Rooting for the Underdogs

UPDATE – the Ravens defeated the Dallas Cowboys 33-24 on Saturday night to keep the Bears’ Wild Card hopes alive.  They’ll need a lot more help, but the Monday night game against the Packers will be meaningful.

If the Bears are to make the playoffs, they will need some help.  It turns out that all of the teams that we shoudl be rooting for are underdogs and will need at least one upset to keep hope alive heading into the game on Monday night. 

As winter’s grip tightens on Chicago this weekend, there will be no better place to hunker down and watch the games that will directly impac the Bears’ playoff chances before the Monday night tilt with the hated Pack.

Atlanta at Minnesota – hopefully with half the Williams Wall down, Michael Turner and the Atlanta Falcons can run wild on the Vikings to keep their Wild Card and the Bears’ NFC North hopes alive. 

The odds might be against the Bears, but ESPN analyst Trent Dilfer believes they will overtake the Vikes for the division title:

"“I went out on a limb … a very thin limb,” Dilfer said. “But I wanted to be the first to put it out there.  Two reasons: One, I just know the Vikings’ history of sliding toward the end of December.  They have a great opportunity to erase that history, but they have a tough road against the Falcons and Giants.”"

Other games that keep the faint Wild Card hopes alive:

Baltimore at Dallas -rookie Joe Flacco leads a resurgent Ravens offense while Ray Lewis continues to anchor the ferocious Ravens defense.  With an injured Marion Barber and Tony Romo nursing a sore back,  Dallas’ offense will have a tough time moving the ball against a stout Ravens Defense.

San Diego at Tampa Bay – LT and the Chargers still have a shot at the AFC West division title with a win and Bronos loss, so no lack of motivation for the Super Chargers.   Tampa has faltered of late and has their own playoff hopes hanging in the balance. 

Philadelphia at Washington – the Eagles ride a hot Donovan McNabb into DC to take on the fading Redskins.   Can barely remember the McNabb benching a few weeks ago.

BEAR DOWN!!!