The 18 penalties were not invented by the refs, they were committed by GB. When you hold to avoid a sack, you get a flag. When you jump before the snap, you get a flag. When you throw the ball to the sidelines and your WR is not within 20 yards, you get a flag. (that’s 8). When you hit the QB in the head with your helmet, that’s a flag, when you body slam the opposing RB after the play, that’s a flag, and when you hold a WR in the open field so that he cannot run to get the ball – that’s a flag. (13) The other flags were the typical kick return blocks in the back, etc. I would say that GB committed at least double the number of infractions that they were flagged for! That is not the sign of a well coached team, or a very good team, or a dominant team, or a winning team, or a team that should have won the game. GB led the NFL in flags last year, and I think the year before. This is not a fluke – it is a way of playing. It is called breaking the rules to gain an advantage – but where I come from, they say that it is CHEATING!

If you think that a team should win because they are good at cheating, then I understand where you are coming from – otherwise STFU – That’s Shut The ? Up!

If the two teams that you are describing had played the same opponents or played an entire season, the stats that you cite would make more sense. If you play Buffalo and rack up yards while giving up very few, then that snapshot might not be a complete picture.

To be honest, GB has a very good team. The defense is good. The offense is good except for a left tackle that has to hold and a non-existent running game. To be fair, GB had a good RB, and may be able to run on other teams.

You are counting defense by yards (which I admit is the measure the league uses), when the Bears philosophy gives up yards BY DESIGN.

I argued over the off-season that the Cowboys are not as good as people think, but we must recognize that they won the NFC East last season. They also beat the Texans this past week. You might argue that Houston is not good, but they were 2-0, and it is not easy to win in the NFL.

For the record, I don’t think of my post as crowing. I thought I made a factual point about a factual event.

If a team has 8 penalties consisting of 3 holdings (he held on nearly every down) and 4 false starts with a grounding, then that team (whoever they are) was using the rules to avoid giving up a sack, and getting their QB mauled. That was obvious to me, but it is nothing to crow about. I think an offensive lineman should hold rather than getting his QB killed – he won’t get called every time and you get the down over.

Green Bay may prove to be the better team, but if they cannot pass block and cannot run, they cannot go far in the NFL. The same may be said of Chicago – but they do not look like they have yet committed to the run.

I don’t know if the Bears will win in NY, or if GB beats Detroit. I do know that arguing that the Bears should not have won the game makes no sense to me.

I did not see a hold on the punt return for a TD. You are the first that I have hard talk about it. They say holding happens on nearly every play in the NFL – so I would not argue with you. I would not say that the refs cheated.

If you hit a QB with your helmet, and hold a WR in the open field, and body slam a RB in front of the ref, and so on, then you will get flags thrown. Three of the refs threw flags on the last pass interference call.

I have been a Bears fan for a very long time, and I always support them. Last year, they were the best damn 7-9 team in the NFL! LO

These two teams will meet again in GB the last game of the season. I hope that game is for the division title. May both teams play well. May neither cheat. May the best team win.

In any case, you might want to know how a trend is defined prior to “sensing” one. Oh, wait – I am on the internet and people don’t have to know what they are talking about before or after posting something.

As far as your argument about “If they only got half the penalties…” I’ll simply say that if grandma had balls she’d be grandpa. The Pack committed those penalties because they were undisciplined and scared of J Peppers.

Last point about Hester – he has been on punt returns the last two years. They took him off KR’s last season. He hit a dry spell but I’m hoping he’s got his groove back.

Here is a list of previous Super Bowl participants, along with their rank in penalties commited:

2009- New Orleans: 20 Indy: 31
2008- Pittsburg: 12 Arizona: 5
2007- New England: 25 New York: 26
2006- Chicago: 5 Indy:26
2005- Pittsburg: 25 Seat:30

Green Bay might have a problem on their hands.