Fleece & Flog's NFL Top Five

Okay, so the Bears comeback was so surreal that I'm still speechless concerning the game. Add to that my mixed emotions on whether to think positively (one of the greatest comebacks ever), negatively (who the heck stole my quarterback and replaced him with the guy from My Left Foot?) or just plain dumbfoundedly (does Dennis Green have a point?), and you've got a guy who has been enveloped into a serious bout of blogger's block.

Everytime I think I've found an angle at which to approach the Bears win, I'm bombarded by antitheses surrounding the good, the bad and the ugly. Yes, they won without the benefit of a serious offensive game, but they also gave up too many points to a team supposedly staffed with a NCAA Division II offensive line. Yes, the defense scored two touchdowns on their own, but they also game up a potential game-winning field goal attempt. Yes, the special teams scored on a punt return, but it wouldn't have needed to if the offense didn't resemble my frosh football team that went 1-8.

Then I figured I could take the destiny angle. What could possibly stand in the way of a team that seems blessed by the holy trio of talent, confidence and luck? Well, I have a word for it: injury. Ask anyone on the Bears defense what the loss of Mike Brown is gonna do to the morale not to mention execution. There's a reason no one has supplanted him as the starting strong safety even after achilles problems, calf problems and knee problems. He's probably the smartest guy on the defense. Watch him shed a blocker to stop a potentially big run. Watch him be the safety valve the Bears rely on to clog holes. Watch him be the guy wide receivers fear getting hit by in the secondary. Destiny takes a back seat when it comes to injury, folks.

So I'm stuck with a mind full of mixed emotions, ones that contradict themselves everytime I sit down to type about the game.

What I do know is that Matt Leinert was the golden boy Rex shoulda been. Devin Hester was a steal in the late second round, and Brian Urlacher may have just cemented his place next to the names George, Butkus and Singletary. Oh, and the bye week couldn't come at a better time; I'll bet there's a certain boy-hoosier doing some sincere soul searching right now.

And maybe now I can stop focusing on the second coming of the Superbowl Shuffle and start focusing on the first place Blackhawks and hockey. Eh, probably not.

Onto the Top Five--------------------------------------

1. Chicago Bears (6-0): You thought there'd be a change here? Hah! Remember a certain CHI-MIA game in 1985? Monday's game might stay in the minds of football lovers just as long.
2. Indianapolis Colts (5-0): The bye week didn't hurt, but someone just scored a TD on thast run defense in Tony Dungy's dreams.
3. San Diego Chargers (4-1): LT had 4 TDs. The team scored 48 points. Any other questions about Marty-ball? Indy should fear this team.
4. Denver Broncos (4-1): This team reminds me of last year's Bears: all defense, no offense. Is Jay Culter the answer? He's a friggin' rookie. Which is exactly how Jake the Snake plays.
5. New Orleans Saints (5-1): Who woulda thunk it? Mike Ditka might start drinking again if these guys and the Bears both reach the NFC Championship game.

Make sure to check out Soxually Repressed's Bear Droppings in the two posts below. And remember, the NFL needs the Bears to be good. The stats don't lie.