Lovie's Clash... Should He Play or Should he Sit Them?

Things keep coming up Milhouse for the Bears this year. The latest bit of good fortune to find them comes as a result of the Vikings upsetting the Eagles Tuesday night in Philadelphia , thus guaranteeing the Bears at least the #2 seed in the NFC’s second season. That’s quite a feat considering the preseason projections and predictions for a team that appeared to have too many holes on both sides of the ball to finish above .500. But if there was ever a season to be a good but not great team, then this is it. To their credit, the Bears have taken advantage of every break all season long, be it 3rd string quarterbacks, record setting number of penalties or playing the worst team in football (that’s you, Carolina) when you’re quarterback is injured. Sure, there was some luck involved in almost every one of their 11 wins, but good teams create their own luck and beat the teams they are supposed to beat, and that's what the Bears have done all season.

That brings me to this Sunday’s match up against the Packers. Green Bay is fighting for their playoff life; a loss and their season is over, a win and they are in. The Bears, as mentioned above, can do no worse than the #2 seed which gives them a first round bye and at least one home playoff game. Now, if both Atlanta and New Orleans lose their final games and the Bears win, they would then claim the top seed in the NFC and earn home-field throughout the playoffs. Logic would tell you that won't happen because the Falcons play the Panthers (see above for description) at home and would need to choke faster and harder than Mary Kate Olsen after Thanksgiving dinner to get beat by Carolina.

This is why Sunday's game against Green Bay will involve Lovie Smith making the toughest decision he's had to make since being named head coach. This is a decision that will garner more scrutiny and criticism than 'Rex is our quarterback' and 'With the 4th pick in the NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears select Cedric Benson.' OK, that one is probably more Jerry Angelo but Lovie had to have some input on it, right? Anyway, Lovie is going to have to decide if beating Green Bay and potentially ending their season and going undefeated in the division is more important than risking injury to any of his key players. If he plays his starters the whole game, and Jay Cutler or Julius Peppers or Brian Urlacher or even Matt Forte gets hurt and has to miss their first playoff game, Lovie will be even more hated than he was coming into this season. His priorities would be questioned and his ability to lead would be challenged. Any supporters he may have gained in the course of the year would turn on him like a fat kid turns on a salad. They will say that staying healthy for the playoffs is what is most important and that Lovie should have known better.

On the other side of the debate, if Lovie rests his stars to avoid the risk of injury he will be called soft and ridiculed for not trying to beat the biggest rival and ending their season. Herman Edwards' chant of, "You play to win the game" will be sounded from the bar stools and couches and wherever else Bears' fans may be while the game is being played. The ones who didn't openly support Lovie and buy in to his coaching style will say he is too quiet and that Ditka would have played his starters because that's what Bears football is all about. Those are also the same morons that believe there is such a thing as Bears weather. News flash morons, there isn't. Bears weather is almost as dumb as saying that chemistry in a baseball clubhouse is important. When your team is predicated on speed then poor playing conditions is not conducive to helping your team win. 

Unfortunately for Lovie, there is no correct answer to this question.  This will need to be a fluid decision based on what he feels is best for his team in preparing them for their playoff run.  Since the Bears game has been flexed to a 3:15pm start, the team will be able to know if Atlanta and New Orleans lost because they both play at noon.  The results of those games could be the final determining factor for Lovie and his coaching staff.

Personally, I believe that you should never let up in any situation, at any time, for any reason.  I understand the risk of injury involved for the Bears, but I wouldn't coach or make my decisions based on fear.  The moment you let up is the moment an injury occurs.  Players become sloppy and undisciplined when they know they are not going to finish what they start.  Their practice and preparation suffers throughout the week which leads to poor execution which leads to beatings and injuries.  It would be different if this were preseason and both teams had nothing to play for, but the Packers' season is on the line and they would like nothing more than to exact some revenge on the Bears for the Week 3 loss they were handed and prove that they are a playoff worthy team despite a multitude of injuries.  If I am Lovie Smith, I'm playing Cutler, Peppers and Co. and am treating this game as if my season depended on it. 

Then again, I'm just a Bears fan that sits on my couch and yells at his television during games.

I also hear it's going to be sunny and in the 20's in Green Bay on Sunday... now that's Bears weather!