Are they a team of f*%king destiny?

Every team, regardless of the sport they play or how talented the squad is, will have a few “What the f*%k” games each season. These are the games that just make no sense, are in no way an accurate indication of the season as a whole and leave fans with just one thing to do- nod your head and try not too think too much about it. Just off the top of my head, I can remember three 2008 Cubs games that fit the description: the Colorado comeback in May, the blown lead to the Cardinals in July and the crazy ninth inning comeback versus the Brewers in mid-September. Three crazy games that presented no reflection of the team that won 97 games in the regular season or zero in the playoffs

But the 2008 Bears have taken the bizarre finish to a whole new level. I didn’t think anything would ever shock me on a football field as much as the ending to the ’06 Bears/Cardinals matchup, but an entire year of lucky bounces, questionable calls and crazy comebacks has changed that thinking. Here’s just a small recap of some of the madness that has taken place over the season’s first 16 weeks:

Week 2 at Carolina: After leading the entire game, including being up 17-3 midway through the third quarter, the Bears take their foot off the gas pedal and allow the Panthers to come back. Carolina outscores the Bears 20-0 over the game’s final 20 minutes, including the winning TD with just over three minutes left. On final Chicago drive to comeback/take lead, team is stuffed second, third and fourth - and one, giving the ball back to the Panthers at midfield to run out the clock.

Week 3 vs. Tampa Bay: Tampa Bay QB, and former Bear, Brian Griese threw the ball 67 times and had over 400 passing yards in the Bucs 27-24 overtime win. The Bears led by 10 with 3:11 left, but couldn’t run off enough clock after a TB field goal, giving Griese and Co. the ball back and allowing them to score a touchdown with seven seconds left to push the game to OT. In the extra session, it appeared the Bears had stopped the Bucs and were going to force a punt, but Peanut Tillman was flagged for unnecessary roughness for retaliating to a Tampa attack. With the new life, Griese moved the ball down the field and won the game.

Week 4 vs. Philadelphia: The Eagles held the ball four minutes longer than the Bears did, had about 80 more total yards and won the turnover battle, yet weren’t able to score when they needed to, giving Chicago a 24-20 win. After a Robbie Gould field goal put the Bears up four with 10 minutes left in the game, Philly drove down the field and had first-and-goal from the four, followed by second, third and forth-and-goal from the one, to try and take the lead. But the Bears D held, keeping the Eagles out of the end zone on four consecutive runs and preserving their second win of the year.

Week 6 at Atlanta: Maybe the craziest finish of the year, though that could be challenged by several end-of-season contenders. The Falcons dominated the first 50 minutes of the game, leading by nine with four minutes remaining. But a missed chip-shot FG by Atlanta and a couple of impressive drives by the Bears, capped off by a Orton-to-Rashied Davis TD with 11 seconds left, somehow gave Chicago a 20-19 lead. Then came the squib kick that still gives fans nightmares, as Lovie chose to kick short, allowing Atlanta to put themselves in position to win. Sure enough, after a ridiculous 26-yard pass, the Falcons knocked through a field goal as the clock hit zero, giving them a 22-20 win.

Week 7 vs. Minnesota: The Bears used two lucky punt touchdowns, one on a botched snap, the other on a deflection off the Minnesota returner, as well as four interceptions to earn the win. Yet the final score was much closer than that previous sentence would indicate. Thanks to a 10-plus minute advantage in time of possession and some powerful running by Bears nemesis Adrian Peterson, the Vikings were only down a touchdown, driving down the field, when the last of the four picks was brought in. Chicago won 48-41, marking the only time the Bears scored over and allowed over 40 points all season.

Week 13 at Minnesota: With each team entering the game at 6-5, this was for the right to be in the drivers seat of the NFC North. And with a 7-3 lead, the ball on the Vikings three at the end of the first half, the Bears not only were in the drivers seat, but they were signing their name on the lease of a Benz. But like they had done to the Eagles nine weeks earlier, the Viking did to them. The Bears were unable to score from the short distance, turning the ball over at the Vikes one after a failed fourth down run. Very next play, Minnesota drops the bomb on the Bears by throwing a bomb to Bernard Berrian, resulting in a 99-yard TD. Instead of a 14-3 Bears lead, the Vikings went up 10-7. The Bears hung around for a bit, but the halt and Hail Marry were too much to overcome.

Week 15 vs. New Orleans: Robbie Gould Overtime Winner, Act I. Despite blowing a 14-point lead and having to resort to pass interference calls as their offense, the Bears somehow defeat the Saints 27-24 in overtime. Kyle Orton wasn’t very good, 172 yards and two interceptions, but came up with a big drives at the end of regulation and overtime to put the Bears in field goal range. The Bears defense wasn’t too spectacular either, allowing over 340 yards, yet they made stops when needed. Call it whatever you want- karma, dumb luck, skill- but the Bears got yet another victory they probably didn’t deserve.

Week 16 vs. Green Bay: Robbie Gould Overtime Winner, Act II. None of last night’s game made any sense, from why there would be fans that would go to a game in negative-five degree temperatures with their shirts off to how a team with a playoff birth on the line could come out so flat. The Bears were so bad in the first two quarters, it really seemed like the Packers were up 20 at the half. Yet it was only an 11-point lead, which was made up when Ron Turner finally realized that Matt Forte is the Bears only offensive option. But talk about luck. If a punt doesn’t bounce off a Packers blocker or Forte doesn’t get a first down by a half of a chain length or Alex Brown doesn’t block the Green Bay field goal at the end of regulation or the OT coin flip doesn’t bounce off of Brian Urlacher’s head or Robbie Gould doesn’t have ice in his veins, the Bears lose the game. Just an unbelievable ending, yet one that made no sense whatsoever.


Now there is one game to go, as the Bears head south to Houston to play the Texans. To make the playoffs, they need to win and have the Giants defeat the Vikings in the Metradome. It won’t be easy, and it sure will be crazy. So in advance, I’m just going to say it.

What the f*%k.


-I’m going to be out of the country for the next week (Yes, I agree, it’s embarrassing that I won’t be able to be able to see the ending to this amazing season live, but what you gonna do?) so here’s a very early listing of my week 17 winners. You’ll notice one game that really really really I hope I’m wrong on: Atlanta, New England, Kansas City, Green Bay, Indianapolis, Minnesota, Carolina, Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay, Chicago, Miami, Dallas, Arizona, Washington, Baltimore and San Diego.


Happy Hanukah, Merry Christmas and I’ll see you in 2009. Oh yeah, Go Giants and Bear Down!