The End of An Era: Top 5 Lance Briggs Moments
Usually, this is where I would be writing my Behind Enemy Lines weekly piece on what the Chicago Bears’ opponent’s websites and local media are saying about the match up. However, I’ve decided to forgo this week’s behind enemy lines post because I think we all know what the opponent’s think of our football team in Chicago: they think the Bears are a joke. Instead, I want to share some positive moments in a season full of negativity and acknowledge the final weekend in Chicago of a great career for #55 Lance Briggs.
Even though this season has been a forgettable one for Lance, let us all not forget that this is the greatest outside linebacker that has put on a Chicago Bear jersey. Over the last 11 years Briggs leads the NFL in tackles for a loss (81), is a 7-time pro bowler and is 3rd all time among NFL linebackers with 5 interceptions returned for a touchdown. To honor #55, I wanted to share my personal top 5 most memorable moments of Lance Briggs:
#5 – Strip and Recovery in Season Opener (2010 vs. Lions)
With the Bears trailing by 1 early in the 4th quarter of the 2010 season opener, #55 made a play when it was needed. Pinned deep in his own territory, Lions quarterback Shaun Hill dropped back to hand off the ball when Briggs darted through the middle breaking up the hand off, forcing a fumble and recovering the fumble all in a matter of 2 seconds. It was an unbelievable play at a crucial moment of a divisional game. The game would be known as the Calvin Johnson Rule game after an apparent catch was ruled incomplete late in the 4th, overshadowing an outstanding game from Briggs. He finished with 10 tackles, a forced fumble and a recovery. Lance made a play when the Bears needed it – something Bear fans became used to throughout his career. Don’t tell me how much a player does, tell me when he does it.
#4 – Megatron and Lions Get Blown Up (2011 vs. Lions)
In a game where tempers flared and the Detroit Lions pulled their oh so familiar annual acts of dirtiness, Lance Briggs delivered a message to their star receiver. It was not with his mouth or a cheap shot, it was with a brutal hit. Even though the hit was flagged as a personal foul, it was a clean shoulder-led hit that was erroneously flagged, in my opinion. Nevertheless, I remember jumping out of my chair in excitement, pumping my chest ready for battle even though I was in my parent’s living room. My mom thought I was nuts, but that play kept me pumped up all day as it capped off a complete domination of the Lions at Soldier Field in a huge divisional game. Linebackers are taught to make players think twice before coming over the middle of the field and Lance did just that…..