Conference Championships Sunday, January 21, 2007 (game thread)

[Bronx33]

New Orleans at Chicago

CHICAGO (Jan. 17, 2007) -- For the New Orleans Saints to continue their dream season and reach the Super Bowl, they'll have to defeat the Chicago Bears and their ferocious defense at what's likely to be a cold and raucous Soldier Field on Jan. 21.

The Saints and NFL Coach of the Year Sean Payton, however, will appreciate every moment of the opportunity.
America's Game


Who are the greatest Super Bowl champions of all time? America's Game on NFL Network answers that question every Friday night at 8:30 p.m. ET.

America's Game: The Bears



New Orleans looks to earn its first trip to the Super Bowl when it takes on Chicago in the 2006 NFC Championship Game.

Payton and the Saints' magical run has come in a year in which no one expected them to be more than a rebuilding team. One trying season removed from being displaced from their home city and watching the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina unfold before them, the Saints have rebounded from a 3-13 record in 2005 to go 11-6 and reach the conference title game with a 27-24 victory against Philadelphia last week.

The Saints became the first team in NFL history to make a conference championship after losing 13 or more games the previous season -- and doing it in New Orleans, a city still trying to recover from Katrina, was especially gratifying.

"It means everything," rookie running back Reggie Bush said. "All that stuff we went through as a team, these are the type of games we live for. And this game is even bigger for the city."

The Saints are a team with unique perspective, having helped provide relief to desperate residents following the hurricane, and witnessing death and chaos in the city while trying to concentrate on football after being forced from the Superdome during the 2005 season.

Reggie Bush and Drew Brees can make their first season in New Orleans one for the ages.
Having gone through that, the Saints appreciate what they've accomplished more.

"You understand and appreciate that there are a lot of things that go on to get to this point," said Payton, the former New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys assistant. "It's important to take advantage of the opportunities and to understand that when it's in front of you, it's hard to get here and hard to be in these games. ... That's what probably makes it so gratifying."

Prognosticators universally picked the Saints to finish at the bottom of the NFC South, putting little stock in the Heisman Trophy winner Bush's ability to make a difference in his first season, or the signing of free-agent quarterback Drew Brees, who was coming off shoulder surgery.

Brees turned out to make the biggest difference, throwing for an NFL-best 4,418 yards, 26 touchdowns and only 11 interceptions. He finished third in the league in passer rating (96.2) and touchdowns.

Brees was 20-for-32 for 243 yards, one TD and no interceptions against the Eagles, and Bush turned in several flashy plays as he continued to complement workhorse back Deuce McAllister, who pounded Philadelphia for two scores and a team playoff-record 143 yards rushing.

New Orleans had never reached the NFC title game, and was 1-5 in the playoffs coming into last week. The city is known for playing host to the Super Bowl -- not sending its own team to it.

"There's still a lot of work to be done," Payton said. "We just hope we can put a little kick in (the fans') step Monday and Tuesday, and give them something to look forward to next weekend."

For the party to continue in New Orleans, however, the Saints will have to produce more magic when they face the Bears, also a hungry team that's looking to return to the Super Bowl for the first time since winning it in January 1986. Chicago reached the NFC title game for the first time in 17 years with a 27-24 overtime victory against Seattle on Jan. 14.

Robbie Gould's 49-yard field goal in the extra period followed his tying 41-yarder with a little under 6 minutes left in regulation as Chicago (14-3), the NFC's top seed, survived to defeat the Seahawks.

"It's been fun," said Gould, who was undrafted out of Penn State and waived by two teams before making the Pro Bowl this season. "I think it's been great for everybody. It's been great for the city."

No player will be more scrutinized in this game than Chicago quarterback Rex Grossman.

Chicago's hard-hitting and speedy defense wasn't at its best, allowing Shaun Alexander to rush for 108 yards, but it stopped the star running back on third and fourth downs late in the fourth quarter as the Seahawks were driving for a potential go-ahead score.

It's possible, though, that no player enjoyed the victory more than quarterback Rex Grossman, who overcame a season of criticism from Chicago's demanding fans to produce the best game of his career. He went 21-for-38 for 282 yards, and set up Gould's winning kick with a third-down pass of 30 yards to Rashied Davis that moved Chicago to the Seattle 36.

"We win one game and we're in the Super Bowl," said Grossman, who also had an interception and a fumble, "two wins away from having a ring on my finger for the rest of my life."

Grossman was sacked three times under heavy pressure from Seattle, and he's likely to see more of it from New Orleans. Led by Will Smith (10½ sacks), Charles Grant (6.0), Brian Young (5½) and Scott Shanle (4.0), the Saints are sure to try and get to Grossman whenever they can.

Stopping the opposing quarterback will be an even bigger priority for Chicago, although it remains to be seen whether Brian Urlacher, Lance Briggs, Charles Tillman and the rest of the Bears' third-ranked defense will come after Brees or play back more in coverage to try and disrupt the accurate quarterback's rhythm.

The Bears will have to account for the running and pass-catching ability of Bush out of the backfield, as well as McAllister's bruising work between the tackles.

