunity to do something special and cap off a year that’s been really good for us,” Dungy said. “That’s what it’s all about.”
In past years, Indianapolis (14-2) has contended with snow, wind, rain and cold weather in January.
Critics contended after those losses that the only way the high-scoring Colts would reach the Super Bowl was to stay indoors.
“Colts cornerback Nick Harper’s wife was jailed Saturday night on charges of cutting him with a knife, a sheriff said. Harper, a starter, was listed as questionable for today’s divisional playoff game against Pittsburgh.
Around the league
Buffalo Bills general manager Marv Levy clarified that he’s not a candidate for the vacant coaching job, while Jim Haslett and the team have had preliminary contact about the post. … Three college players announced plans to skip their senior seasons and enter the NFL Draft: Tennessee defensive tackle Tony McDaniel, Ohio State strong safety Donte Whitner and Southern California guard Fred Matua.