Center of the Universe..

Hey, what's up???

My last thought was, The Packers are going nowhere.

Apparently, we might be going somewhere. Much to my surprise.

I'm speaking to you from the Center of the Universe. Yes, Soldier Field, Chicago Illinois, is roughly 100 miles to the southeast my current location, in the Bunker of Ultimate Football. About 140 miles to the Northeast, Green Bay Wisconsin.

Let me clarify something for you: Packers Bears is a huge huge game when both teams are well under .500, in week 16, playing out the string at the end of a meaningless and pathetic season. And that's happened PLENTY of times, believe me.

So, I'm not sure how you express this verbally, how big this is. This game is going to scar a fan base for life, one way or another. This game will talked about, broken down, and analyzed frame by frame like the Zapruder film for the next 5 years.

We're about to watch it unfold. 26 hours from now, we will be witnesses to Armageddon. 1 fan base will remember these plays, talk about these plays, and remember the 38 hour out of control celebration bash that followed, including how much their attorney's fees were. The other fan base will need medication, psychotherapy, and more medication, to have any hope of living a normal life after this game.

Well, maybe not, but let me say this: if the winner of THIS game goes on to WIN the SUPER BOWL, this game will be immortalized in song, in print, on YouTube, and in the hearts and minds of their fan base, forever. The young people in your life, those 8-18 years old, handcuff them if you have to, take away their FaceTube and their Smartphone, and sit them down, and make them watch this game...

Anyways, I could sense this epic clash coming. I knew something was up when a gambling degenerate acquaintance layed this on me prior to the playoffs:

GDB (Gambling Degenerate Buddy): "I've locked and loaded the Seahawks HEAVY in this game" (Note: We're talking Rams at Seahawks here, Wild Card Playoffs)

Me: Seahawks?!?!?

GDB: "Yep. It's the only possible outcome. The Bears are the luckiest team in football. All the way back in week one, the Lions score the winning touchdown, and the refs take it away. Everyone who was watching a television set knew that was a touchdown. And on and on. So, the only logical conclusion is that Seattle wins, travels to Chicago for a playoff game."

Me: Hmmm....

--one week later--

GDB: "Packers are going to beat Atlanta"

Me: And you know this because...

GDB: "Because if Atlanta wins, the crazy lucky Bears have to go to Atlanta to play a team that is tough as nails at home for a Super Bowl berth. Having the Packers in Chicago would be the huge break they need. "

Me: Hmmm...

Now this week, he's backing off. He has the Bears and the points, but for a very small amount. If his theory holds, he should be on the Bears big time, but he's not.

It's Packers Bears. Anything could happen.

Offense: Advantage Packers

We have this:


Or this:


Enough said on that?? I thought so.

Defense: Tie

This:


Or This:


Special Teams: Advantage Bears

Here's your worst nightmare:


If your punter is trying to make a play on the electric Devin Hester, something has gone horribly wrong with your game plan....

How about those Patriots!! Whoops!! I think I want a Federal Investigation into that game, to find out who it was in those Patriots uniforms. What the Martz was that?!?!?

I'm not a Jets believer. At all. I'm not a Sanchez believer. He is not accurate, period. Against the Colts, they basically took the ball out of his hand in the second half.... I mean, if you can't throw well in Lucas Oil Stadium, indoors, Indianapolis, where CAN you throw??? Last week, same thing, handoffs and dink and dunk.

So, if you want a gambling tip, I'd say stay away from the Packers Bears, and load up on the Steelers. My only worry there is the Steelers O-Line is really banged up. Really banged up.

Final thought: Bears fan or Packers Fan, the best thing that ever happened is the Patriots lost. As a Packer fan, look, we beat the Jets in New York, and I'm not scared of the Steelers. The Patriots, I want no part of, in a Super Bowl. On a neutral field, we could handle the Steelers. Provided of course it's not going to be officiated the same way that Cardinals Super Bowl was two years ago... And the Jets would be a dream. Ohhh - Ver! Raaa - ted! (clap! clap! clapclapclap!!!) Packers-Jets. Ahhhh... I'm already having flashbacks to Cowboys-Bills, Super Bowl 27....

On that thought, enjoy the games!!!

Memories...

Meeeee - mories... From the caaahhh - ners of my mind... Tra la la la la la LAAAAH lal la laaaahhh...

Hey, what's up.

See if you remember THIS scene....



Of course you do. If you're a Packer Fan, you've spent hours in psychotherapy trying to get OVER that moment... And Ed Donatell's face is still on a milk carton somewhere.... (big hint for you there...) Answer later.

Yeah, well, it's time. I know it's time. I want to thank the fans for making this possible... I just have nothing else to give.

Sure, by next summer, I'll be itching to play again, but for now, lemme retire.

Anyways, The Season is over.

We have a champion.



Yes, Ardita is the champion. Passed Gregslo by in week 17. Heavy lies the crown, dude. Good luck with that. Next thing you know, you're in last place, wondering what happened.... But for now, wear it around the house, and enjoy.

Gregslo finished second. Nice job, after a couple years off.

