We Can Dance if We Want To

By Benjy Lipsman in News on Nov 15, 2004 3:40PM

The Safety Dance, of course. Because the Bears knocked off the Tennesee Titans in OT by scoring a safety, giving them a 19-17 victory. The Bears victory was only the second overtime game in the history of the NFL won on a safety.

It was only appropriate that the game be ended by the defense, given that the offense did hardly anything the whole game. Whereas the offense managed to score only 3 points and rack up 176 total yards all afternoon with Craig Krenzel looking too much like Jonathan Quinn, the defense and special teams picked up the slack.

The Bears got on the board when defensive end Michael Haynes tipped and intercepted a pass and rumbled 45 yards for a TD. R.W. McQuarters returned a punt 75 yards for a TD for their second score. Special teams kept the Bears in the game by blocking a field goal attempt with 0:08 remaining to send the game into OT. And then the forced fumble recoved by Tennessee in their endzone lead to the safety giving the Bears a 2-point victory.

Sun-Times sports columnist Greg Couch, must be gloating around the office today. After noting how negative comments by the press helped motivate the Bears to beat the Giants last week, he boldly predicted before the game that the Bears would lose 35-6 -- 28-6 if Steve McNair didn't play (he didn't). Was his bleetin board material the source of inspiration? Chicagoist is sure Couch is taking credit today.

The NFC North is sure getting interesting. With the Bears and Packers winning and Detroit and Minnesota losing, the division is all within one game. the Packers and Vikings are tied at 5-4 while the Bears and Lions at 4-5. It's anyone's division to win (in theory). Which of course will lead to a media cacophony of Bears playoff talk this week. Ask us again what we think after next Sunday's Bears-Colts game. We get to 5-5 by having knocked off Peyton Manning, then we can talk playoffs. Until then, STFU with any premature playoff talk.