I only caught the tail end of it, but tonight’s Monday Night Football game between the Cardinals and Bears — featuring Matt Leinart at starting QB — was incredibly crazy and ridiculous, featuring all sorts of historical firsts. The Bears, down 23-3 in the third quarter, ended up somehow winning 24-23 despite not scoring an offensive touchdown. It was just bizarre. And totally not Leinart’s fault; he did his job, but the rest of the team choked — as Cardinals teams are wont to do. Texasyank liveblogged it, at one point calling it “officially, the craziest game I have ever seen” — and that was before it got really crazy.
By far, the most crazy and unblieveable game I have ever seen in my short 28 year life. I was ready to pack it in at the start of the 4th quarter as a Bears fan. For some reason, I stayed at the bar. I’m so glad I did.
Only would have been better had the Bears actually killed Leinart. :)
I don’t think choke actually really describes what happened. This was in a whole different league from choking. The Redskins choke, this was like well… there is no comparison.
Does it qualify as a choke when the Cardinal Defense takes six away from the Bears and Leinart is so proficient? Dennis Green is blaming the team, but in reality the blame should be placed solely on Green. Who the hell tries to run out the clock starting in the 3rd quarter with an O-Line that allows your running back to only get 2 yards per carry? Green should have gone in for the kill instead of trying to run down the clock. It’s a shame that the Cardiac Cards played so damn hard to win to have their Coach fuck up like that.
It appears Da Bears took the Cards lightly going into this game (and paid the price in the first half). They made the adjustments on D in the second half and shut the Cards down.
My take, if Grossman has even a mediocre game, this one would have been quite different. 6 turnovers??? are you kidding me?
Rome just came on and pointed out something I forgot about–the look on Leinart’s face at the end of the game, which Rome characterized as, “Oh my God, how soon can I get out of here?”
One of the broadcast team (Cornheiser?) commented late in the 2nd quarter to the effect of “they’re so far ahead now, does getting a TD or just a FG now make that much of a difference?” and I was thinking “yeah, it does, the difference is that a FG doesn’t put you three TD’s ahead”.
I didn’t watch the second half mostly because it was boring and I needed to do other things before bed, but I had this big sneaking suspicion that the Cards weren’t going to pull it out…
First of all, Tony Kornheiser is a Korn-Holio. For a guy who has spent decades writing about sports, he makes clueless comments like that on a fairly regular basis. You start to wonder if he really understands the damn sports he covers. The only one on that team who makes perceptive, insightful comments is Joe Theismann. Too bad the guy is such a douchebag in real life.
Did you watch the game? Leinart was hit in the back because the O-Line didn’t shift to protect him. That was a blown call by the Offensive Coordinator, not Leinart’s fault.
October 17th, 2006 at 8:18:30 am
By far, the most crazy and unblieveable game I have ever seen in my short 28 year life. I was ready to pack it in at the start of the 4th quarter as a Bears fan. For some reason, I stayed at the bar. I’m so glad I did.
Only would have been better had the Bears actually killed Leinart. :)
October 17th, 2006 at 9:15:47 am
I don’t think choke actually really describes what happened. This was in a whole different league from choking. The Redskins choke, this was like well… there is no comparison.
October 17th, 2006 at 9:43:51 am
Does it qualify as a choke when the Cardinal Defense takes six away from the Bears and Leinart is so proficient? Dennis Green is blaming the team, but in reality the blame should be placed solely on Green. Who the hell tries to run out the clock starting in the 3rd quarter with an O-Line that allows your running back to only get 2 yards per carry? Green should have gone in for the kill instead of trying to run down the clock. It’s a shame that the Cardiac Cards played so damn hard to win to have their Coach fuck up like that.
October 17th, 2006 at 10:08:04 am
I think edge had about 1.6 yards per carry
October 17th, 2006 at 11:18:46 am
A great defense will always beat a great offense.
It appears Da Bears took the Cards lightly going into this game (and paid the price in the first half). They made the adjustments on D in the second half and shut the Cards down.
My take, if Grossman has even a mediocre game, this one would have been quite different. 6 turnovers??? are you kidding me?
October 17th, 2006 at 12:21:34 pm
Rome just came on and pointed out something I forgot about–the look on Leinart’s face at the end of the game, which Rome characterized as, “Oh my God, how soon can I get out of here?”
October 17th, 2006 at 1:34:11 pm
One of the broadcast team (Cornheiser?) commented late in the 2nd quarter to the effect of “they’re so far ahead now, does getting a TD or just a FG now make that much of a difference?” and I was thinking “yeah, it does, the difference is that a FG doesn’t put you three TD’s ahead”.
I didn’t watch the second half mostly because it was boring and I needed to do other things before bed, but I had this big sneaking suspicion that the Cards weren’t going to pull it out…
October 17th, 2006 at 2:34:52 pm
First of all, Tony Kornheiser is a Korn-Holio. For a guy who has spent decades writing about sports, he makes clueless comments like that on a fairly regular basis. You start to wonder if he really understands the damn sports he covers. The only one on that team who makes perceptive, insightful comments is Joe Theismann. Too bad the guy is such a douchebag in real life.
October 17th, 2006 at 2:39:53 pm
Joe Theisman is a douchebag?
October 17th, 2006 at 2:48:22 pm
That is the wrap on the guy in the DC area.
October 17th, 2006 at 3:58:43 pm
Doesn’t suprise me. Other people to add to that list:
Al Michaels [first hand knowledge]
Al Gore [second hand knowledge - reliable source]
Oprah [Chicago buzz]
October 17th, 2006 at 3:59:18 pm
Oh, and Ivana Trump [first hand knowledge]
October 17th, 2006 at 4:01:55 pm
Oprah and Bill Cosby are major a-holes in person.
October 17th, 2006 at 4:10:24 pm
Here’s what Dennis Green thought of the game…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1h71vEQtCM
…Yeah. You let them off the hook alright.
October 17th, 2006 at 7:38:29 pm
I think the coach did a lousy job… They should have let Matt throw the long game…
Those running plays were bull pucky
way to conservative.
Oh well I am SURE they will beat the Raiders next week… hell a Pee Wee Leage to beat the raiders at this point :)
October 17th, 2006 at 8:19:34 pm
Maybe not totally Leinart’s fault, but fumbling the ball inside your own 20 is never a great idea.
October 18th, 2006 at 11:00:11 am
Matt-
Did you watch the game? Leinart was hit in the back because the O-Line didn’t shift to protect him. That was a blown call by the Offensive Coordinator, not Leinart’s fault.
October 18th, 2006 at 11:22:48 am
Toni and I agree on something. Can a blizzard in Hell or a World Champion New Orleans Saints team be far behind?