And Erin07 finished on top of a VERY tight race for third. Nice job man. This guy complained to me all year about how tough these games were to figure out. So, one last time, you're complaining to the wrong guy, dude. I figured out nothing.

I seem to recall it being a running joke, saying "We're gonna learn a LOT about these two teams this week..." I didn't learn anything, I guess.

Highz, Smitty201, Elusive, and the Florida Boys were very very close to that third spot. I was joking about Erin07 spending the year in 7th... One pick. One. Really, the difference from 3rd to 7th.

Figured out that picture yet?? Of course, it is when the Eagles converted 4th and 26 against the Packers. Brutal. I still have nightmares.

Anyways, I always like to do this, to highlight how good some of you are at picking these games. Here's our pool, vs experts.

Accuscore 168-88

Erin07 166-90

Gregslo 165-91

Jason Cole 164-92
Elusive

Ardita
Highz 163-93
Ronfic

Florida Boys 162-94

Chris Mortensen 160-96
Les Carpenter

Mark Schlereth 158-98

Not too bad. Many of you are mixed in with the best pickers from various websites. So, congrats on that.

Well, we're probably left with this:



And this:



As our final memories of Brett Favre. Is that enough for you, Favre Hating Nation??

I prefer to remember Brett more like this:







We WERE going nowhere, before those guys showed up. And now we're going nowhere again. This season was the first in the last 4 that we started the season WITHOUT the youngest team in the NFL. Then we released Al Harris mideseason, and once again, we are the YOUNGEST team in the NFL.

The youngest team in the NFL has never won the Super Bowl.

Anyways, it was a great season. Enjoy!

Can you forward me this link???

Hey!

Well, first off, congrats have to go out to Erin07 for his week 16 win. Nice job man.

Well, the Packers won their way into the playoffs. I have to tip my cap to Ardita. He had the Packers for 5 today. A true blue Bears fan, taking the Pack. Lesson one in gambling, bet your head, not your heart.

Speaking of which, Brett Bielema got outcoached yesterday in the Rose Bowl. Ouch. Painful. The whole Big Ten got blasted yesterday. Not good.

Anyways, it appears that Bulldogs Rule has already locked this up. Nice job fellas. Congrats.

Ardita could overtake Gregslo for the season's championship. Hmmm.

I will finish the season in dead last. Unbelievable. But then, it's been a crazy year. Lotta changes, job dramas, other BS... From a certain perspective, I've changed jobs twice this year. I'm beat. Driving 128 miles a day... I could use a rest. Too much pressure. Trying to figure out Jacksonville/Houston week after week, forget it. I don't have the energy. My trainer is throwing in the towel.

I'm baffled the Bears played their starters all game. Baffled. Atlanta won. New Orleans lost. You're the number 2 seed. That will not change. Play your starters for a half, and sit them down.

Eagles lose to the Cowboys. Two losses in a row. In case you care, the Eagles will host the Packers next week. Eagles coming off two losses. Are they beatable?? There's already a story on PFT about how Andy Reid will have a quick hook. Vick will start, but any failures to properly read the 3-4, and Kolb will go in. Personally, I hope to God Kolb plays against us. Vick, you might recall, as a Falcon, ended the "forever" streak of the Packers never losing a playoff game in Lambeau Field...

Jason Garrett, ending the season at 5-3. There's already a rumor out there that Garrett will be named Head Coach. Wide Receivers Coach Ray Sherman allegedly will be interviewed for HC, to satisfy the "Rooney Rule", but the rumor is, he will be named Offensive Co-Ordinator under Garrett.

Mangini supposedly done in Cleveland. Sounded very downbeat in his post game presser.

Favre: "It's time. I know it's time." Whatever. Would anyone want him at this point???

If that was his "first" officially diagnosed concussion, how many concussions over the years do we suppose he played through?? In 20 years, how many times did they give him the smelling salts and throw him out there for the next possession?? Three? Five? Ten?

Again I ask, would anyone want him at this point???

Anyways, Rodney Harrison and Tony Dungy both just picked the Packers next week against Philly. The further you are from these Packers, the better they look. They looked a little uninspired to me today, especially on offense. Brian Bulaga, several brutal penalties on our O-Line. Jennings a couple more easy drops today.

Our D, however, is really rising to the task. They played great.

Ravens at Chiefs. I've been thinking all year, I can't wait to bet against the Chiefs in the playoffs. I mean, if gambling were legal on the internet, that is. Cough cough, ahem. Anyway, I may have to take the Ravens in that one. Chiefs had a real shot today, and they folded.

And despite being 8-8, the rumor now is that Tom Cable, HC of the Raiders, will not be retained. I personally think they overachieved at 8-8, and the team is playing for him. Allegedly Al Davis feels they should have made the playoffs... Huh. Whatever, Al...

Record shattering Tom Brady has now gone 11 games without a pick. And Bill Belichek is the first coach in NFL History to have 4 14-win seasons on his resume. Patriots looked good, even without Welker and a bunch of other starters, who were declared inactive for the game. Who can forget Welker blowing out his knee in last year's season finale... Lesson learned.

I'll have a full end of season wrap up in a couple days. And checks will go out shortly.

Enjoy tonights game!!!