The Bears have to feel good about only trailing by two at halftime, and it's not just because Adam Vinatieri hooked a 36-yard field goal as time ran out of the second quarter.

The Colts are dominating total yardage 233-95. They have run 41 plays to a total of 18 for the Bears. Other than a 52-yard run by Thomas Jones, they don't have a rushing first down.

Games can change quickly, so it may not mean much that Chicago has mostly been dominated at the line of scrimmage in the first 30 minutes. But Lovie Smith doesn't want to get involved in a shootout, so his defense will need to tighten up and keep forcing turnovers to have a chance.

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 07:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Peyton Manning and Jeff Saturday were campaigning for Saturday's block against Vince Wilfork on the game-winning touchdown in the AFC Championship to be dubbed "the block." Not a bad idea - Saturday cleared Wilfork off the screen.

Well Saturday just pulled off the same trick against Ian Scott on a first-and-goal from the eight, helping Dominic Rhodes get to the one-yard line. Just great leverage and toughness by Saturday, who made the Pro Bowl again. Rhodes scored one play later to help the Colts take their first lead of the night: 16-14.

The Colts have had their problems in this game, but moving the ball isn't one of them. That's 211 yards in 25 minutes. The Colts defense won't wear down if they aren't ever on the field.

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 07:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Tough night for Cedric Benson: 2 carries, -1 yard, a lost fumble, and a knee injury. His return is questionable.

Chicago's big plan on offense is wear down Indianapolis by running all day. That will be much tougher if Benson doesn't return. If he doesn't, we'll find out how confident Lovie Smith is in 1) Rex Grossman and 2) Adrian Peterson.

Peterson was one of the most underrated players in the league in 2005 and is a fine third-down back. But he has only 16 touches all year.

Update:Benson will not return

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 07:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Notice how the CBS cameras are avoiding any crowd shots? That's because there are a ton of empty seats in the lower bowl. I don't care if it's raining, that's ridiculous. But it's also consistent with what most spectators say about a Super Bowl crowd. It's bored and corporate.

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 07:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tony Dungy and Lovie Smith showed off their old conservative coaching styles, practiced by Dungy in Tampa.

Dungy punted on fourth-and-3 from the 36-yard line. It worked, the Colts pinned Chicago back.

The Bears followed that up by running on third-and-6 from inside their own ten-yard line after Rex Grossman was wild with a long pass.

The Bears call makes a lot more sense to me than Dungy punting. I bet Peyton Manning agrees.

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 07:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

We're not out of the first quarter and there have been four turnovers so far, and a botched extra point.

Cedric Benson's fumble wasn't the rain's fault. Bob Sanders put his helmet right on the ball, and nailed Benson. Two great individual plays be Robert Mathis and Sanders forcing fumbles in this game have kept the Colts within one score early.

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 07:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Three passes, 10 yards, 14 points. Chicago will take that ratio all day.

Nice job by Rex, throwing a dart to Muhsin Muhammad in a tight window for Chicago's second touchdown.

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 07:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

So ... in the five minutes since my last post ... The Bears fumbled Adam Vinatieri's squib kick. Then Joseph Addai fumbled a handoff from Peyton Manning. Then Thomas Jones rushed for over 50 yards on the next play.

Of all the storylines this week, the rain got absolutely no attention. But it's partially responsible for three fumbles in the first quarter. Nerves probably aren't helping either.

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 06:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Chicago is playing a deep zone tonight, like one would expect. The safeties are playing almost 20 yards off the line of scrimmage, them backing up.

So how does Reggie Wayne get so wide open on a 53-yard touchdown? That's either bad coaching, a missed assignment, or someone fell. Or all three.

Manning was under pressure and did a great job, but the amazing part is that Chicago didn't blitz on third-and-ten and Wayne was still that open.

Now a clutch hold by Hunter Smith means another botched extra point. So much for a blah Super Bowl.

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 06:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Dropped interceptions are often one of the overlooked keys to the game. Charles Tillman had a chance to pick off one of Peyton Manning's early passes. Chris Harris didn't drop his chance at an interception a few plays later.

Manning tried to pump-fake Harris as if he was throwing to the seam, but Harris didn't bite. Round one to the inexperienced Chicago safeties.

It's early, but it's key for the Colts defense to keep it within one score early and settle down.

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 06:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)