Dec 9, 2012; Green Bay, WI, USA; A Green Bay Packers fan cheers during the game against the Detroit Lions at Lambeau Field. The Packers won 27-20. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Bears fans will have to go against their natural-born instincts next Sunday and root for the Green Bay Packers to win to help the Bears get into the playoffs.  By virtue of their win over the Houston Texans, the Minnesota Vikings put their playoff destiny in their own hands.   Win against Green Bay and they’re in the postseason.  The Vikings pulled off the upset in Houston to set the stage for a critical Week 17 game in Minnesota against the rival Packers. (more…)

Julius Peppers leaves TCF Bank Stadium showing off his NFC North Championship hat (Photo courtesy of Chicago Tribune)

Deep breath everyone.  The Chicago Bears are the 2010 NFC North Champions, becoming the first team in the NFL to wrap up their division but their work is far from over.  According to my calculations, there is still a roadmap for the NFC Championship to come through Chicago.  It seems unlikely since the Atlanta Falcons sit atop the NFC with a 12-2 record, but there is a way for the Bears to wrestle the #1 seed from Matt Ryan and his Falcons.  Follow my logic after the jump.  (more…)

Lovie let's his guard down to show his excitement.

Try as they might, the Bears couldn’t squander a 16-point halftime lead to keep the Vikings in the mix for the #1 seed in the NFC.  Instead, they somehow they managed to hang on to pull off the 36-30 upset win and help the Saints back into home field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs.

Brett Favre led a second half Vikings comeback where he picked apart Lovie Smith’s Cover-2 defense to tie the game up on a last gasp 4th and goal play with under a minute to go in the game.  Had Izzy Idonije not blocked a Ryan Longwell PAT earlier in the game, the Vikings may have very well prevailed.

Lovie Smith apologists will try to use this win as a reason to keep Smith and his staff, but don’t be fooled.  There are still plenty of reasons to pass out the pink slips at the end of the season.  Be sure to check out FIRE LOVIE SMITH for lots of coverage as the walls cave in around Lovie.   Let’s look at the memorable moments of the game:  (more…)