Temperatures aren't expected to rise above the mid-30s, with possible snow in the forecast, but those conditions mightnot necessarily give the Bears an advantage even though they're facing a dome team. The Saints have won three of their past four visits to Soldier Field, and five of the past seven overall. Chicago, though, took the last matchup 20-17 at Baton Rouge on Nov. 6, 2005.

New Orleans and Chicago have met once in the playoffs, a 16-6 Bears victory on Jan. 6, 1991, in the wild-card round at Soldier Field.

[Rocket 7]

Go Saints

[Bronx33]

These are probably my favorite set of games to watch in a season.

[Tombstone RJ]

I wouldn't mind seeing the Saints win it all. This will be the first time in a long time I won't be rooting for whichever AFC team reaches the SB. I'm tired of the Pat's winning it all, I'm tired of the dynasty talk. As for the Colts, no thanks, that'd be too much "Peyton's the greatest QB to ever pick up a football...." crap. No thanks to that.

So, go Saints!

As for the Bears, eh, who cares? I really don't want to see DaBears get another ring, not with their fans...

[Bronx33]

Go saints! Go brees! Go deuce!

[12th man]

I will be rooting for the saints to win the game because, well, they are the sentimental favorites. I want the pats to win because I hate Manning and the Colts to no end, and it dosn't bother me if the pats win because I know we still own them. With all that said, I have a strong gut feeling that the Bears and Colts will be in the superbowl. I just think the Bears and Colts win today, but I hope I am wrong and I will be rooting for the saints and pats.

[Garcia Bronco]

Go Saints

[CHEF LUIGI]

if the bears strubggled with the seahags, the saints should have no problem beating them with their versitile offense !

[Jens1893]

Originally Posted by Bronx33

These are probably my favorite set of games to watch in a season.

Divisional Playoff Weekend for me as it´s 4 games instead of 2.

[Bronco_Beerslug]

Originally Posted by CHEF LUIGI

if the bears strubggled with the seahags, the saints should have no problem beating them with their versitile offense !

Snowing and blowing in Chicago, I'll take the Bears even though I'd like to see the Saints win.








Jan 21, 2007 6:49 am US/Central
Woman Has Induced Labor So Husband Can See Bears


(AP) CHICAGO Chicago Public School teacher Colleen Pavelka knows how much her husband, Mark, loves the Bears. Apparently, she loves him even more.

Colleen chose to have the birth of their second child induced a few days early so her husband, Mark Pavelka, could attend today's NFC Championship showdown between the Bears and the New Orleans Saints.

The baby was due tomorrow. But when Colleen went in for an appointment Friday afternoon, her doctors told her she could opt for an early delivery. She decided to do so.

After nearly six hours of labor, eight-pound, nine-ounce Mark Patrick Pavelka was born Friday night at Palos Community Hospital.

Colleen Pavelka plans to catch the game on the plasma screen TV in her hospital room, while baby Mark Patrick is bundled up in the Bears receiving blanket his grandmother bought him for Christmas.

(© 2007 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. )

[Bronx33]

Now that's a wife!

[Kid A]

Go bears. I know everone in america is rooting for the saints, but one of my best friends is a diehard chicago fan and I've been following them pretty close this year. No matter who comes out of the NFC, I'll be rooting for them in the super bowl.

[Bronx33]

Looks frosty cold in chicago then they show a shot of that candy a**ed dome in indy.

[ro_50]

I never thought I would root for a NFC team to win the Super Bowl, oh wait, I wanted the Hawks to win last year.

Everyone and their mother is rooting for the Saints. Somewhere, Sam Mills is smiling from heaven.

I'm pulling for the Saints because of Mills' memory.

[Bronx33]

What do you all think of that madden skit fox does with the guy from mad TV?

[Bronx33]

So how many punts is hester going to muff? it's pretty cold and the ball is going to be pretty hard to hold on too.

[gunns]

I'm rooting for Chicago, I've loved them since the days of Dick Butkus. But I won't have a problem if the Saints win. I will be rooting for the NFC winner in the SB. That being said I'm a huge Colts fan today.

[Garcia Bronco]

I mean...is that a good idea?

Inducing labor?

[smalltowngrll]

Go Saints, go!!

It's funny, watching that piece on the saints, I couldn't help but think about how we use the term "bandwagon" fans around here so loosely. This is literally the one team that everyone could term most of their fans "bandwagoners". But, you know what...I love it! I think it's the one team where bandwagoner takes on the term of hope. Maybe this is not just about bandwagoners, maybe this is about a new love...a generation with a new hope in a football team that gave them hope. It's exciting to see, actually.

I want to see this team break all odds and take home the Lombardi this year!

[Bronx33]

Originally Posted by Garcia Bronco

I mean...is that a good idea?

Inducing labor?

For a football game? hell yes!

[Garcia Bronco]

this season has just flown by

[Garcia Bronco]

Originally Posted by Bronx33

For a football game? hell yes!

[Bronco Billy]

Go Devery Henderson with more that two receptions and Rashied Davis with over 1.5 receptions!!!

[eddie mac]

Go Saints.

[Bronco Billy]

Originally Posted by Bronco_Beerslug

Colleen chose to have the birth of their second child induced a few days early so her husband, Mark Pavelka, could attend today's NFC Championship showdown between the Bears and the New Orleans Saints.

What an understanding wife!